The Building Research Industry Needs Survey 2006

By - , Build 97

The needs of the industry as identified in Building Research’s annual survey were consistent with previous years’ results and supported the current focus of levy funding.

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.

Table 1: Make-up of survey response poll.  
Designer 23%
Manufacturer 16%
Central or local government 14%
Builder/subcontractor 14%
Building consultant 11%
Property owner/manager 5%
Other 17%
Total 100%
Table 2: Ranking of importance of general research areas.  
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.
Table 3: Specific topics rated as important by 33% or more of respondents.  
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.

Table 4: Topic areas where information was actively sought.  
Building envelope 62%
Materials performance 60%
Energy 49%
Building services 39%
Sustainability and environmental issues 39%
Table 5: How respondents prefer to receive information.  
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%
Table 6: How respondents prefer to receive information on codes and standards.  
Download from Internet 41%
By email 34%
Post 24%
Not specified 1%
Total 100%
Table 7: Suggested topic areas for new or revised NZBC clauses or NZ standards.  
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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