NZS 4297:2020

Objective is to provide a core resource for building consent authorities determining compliance with the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC) and has given guidance to designers, builders, owner-builders and others involved in the construction of successful earth walled buildings in New Zealand, and elsewhere around the world. There has been no failure reported to date of any earth building built in accordance with this suite of standards. Earth walled construction continues to be relevant at a time when the sustainability and decarbonising of the built environment is under scrutiny. Earthen materials are minimally processed, have low toxicity, and are available locally.¿¿ This will encourage and enable the uptake of local earthen materials with very low embodied energy within a decarbonising building industry. The revised standard continues to be a core resource and reflect advances in earth building practice, research, changes in referenced standards, and changes in building legislation: the Building Act 2004 and the New Zealand Building Code.