Further energy efficiency compliance updates have been made following consultation on clause H1 of the Building Code.
Updates have been made to the settings for compliance with the energy-efficiency requirements of clause H1 of the Building Code.
This follows consultation by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), which has led to a number of amendments relating to H1. These simple changes follow decisions already made to remove the Schedule Method from the H1 insulation ‘deemed to comply’ pathways, announced in July 2025.
The changes include:
- more flexibility in insulation requirements
- clearer measurement rules
- a bathroom heating exemption
- improved modelling methods
- better thermal bridging consideration
- enhanced tools and tables
MBIE says these amendments aim to provide designers more flexibility and help builders balance upfront costs with long-term energy savings, enabling additional options for compliance while improving clarity and consistency in the settings.
The overall level of energy efficiency and insulation required remains unchanged and will continue to help create warm, dry and energy efficient buildings across Aotearoa New Zealand.
The updated AS/VMs have already taken effect, with a 12-month transition period until 26 November 2026.
Other Building Code updates
In July 2025, MBIE published the first version of the Building Product Specifications, effective 28 July 2025. As a consequence of publishing the Building Product Specifications, many acceptable solutions and verification methods were revised to cite the Building Product Specifications. Many of these documents were published as new editions with a modern look.
Some minor typographical corrections have been made to some of these documents - Building Product Specifications, B2/AS1, C/AS1, C/AS2, C/VM2, and E2/AS1.
For more information see:
