Nations on the same page

Tena koutou,

Since our last newsletter we’ve attended two major international events on the standards calendar. In September I was present at the ISO (International Organisation for Standardization) General Assembly and Annual Meeting held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. This last month our Senior Advisor International Engagement, Steve Lowes, accompanied IEC National Committee President Peter Berry at the IEC equivalent event in San Francisco.

It was clear at both events, which offer an invaluable opportunity for an environmental scan, that the world of national standards bodies is focused on big strategic priorities: Climate change, digital economy and digital innovation, diversity and inclusion, relevance and sustainability; as well as traditional pillar priorities for standards bodies – health, safety and consumer protection, performance and quality assurance, trade and economic prosperity.

Striving for continued improvement

We’ve commenced work on refreshing our strategic priorities for the next five years, so that we stay relevant, meet our customers’ needs, maintain our key partnerships and establish new ones, modernise our infrastructure and service offerings, invest in our people and improve efficiencies where we can. We also need to support bigger domestic challenges like government reforms and objectives, support economic growth and recovery from covid and government climate change actions towards renewable energy and decarbonisation.

Projects already shaping progress

As we get close to wrapping up the year, I look back on the work achieved through 2022. These are challenging times globally but we’re working with commissioning organisations on solutions – building a 'smart', safe and standardised EV network, shaping the pathways for hydrogen fuel and biofuels, updating building standards to improve stock resilience and working with the dairy industry on herd testing.

Check out some of the interesting projects that have come to fruition below. Each one represents a small step towards progress and doing things the right way.

With best wishes, ngā mihi nui,

Malcolm MacMillan, National Manager Standards New Zealand

Smart home guidelines can help you be energy efficient

Smart homes use technologies with self-learning and algorithms which adapt user needs to electricity supply patterns while providing in-home services when needed. With the system doing the thinking for us to accommodate our daily energy-using behaviours, it can reduce energy when not needed and save on subsequent emissions for a better New Zealand.

Is it time to make your home smart?

Specification for classification of windows gives access to 15 year’s-worth of advancements

New Zealand windows have a lot to endure: harsh summer sunlight, ferocious southerly winds, bitingly-cold blizzards, and changing conditions under a shifting climate. There needs to be consistent performance yet with adaptability when designed for use in the vast range of buildings across the country – from high-rise blocks in metropolitan areas and large open public spaces to quaint seaside villas and rural farmhouses.

The new technical specification supports the creation of homes and workplaces built to withstand the challenges of our environment while providing new provisions for mid-rise and specific-design buildings.

Guidance on air permeability, water penetration, strength, rigidity and operability with SNZ TS 4211.

Shaping tomorrow’s timber structures with NZS AS 1720.1:2022

Timber offers a renewable and carbon-negative resource that can lead the way for the development of more innovative, sustainable and robust structures across New Zealand, now supported by newly published NZS AS 1720.1:2022 Timber structures. Part 1: Design methods.

‘It goes far beyond NZS 3603:1993' says Committee Chair Dr Tobias Smith. 'It incorporates a massive thirty years of additional learnings and previously out-of-scope content in structural engineering, timber products, and design. There is a growing trend for large commercial or educational buildings to be made from timber, which makes it more important to bring the standard in line with demand and need.'

Shaping tomorrow’s timber structures with NZS AS 1720.1:2022

Influencing standards and students with Susan Mander

We often think of standards from a practical application perspective and how they influence the way we do things or meet compliance. Major users of standards are the universities, academics, and students across New Zealand, integrating standards into their learning and teaching practice.

One such academic is Massey University’s Susan Mander, an electrical engineer, lighting expert, and lecturer leading the university’s lighting programme. Susan doesn’t just teach the application of standards to her lighting design students; she is also actively involved in their development as a committee member.

Susan tells us more about how her specialist work supports standards development and vice versa

At the table of standards development with Liz Ashwin

With New Zealand’s most sought-after standard under revision – NZS 3604:2011 Timber-framed buildings – we meet P3604 standards development committee member Liz Ashwin.

Liz shares her background and how that led to involvement in standards development

Fire section updated in revision of NZS 3404

The latest chair's update on the revision of NZS 3404 Steel structures standard, identifies the work of the working group focusing on fire considerations.

This is part of the first revision after 25 years of this important standard which supports the design and construction of steel buildings in New Zealand. It sets out the minimum requirements for the selection of materials, corrosion protection systems, and the fabrication, erection, and construction of steel structures. It applies to building structures; crane support girders; highway, railway, and pedestrian bridges; and composite steel and concrete beams and columns.

Read what's being included in the fire section.