Since 1995 Building Research has carried out an annual survey to identify the industry’s research and information needs. The data obtained then informs the next year’s Building Research investment plan for the Building Research Levy. Other information used to develop the plan includes overseas trends, New Zealand Building Code developments, reviews of standards, industry problems, government policies, FRST strategies and any other issues arising or anticipated. The objective of the survey was to:
- identify industry needs for research and information
- determine the relative importance of these issues in the opinion of the industry
- explore industry’s preferences about how it would like to receive information
- obtain industry’s views on which topic areas should be covered or reviewed in the New Zealand Building Code and standards.
In the past, Building Research has carried out the survey by post with hard-copy forms to be filled in and returned by participants. For 2006, a Wellington-based consultancy Research NZ was contracted to carry out and analyse the mainly web-based survey. A hard-copy option was available when required.
Little change in research priorities
From the 845 survey forms sent out, 239 completed surveys were received, a response rate of 28%. The make-up of the survey response pool is given in Table 1.
Respondents were asked for their priorities across a range of general research areas, and then asked to rank their priorities for specific topics within each research area. General rankings are given in Table 2 and topic-specific rankings in Table 3.
Designer | 23% |
Manufacturer | 16% |
Central or local government | 14% |
Builder/subcontractor | 14% |
Building consultant | 11% |
Property owner/manager | 5% |
Other | 17% |
Total | 100% |
General area | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 |
---|---|---|---|
Building envelope | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Energy | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Materials performance | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Sustainability and environmental issues | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Internal environments | 5 | 13= | 9 |
Fire safety science and engineering | 6 | 8 | 5 |
Practices on site | 7 | 4 | 7 |
Building user behaviour | 8= | 15= | 17= |
Economics and demographics | 8= | 16 | 16 |
Information management | 10 | 15= | 12 |
Geotechnical and hydraulic engineering | 11 | 17 | 17= |
Structural engineering | 12 | 10 | 8 |
Earthquake engineering | 13 | 6 | 10= |
Building services | 14= | 13= | 13 |
Construction management | 14= | na | na |
Acoustics | 16= | 9 | 6 |
Urban design | 16= | na | na |
Building user expectations | 18 | 12 | 14 |
Re-use of existing buildings and structures | 19 | 11 | 15 |
Advanced technology | 20 | 7 | 10= |
Ranking based on % of respondents who graded the area as 6 or 7 on a 1–7 scale, where 7 is extremely important.
‘Internal environments’ was a new addition to the top seven priorities for the general research areas. The remaining six top priorities – building envelope, energy, materials performance, sustainability and environmental issues, fire-safety science and engineering, and practices on site – have consistently been top priorities in the opinion of the industry over the last three surveys.
Actively seeking information
Respondents were given a list of topic areas and asked to identify those they had actively sought information on in the last 12 months. The top topics are given in Table 4. The first three are consistent with those general areas respondents thought were a research priority. The comparatively low percentage for sustainability is a little surprising, as the industry is known to be struggling to find information in this area.
Respondents were then asked to identify general preferences for receiving information. These are shown in Table 5.
A total of 99% of respondents had access to the Internet and 97% used it for work purposes. This high Internet access and use was reflected in Table 6 by a preference to receive information on the Building Code and standards via the Internet or by email.
Preferred topic areas to be covered in new or revised Building Code clauses or standards are given in Table 7.
Concerns match current research
This year’s survey results are consistent with those of recent years, and are also internally consistent in identifying those areas where respondents felt a continuing high need for both research and credible, reliable information. These areas include:
- building envelope performance, including weathertightness
- materials performance
- energy efficiency
- building sustainably.
General area | Topic area |
---|---|
Building envelope | Joint & junction detailing |
Rain penetration | |
Wind effects at entrances/openings | |
Wind loadings on claddings | |
Plaster claddings and EIFS systems | |
Energy | Cost/benefit of double/triple glazing |
Impact of moisture on insulation | |
Innovative water heating systems | |
Insulation efficiency as installed | |
Passive heating and cooling | |
Renewable energy systems | |
Retrofit energy efficiency measures | |
Energy efficient heating and cooling systems | |
Materials performance | Actions of materials on one another |
Assessment of new materials entering the market | |
Definitions of failure criteria and service life | |
Durability of timber frames | |
Durability performance of systems | |
Sustainability and environmental issues | Life cycle assessment of impacts of materials and structures |
Recycling and reuse | |
Reducing site noise | |
Rainwater collection and use | |
Internal environments | Condensation and similar moisture problems |
Passive ventilation | |
Ventilation effectiveness | |
Building user behaviour | Effect of building user on energy efficiency measures |
Economics and demographics | Life cycle costs |
Information management | Easy how-to guides |
Good practice database of design details | |
Earthquake engineering | Structural performance in earthquakes |
Urban design | Effect of legislation and regulations |
Although fire-safety science and engineering, and practices on site, were among the top seven general topics, none of the specific topics in those general areas were rated as important by 33% or more of respondents.
Yellow highlight indicates topic area rated as important by >50% of respondents.
Building Research is currently funding research in materials performance, energy efficiency and the environmental performance of buildings. The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology is funding an extensive BRANZ research programme on weathertightness. Building Research is also funding information transfer programmes in all four areas of concern, and has been doing so for some years.
The use of a contractor for the first time to conduct the 2006 survey has generated an extensive database of material. The detailed survey results will be shared with the Department of Building and Housing, and Standards New Zealand, and generally used in Building Research’s work on behalf of the industry.
Building envelope | 62% |
Materials performance | 60% |
Energy | 49% |
Building services | 39% |
Sustainability and environmental issues | 39% |
Via the Internet | 26% |
Build magazine | 24% |
Seminars and workshops | 12% |
Good practice guides and codes of practice | 12% |
Other BRANZ publications | 5% |
Industry and trade journals | 5% |
Other | 16% |
Total | 100% |
Download from Internet | 41% |
By email | 34% |
Post | 24% |
Not specified | 1% |
Total | 100% |
NZBC clause E2/AS1 Acceptable Solution for External Moisture | 14% |
Energy performance/efficiency/conservation issues, e.g. energy efficiency, renewable energy, insulation, sustainable design | 12% |
Sustainability and environmental issues, e.g. sustainable design and development, sustainable materials | 10% |
Insulation and moisture issues, including NZBC clause E3 | 9% |
Materials performance, especially timber treatment | 8% |
For more
Details of Building Research’s levy investments can be found on its website at www.buildingresearch.org.nz.
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Articles are correct at the time of publication but may have since become outdated.