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Architect and biomaterial expert Maria Walker named Future Thinker of the Year for 2023
Future Thinkers Circularity Panel Discussion

 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
Custom welded sections for beams and columns Green Star Buildings NZ, DABv1, DABv1.1 July 2025 19 - Life Cycle Assessment/Impacts, 21 - Upfront Carbon Emissions
Custom welded sections for beams and columns spanning more than 30m can be assumed to be 100% sourced from domestic steel plate with an emission factor of 4,092 kg.CO2e/tonne in the reference building. This is in recognition of evidence supplied to NZGBC that custom made large span beams and columns are generally domestically sourced.
 
For clarity, the definition of the reference building for Warehouse type buildings may include portal frames over 30m and this large span steel would use this new emission factor.
Lighting Comfort Criteria Green Star Buildings NZ July 2025 11 - Light Quality Lighting Comfort
Do the requirements under the Lighting Comfort criteria apply to all internal and external regularly occupied areas?
Yes. The Lighting Comfort criteria in Green Star Buildings apply to all regularly occupied spaces within the site boundary of the project for both internal and external lighting. Internal regularly occupied areas are to be defined per the Submission Guidelines. External regularly occupied areas are those that are regularly occupied when external lighting is required, e.g. outdoor dining areas that operate outside of daylight hours. External areas that are not regularly occupied during these times do not need to meet Lighting Comfort requirements.
Non-regularly occupied areas may be excluded from meeting the credit requirements. However, the NZGBC encourage project teams to install high-quality lighting in non-regularly occupied spaces where possible.
 
Can industrial projects and external areas target alternate lighting properties for Lighting Comfort? Yes. External spaces and internal warehouse spaces with high bay lighting in an industrial project may comply with the following alternate lighting requirement in the Lighting Comfort criteria under the Light Quality credit from Green Star Buildings:
  • Light sources may have a minimum Colour Rendering Index (CRI) of 80
  • Light sources may have a MacAdam Ellipse or Standard Deviation Colour Matching (SDCM) of 5 or lower
All other lighting properties should comply with the requirements outlined in the Lighting Comfort criteria in the Submission Guidelines.
Where the industrial building has regularly occupied office spaces, these office spaces must meet the credit requirements as per the Green Star Buildings Submission Guidelines.
Guidance for General and Technical Questions Green Star Buildings NZ, INTv1, DABv1, DABv1.1, INTv1.1 August 2025 0 - General General

Do I need to submit a General Question or a Technical Question for my project?

General Question

General Questions are sent via email to greenstarnz@nzgbc.org.nz when you have a query that is general in nature. General Questions are intended to provide general assistance with the user experience of the Green Star rating tools.

General Questions may include queries relating to:

  • Navigating the NZGBC website
  • Finding project details.
  • Finding NZGBC resources (e.g., where to download Submission Guidelines or Leadership Challenges).

Note that General Questions are not technical in nature (i.e., do not relate to credits or rating tool requirements) and cannot be used as evidence in submissions. Questions that are technical in nature will be cancelled, and the submitter will be directed to resubmit as a Technical Question.

 

Technical Question

Technical Questions are submitted when you have a question that is technical in nature. This may include questions relating to:

  • Requiring clarification on an item within a credit or rating tool.
  • Confirming your interpretation of a credit
  • Proposing an alternative solution to the credit requirements.
  • Obtaining a response that you intend to use for a project or include in your Green Star submission.

Technical Questions should be project-specific and will be registered towards that project’s four complimentary Technical Questions unless discussed with the NZGBC.

Non-project-specific Technical Questions are generally free of charge, but may incur a fee at the discretion of the NZGBC. This may include questions relating to:

  • Fixing an error in the rating tools
  • Addressing missing/contradicting guidance, like a missing definition
  • Area Definitions

What information should be included in my Technical Question?

  • Reference the specific Submission Guidelines, including the category and credit, that requires clarification (Quote, page numbers and references of the Submission Guidelines). e.g. this question is about X credit, where it states "quote" pg#.
  • A clear explanation of what you would like clarified. This is usually in a question format, rather than a statement. e.g. what does X mean?
  • Where an alternative approach is being proposed, please clearly:
    • Explain the issue.
    • Outline your alternative proposed solution.
    • Short explanation to justify the alternative approach proposed.
    • Supporting documentation to justify the alternative approach.
  • It is recommended you provide the preferred outcome/answer using standard TQ wording.

What can be expected in the response to my Technical Question?

Responses typically include:

  • Confirmation of your interpretation, or an explanation if your interpretation is not correct.
  • Clarification or answer to your question.
  • Explanation of the requirements in the Submission Guidelines and what the project team needs to do.

What does a Technical Question NOT do?

  • A Technical Question does not award points or confirm the outcome of a credit. This will be determined by the Certified Assessor(s) at the time of assessment.
  • A Technical Question does not review the submission forms and evidence for credit compliance. This will be determined by the Certified Assessor(s) at the time of assessment.
  • A Technical Question does not allow assessment comments to be removed or changed. Projects seeking further clarification on assessment comments should submit a post-assessment round clarification

Tips

Before submitting a Technical Question, please ensure to:

  • Review the existing Green Star Technical Clarification Rulings Register.
  • Carefully read the relevant credit in the Submission Guidelines, including Guidance, in its entirety.
  • Review any associated calculator and calculator guide related to the question.
  • Include a clear question - what are you seeking clarification on?
  • Explain how you have interpreted the issue.
  • Be clear and concise.
  • Provide the preferred outcome in the TQ submission

 

For all other queries

Please refer to the below for contact details on all other queries:

For all other NZGBC enquiries, please get in touch with us via customerservices@nzgbc.org.nz
Further guidance on the scoring metrics for Market Transformation Technical Clarification Green Star Buildings NZ August 2025 40 - Market Transformation Market Transformation

Project teams may use the table below for further guidance on the scoring metrics under the Market Transformation credit from Green Star Buildings. It would be expected that the initiatives proposed under the Market Transformation credit would be rated highly in at least three categories and medium in the remaining two. 

 

The metrics are: 

  • Control of outcome: The initiative delivers a guaranteed outcome
  • Scale of impact: The scale of impact is significant. For example, the outcome may satisfy multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Transformation potential: The initiative has the potential to transform an industry or sector
  • Length of impact: The initiative delivers long-lasting impacts
  • Value generation: The initiative can deliver benefits to both stakeholders (e.g., building owner or occupants) as well as the general public

 

 

Control of outcome

Scale of impact

Transformation potential

Length of impact

Value generation

Low

Process

The project goes through a process to try to ensure the outcome is achieved, but there is no certainty.

Low

Addresses one SDG, no direct link to NZGBC Strategy, limited beneficiaries 

Precinct only

Benefits are only accrued to precinct occupants or precinct developer.

1 year

Benefits are felt from construction to around 5 years after practical completion 

Low

Credit is mostly standard practice for industry and expected by the market

Med

Influence

The project has the ability to influence an outcome. The greater the effort, the higher the likelihood of this being achieved. Somewhat certain. 

Medium

Addresses at least two SDGs, links to megatrends, and at least two beneficiaries

Surrounding Community

The benefits extend beyond the precinct, but are limited to the surrounding neighbourhood or precinct

5 years

Benefits are felt from about 5 years after practical completion to around 20 years

Medium

Credit outcomes are somewhat valued by stakeholders, particularly those looking to get a high Green Star score.

High

Direct

The project is directly responsible for achieving the outcome. Guaranteed certainty.

High

Addresses multiple SDGs, aligned with megatrends, and multiple beneficiaries

Market transformation

This market transformation claim plays a significant role in transforming an industry or sector 

20+ years

Benefits are felt for longer than 20 years

High

Credit outcome has broad benefits but is rarely sought after.

 
Credit Criteria for steel framed buildings DABv1.1, DABv1 August 2025 20 - Responsible Building Materials Structural and Reinforcing Steel

As an alternative to credit 20.1: Structural & Reinforcing Steel’s requirements for steel framed buildings, projects may instead opt to comply with 60% of all fabricated steel components (by cost) meeting a Responsible Products Value of at least 10.

See Credit 6 of the Green Star Buildings Submission Guidance document for further guidance on RPVs. 
Cleaning Ductwork Technical Clarification Green Star Buildings NZ 10 - Clean Air Ventilation System Attributes
Ductwork can be considered clean where construction management processes are in place to ensure that all new ductwork, or ductwork that has been recently cleaned, remains free of moisture and debris until occupation, this ductwork can be considered to be clean. This should be addressed within the relevant scope of the Environmental Management System (EMS) and/or Environmental Management Plan (EMP) criteria in the Responsible Construction Minimum Expectation
TVOC and Formaldehyde Level Sampling Points for Industrial Projects Technical Clarification Green Star Buildings NZ September 2025 13 - Exposure to Toxins

Industrial projects may use the following alternative approach for warehouse-type spaces to determine the number of sampling points required to meet the TVOC and Formaldehyde Levels criteria in Credit Achievement.

Floor area

Number of samples per floor

< 10,000 m2

3

For every additional 10,000 m2 thereafter

1 additional sampling point


The samples must be representative of where the occupants are likely to spend a majority of their time.

 

This approach applies to the total warehouse-type spaces, including spaces where paints and sealants are not used.

 

For office spaces in an industrial project, the number of samples is to be determined in accordance with the Submission Guidelines.
Intumescent Paint VOC Compliance Technical Clarification DABv1, DABv1.1 September 2025 13 - Indoor Pollutants Paints, Adhesives, Sealants and Carpets

Intumescent paints may be exempt from the VOC compliance requirements of 13.1 - Paints, Adhesives, Sealants, and Carpets, provided the contractor submits a plan outlining how application will not occur in fully enclosed areas.