Description

To get better thermal performance in new homes, designers should look at details such as junctions and penetrations with the use of readily available calculation tools for whole-of-building assessments.

Recent BRANZ-funded research by Beacon Pathway identified a consistent trend in the amount of excess framing we are seeing in new builds, with the average building in the sample having a total of 34% of the wall as framing.

Scope

This article includes:

• More timber framing, more heat loss
• Use realistic timber fractions in design
• Change coming
• High-performance details project
• It’s not just about R-values
• Whole-of-building assessment will become common
• Need thorough performance assessment
• Result will be better outcomes