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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 access the online Technical Question form here

Technical Question Title Tool Version Date Released Credit Name Sub-credit Name TC Link
Alternative Compliance Criteria DABv1 July 2021 12 - Visual Comfort Views Link
Approved Ruling:

Projects may target one (1) point for Visual Comfort - Views from relevant Green Star rating tools by using the following alternate compliance criteria: 

60% of the nominated area must demonstrate that a View Rating of 3 or greater is achieved.

The View Rating may be found using the below methodology summarised from Windows and Offices: A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment:

  • Sitting in a chair in each cubicle or space facing the computer monitor, the amount and quality of view visible within a 90-degree cone of the monitor is rated from 0=none to 5=largest, based on the below: 
 A view rating of 5 almost completely fills the visual field of the observer seated at the cubicle. 
A view rating of 4 fills about one-half of the visual field. 
A view rating of 3 represents about one-half the size of a view 4, but still with a coherent view. 
A view rating of 2 represents a narrow and typically fractured view. 
A view rating of 1 represents a glimpse of sky or sliver of the outside environment. 

 

Additionally, the following guidance will apply:

  • View glazing in the contributing area must provide a clear image of the exterior, not obstructed by frits, fibers, patterned glazing, or added tints that distort colour balance. 
  • View glazing in the contributing area must provide a clear image of the exterior, not obstructed by frits, fibers, patterned glazing, or added tints that distort colour balance. 
  • Include in the calculations any permanent interior obstructions. Movable furniture and partitions may be excluded.
  • Views into interior atria or similar Internal View (as defined in the Guidance section of 12.2 Visual Comfort - Views from Green Star - Design & As Built v1.2) may also be considered.

Documentation Requirements:

Please provide the following in your submission:

  • Technical Report - 'Windows and Offices: A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment' published by the California Energy Commission
  • Clear outline of what the View Rating is and the methodology used to calculate it.
  • Simulation report demonstrating View Rating achieved for nominated area.
  • A copy of this TC.