The following guidance applies to the weighted sound reduction index for partitions:

The partition between the spaces should be constructed to achieve a weighted sound reduction index (dB Rw) of:

• At least Rw 45; for all partitions separating enclosed spaces which are:
  • Fixed without a door; and/or
  • Glazed partitions without a door
• At least 40, for all partitions fronting a room (from an open plan area);
• At least 35 (in composite with door and partition) for all partition types that contain a door; and

At least 50 through floors between occupied spaces

For projects using the DAB NZv1.0 Healthcare Guidance: Innovation Challenge – Respite Spaces. While projects are encouraged to have individual spaces for the purpose of respite, spaces such as Staff rooms, Whānau spaces and Patient lounges are still considered respite spaces even if occupants are regularly moving in and out of the space.

Both the Green Star Design and As Built and Communities tools have as a conditional requirement that the land to be built on is not Prime Agricultural Land. The Government is proposing a National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL) to improve the way highly productive land is managed under the Resource Management Act 1991 - more information here.

In light of our recent survey and developments in central government around this issue NZGBC has decided the forthcoming Highly Productive Land guidance is very likely to be used in Green Star. From this point forward any mention of “Prime Agricultural Land” will be replaced with “Highly Productive Land.” Once the final NPS-HPL Statement is issued, if any significant modifications to this TQ is necessary, an updated TQ will be issued.

The criteria for Highly Productive Land will be:

1. The capability and versatility of the land to support primary production based on the LUC classification system - currently this will be LUC1-3 land using this website using the "NZLRI Land Use Capability" layer

2. Highly Productive Land excludes all urban zoned areas and all future urban zoned areas in district plans.

Project teams are highly encouraged to ensure their site fulfil the minimal requirements in the Sustainable Sites credit prior to expending time on a project.  If there are any questions about this credit the project team is highly encouraged to contact NZGBC for clarification

Projects may engage a Green Star Accredited Professional (GSAP) and Independent Commissioning Agent (ICA) from the same organization on the condition that:

1. The project team can sufficiently demonstrate that each role is being performed independent of the other.

2. The compliance requirement for both Credit 1.0 Green Star Accredited Professional and Credit 2.4 – Independent commissioning Agent are met.

The below documentation is recommended to demonstrate sufficient independence between the GSAP and ICA:

• An organizational chart showing all people involved.
• A role description for each person who contributed to the ICA or GSAP role,
• The New Zealand Business number (NZBNs) of any independent contractors involved in the commissioning process, and a clear election of two separate people that can be named as ICA and GSAP who were an integral part in the provision of the relevant services,
• All other documentation requirements as per the Submission Guidelines.

NB: The ICA cannot be from the same firm as the consultants involved in the design or installation of the nominated systems

1 point can be awarded when 95% of engineered wood products meet the formaldehyde emission limits by area. Project teams are not expected to calculate all the surface areas of each engineered wood product. Only the largest face of each product is to be calculated for credit compliance. 

Retail projects may mark credit criterion 11.3 Surface Illuminance as 'Not Applicable' (NA) due to the specific requirements for lighting design within retail fitouts.  It is noted that the outcome targeted by the ‘Surface Illuminance’ criteria of the Lighting Comfort credit is not always relevant in retail spaces which focus on the lighting of product and creating visual interest.

This TC is released to supersede the previous TC issued in May 2020 for credit 22. 

The Design and As-Built and Interiors tool, Construction and Demolition waste Credit 22 has a minimum requirement that must be met BEFORE the other credits can be approved.

The “Reporting Accuracy" credit criteria states the following: “The minimum requirement is met where the waste contractors and waste processing facilities servicing the project demonstrate compliance with the Green Star Construction and Demolition Waste Reporting Criteria.” Environmental Choice New Zealand (ECNZ) issued (EC-59-19) Construction & Demolition Waste Services specification (found here https://environmentalchoice.org.nz/specifications/ec-59-19/ ) fulfils the Reporting Criteria minimum requirement.

Therefore, if all the associated waste contractors and waste processing facilities are awarded a licence under this specification then the project meets the minimum requirement for this credit.  

Projects using ECNZ-licensed waste contractors also qualify for 1 credit related to 70% diversion from landfill, provided the ECNZ audit is completed withing two months after Practical Completion of the project in accordance with clause 6.3 c) of EC-59-19.

Can the ISO standard 18504 can be used as a Best Practice Remediation strategy for Site Decontamination?

Yes, for the purposes of site decontamination in Green Star, the ISO standard 18504: Soil quality: Sustainable Remediation can be used an alternative to the current standard referenced in the submission guidelines: “A Framework for Assessing the Sustainability of Soil and Groundwater Remediation”

In Regard to 19A - Life Cycle Impacts in Green Star - Design & As Built v1.0 NZGBC clarifies the following:

19A.1 – Comparative Life Cycle Assessment - Are exceeding benchmark points available for operational energy improvements beyond the three (3) capped points

NZGBC clarifies that exceeding benchmark points can only be achieved if the cumulative reduction from modules other than B6 exceeds 3 points. Please note that under this version of the rating tool no more than 2 points can be achieved for an 'Exceeding Green Star Benchmarks' claim. 

19A.2 – Material Selection Improvement - Should Module B6 be included in the reference case (initial scenario from which reduction % is calculated) when calculating “total cumulative impact reduction (excluding B6)”. 
NZGBC clarifies module B6 is excluded from the reference case. 

19A.2 – Construction Process Improvement - Does the “percentage cumulative impact reduction” refer only to a relative reduction for modules A4 and A5
i.e. the reference case (initial scenario from which reduction % is calculated) excludes all other modules.

It is confirmed that reference case excludes all other modules, and therefore the cumulative impact reduction is relative to the sum of impacts from module A4 and A5. 

The following guidance is provided for projects wanting to target the Soft Landings Framework innovation point in the Commissioning and Tuning credit. 

Minimum Compliance :

All compliance requirements as per Credit 2: Commissioning and Tuning must be achieved prior to pursuing the 'Soft Landings Framework Innovation credit'.

Documentation Requirements

Design Review Submission

• Documentation to support how the ‘Soft Landings Framework’ approach will be implemented throughout the design, construction, commissioning and tuning phases; including meeting minutes and commissioning plans;
• CV of the project’s Commissioning Agent detailing the qualifications and experience relevant to the project; and
• Confirmation from the building owner that indicates their commitment to incorporate the principles of the ‘Soft Landings Framework’ throughout design, construction, commissioning and into building operation.

As Built Submission

• Supporting documentation to support how the ‘Soft Landings Framework’ approach was implemented throughout the design, construction, commissioning, and tuning phases. Where the tuning phase may not have been undertaken at the time of submission, documentation should support how it will be implemented.   
• Meeting minutes and workshop notes demonstrating involvement of the design team in the development and implementation of the ‘Soft Landings Framework’ throughout design, construction and commissioning, all stages of checklist completed as per the soft landing framework relevant at the time of submission and checklist for all future stages.
• CV of the project’s Commissioning Agent detailing the qualifications and experience relevant to the project; and
• Confirmation from the building owner that demonstrates the building owner’s commitment to incorporate the principles of the ‘Soft Landings Framework' in to building operation. 
• Any other evidence to support claims made by the project team.