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 access the online Technical Question form here
| Technical Question Title | Tool Version | Date Released | Credit Name | Sub-credit Name | TC Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse Floor Glare Reduction | DABv1 | April 2024 | 12 - Visual Comfort | Glare reduction | Link |
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Approved Ruling: For credit 12.1 Glare Reduction, the warehouse floor is included when it is identified as primary space, see the industrial space definitions on page 9 of the Industrial Guidance. If the warehouse is used for distribution or storage then it can be excluded from credit 12.1 as it is secondary or tertiary, not primary, space. The exception to the primary area nomination for credit 12.1 is loading docks which are required to comply regardless of their nomination (primary, secondary, tertiary or external). To summarise, credit 12.1 applies to primary warehouse space, primary office space and loading docks. Similarly credit 12.2 applies to primary warehouse and primary office space only. Where an industrial project is a speculative build (i.e. where the tenant is unknown) then the warehouse space shall be considered primary and included within the nominated space for credit 12.1 and 12.2 as a primary space. To determine the shading requirement for external loading docks projects can either use compliance method 12.1A or 12.1C (noting method 12.1B is for internal blinds and therefore not suitable). Fixed external shading may be required to achieve compliance with credit 12.1, depending on the orientation of the loading docks. With loading docks being a source of pollutants into the warehouse space (from vehicle exhaust fumes) it is recommended that the project team consider this impact when designing the shading features for the loading docks, particularly when also targeting credit 9. If fixed shading is applied tightly around the loading dock, this could increase pollutant concentrations within the warehouse space. Noting however that loading docks are not an acceptable fresh air inlet for credit 9 due to exhaust pollution contaminating the incoming air. Normal working hours for the warehouse will either be as specified by the tenant or where the tenant is unknown should be assumed as 4am-11pm (in line with occupancies for an industrial working space with >1 shift as per Table 47 in the GHG Modelling Guidelines). Additional guidance regarding breezeways: The compliance of a breezeway with the requirements of 12.1 will depend on the design and orientation of the breezeway, and location of the loading dock points along the breezeway. It is up to the project team to analyse the shading from direct sunlight provided by the breezeway through method 12.1A or 12.1C to show compliance with the credit and present this analysis clearly within their submission. With any breezeway design good ventilation should be considered alongside the glare requirements, particularly where projects are targeting both credit 12 and credit 9. If a breezeway is designed to be closed occasionally (e.g. if roller doors are installed which are open during deliveries and closed other times) then this space could be considered internal and the project team would need to include it within the area definition form, justifying how it has been defined within the area definition |
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