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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Tightness Tester Credentials | Green Star Buildings NZ | June 2026 | 3 - Verification and Handover | Link | |
|
Approved Ruling: The level of experience and qualification of the air tightness tester should be appropriate for the scale and complexity of the project. For larger or more complex buildings, it is often beneficial to engage a Level 2 tester to carry out design reviews, provide input during construction, and perform inspections prior to testing. In accordance with ATTMA Technical Standards, a Level 1 tester using a single fan may test a simple building with an enclosure volume of up to 4,000 m³, while a Level 2 tester is required for larger or more complex enclosures that require multiple fans. Test results must be incorporated into the energy model, so it is important to establish realistic estimates of the expected air leakage rates. This is essential for both responsible energy modelling and effective test planning. |
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