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 Green Star Technical Clarification Rulings

Technical Clarifications for Green Star represent our answers to Technical Questions submitted by projects, and provide further guidance and reference to others. The list is regularly updated.  

There are two types of Technical Clarifications listed in the table below:

General Clarifications

These are extensions to the guidance provided in the Submission Guidelines. They clarify and sometimes supersede the original Credit Criteria or 
Compliance Requirements. General Clarifications set precedent for future project teams to follow. Should a project team wish to apply a general clarification to its project, there is no requirement for further Technical Questions to be submitted. NZGBC Assessors will also use them as precedents to assess submissions.

Project Specific Clarifications

These are published as references for other projects but, unlike General Clarifications, they do not set precedent. They often relate to special 
situations where multiple prerequisites exist for a particular project and are less likely to reoccur to another project. Therefore, rulings set for Project Specific Clarifications are often conditional and will likely vary for other projects. Each project still needs to submit its own Technical Questions and provides evidence relating to its own building in order to have a similar ruling approved for that specific building. 

Should you wish to apply any Technical Clarification for legacy rating tools to your projects, please submit a Technical Question to the NZGBC to 
explain why and how it applies. You can download the Technical Question form here

How to most efficiently use this page:

  1. Filter for the relevant tool version
  2. If known, use the credit name field to search for credit keywords or corresponding credit number - please note, this field will ONLY search the "Credit Name" field
  3. Use your CTRL+F to search keywords on the page
Technical Question Title Clarification Type Tool Version Month Released Credit Name Sub-credit Name Amendment/Approved Ruling
Building Systems General DABv1 July 2021 2 - Commissioning and Tuning Commissioning and Tuning

Building systems that are part of the day to day operations of the building must be included within the scope of the credit criteria 'Building Systems Tuning' / 'Fitout Systems Tuning' / 'Project Systems Tuning' Building systems regardless of static or seasonal operational settings need to be reviewed and tuned accordingly so that they operate to their full potential and as designed, therefore meeting the aim of the credit. 
Knowledge of Sustainable Practices General DABv1 May 2021 7 - Responsible Construction Practices High Quality Staff Support

80% of all individuals that work on site for at least 3 days, representing a contractor or sub-contractor, must receive training to comply with the requirements of the Knowledge of Sustainable Practices.
Measuring Internal Noise General DABv1 June 2021 10 - Acoustic Comfort Internal Noise Levels

The time period selected for measuring Internal Noise Level should be representative of the source as in line with the NZS2107:2016. For clarification – naturally ventilated spaces might have a longer time period then a continuously operating mechanically ventilated space.
Submission Guidelines Correction - Reverberation General DABv1 November 2020 10 - Acoustic Comfort Reverberation

Where the submission guidelines make reference to note 3 of Table 1 AS/NZS 2107:2016, the NZGBC clarifies that this is a minor discrepancy in the submission guidelines. The reference should be made to note 1 of Table 1 AS/NZS 2107:2016.
Light Pollution within Campus General DABv1 June 2021 26 - Light Pollution Light Pollution to Neighbouring Bodies

This is to clarify that light pollution to existing neighbouring buildings within campus may be excluded from the criteria for light pollution to neighbouring bodies.
Concrete Sealer as Indoor Pollutant General DABv1 November 2020 13 - Indoor Pollutants Paints, Adhesives, Sealants and Carpets

Concrete sealers applied on site can be classified under the category of ‘Primer, Sealer and Prep Coats’. Glazes and sealants applied offsite will be excluded from the associated category and credit as outlined in the submission guidelines. 

 
FSC Mix' Certification General DABv1 October 2019 20 - Responsible Building Materials Timber

NZGBC recognises 'FSC Mix' certification. The full cost (100%) of the 'FSC Mix' certified product may be used to demonstrate compliance
Indoor Pollutant innovation - theoretical innovations General DABv1 July 2021 29 - Innovation Improving on Green Star Benchmarks

Projects targeting the Exceeding Green Star Benchmarks for Indoor Pollutant innovation UItra-Low VOC Paints may use theoretical calculations to determine the grams of VOC per litre (g/L) in addition to the current methods of demonstrating that a paint, adhesive or sealant complies with this criterion. Total VOC (TVOC) values must reflect the final ready to use product, inclusive of tints (in the case of paints) and made in grams of VOC per litre (g/L) of ready to use product. All theoretical calculations should be provided by the supplier on company letterhead or on the official product datasheet.

Documentation Requirements:

Please provide the following in your submission;

•              Evidence that at least 95% of all internally applied paints, adhesives, sealants and carpets meet stipulated ‘Total VOC Limits’ and that one (1) point has been awarded for credit criterion 13.1 Paints, Adhesives, Sealants and Carpets.

•              Evidence that over 50% of paints (by volume) specified in the building have a maximum TVOC content of 5g/L.

•              All theoretical calculations on supplier letterhead or material safety data sheets, product safety data sheets, manufacturer's product specification sheets etc.

•              A copy of this FAQ.

For Note: Theoretical calculations are only applicable when calculating ultra-low VOCs. Projects must demonstrate compliance for criteria 13.1 Paints, Adhesives, Sealants and Carpets and 13.2 Engineered Wood Products as per the Submission Guidelines.
C&D Waste Points when Delivering an Integrated Interiors and D.A.B Building General DABv1 April 2021 22 - Construction and Demolition Waste Construction and Demolition Waste

How do I calculate C&D Waste points when delivering an integrated Interiors project within a Design & As Built building?

Fixed Benchmark Pathway (22A)

Projects teams delivering a Green Star rated Interiors project within a Green Star Design & As Built rated base building may aggregate the base building and fitout construction and demolition waste to determine the maximum waste allowance based on the combined GFA and NLA.

Up to one (1) point for the base building (GFA) and up to three (3) points are awarded for the fitout (NLA) where the construction and demolition waste going to landfill meets a fixed benchmark, defined in kilograms of waste per square metre in the Construction and Demolition Waste Fixed Benchmark pathway.

Points are awarded based on the maximum waste allowance calculated using the combined GFA and NLA:

(GFA x targeted waste benchmark) + (NLA x targeted waste benchmark) = cumulative waste total.

Points are awarded in accordance with the waste benchmarks for a typical building, and typical fitout as per the table below;

Design & As Built (base building) Interiors  (fitout)

Design & As Built (base building)
Waste kg/m2 (GFA)
> 15
<15
< 5

 

Please note only one innovation point is available and that points may be pro-rated in between benchmarks.

Percentage Benchmark Pathway (22B)

Projects teams delivering a Green Star rated Interiors project within a Green Star Design & As Built rated base building may aggregate the base building and fitout construction waste when targeting a percentage benchmark. Up to one (1) point for the base building (GFA) and up to one (1) point for the fitout (NLA) is awarded where at least 70% of aggregated base building and fitout waste, generated during construction and demolition, has been diverted from landfill (waste reported in kilograms) as defined in the 22B Construction and Demolition Waste - Percentage Benchmark pathway.

Documentation Requirements:

  • Compliance Verification Summaries from waste contractor(s) and waste processing facilities.
  • Disclosure Statement from waste contractor(s) and waste processing facilities.
  • Demolition or site drawings.
  • Cumulative waste report.
  • Calculations based on the total GFA and NLA demonstrating compliance with the fixed waste benchmarks for base building and fitout (22A) OR Calculations demonstrating compliance with the percentage benchmark (22B)
  • A copy of this response.
Expired Product Certification General DABv1 May 2021 0 - General General

For project that applying the built phase rating, an expired product certification will be accepted provided it expired after the date the final design specification was issued. In this instance, the project team is required to provide a dated specifications/drawing (and evidence this was the final issue) showing that the product was specified whilst the eco-label certification was current.