Code will govern insulation - EQC

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Christchurch Earthquake 2011

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Earthquake Commission contractors will install insulation if required by the building code, the commission says.

The Press on Tuesday uncovered a policy statement by Fletcher EQR (the commission's project management office) which told contractors working on repairing Christchurch houses not to get involved in installing insulation in the exterior walls of uninsulated houses.

Contractors "are not to carry out or supervise the retrofitting of external wall insulation", the policy says.

EQC said yesterday all its repairs were done to the building code standard "so where insulation is required it will be installed".

"There are some circumstances where the code does not require insulation, such as where only a small part of the house will be insulated as a result of earthquake repairs."

Community and public health adviser Ann Currie said Christchurch had many trained insulation retrofitters, including Community Energy Action, which "would have been eminently capable of responding to the needs".

Community Energy Action had upgraded more than 15,000 older houses in Canterbury.

"The Canterbury District Health Board has worked in partnership with Community Energy Action since 2001 on a variety of healthy housing projects," Currie said.

"We have confidence in the quality of their work and the way that they deliver their programmes, especially to low-income households.

"From a public health perspective and given the excellent government subsidies currently available, as well as it being a health-protection measure, every effort still needs to be made to increase insulation across the housing stock of Canterbury."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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Flip,Flop, who pays   #2   12:07 pm Nov 18 2011

So now what happens to any buildings that have been done that are not up to code, are EQR going to remedy these? if so who pays? Is it any wonder EQC are running short on cash when jobs are needing redone, workmanship in a number of instances if poor and requires repair.

the Govt awarded to contract to fletchers to stop cowboys, well looks like the entire rodeo is in CHCH with Fletchers running the wild west.

John   #1   10:52 am Nov 18 2011

Amazing that a bit of publicity around election time gets such a quick response!! Insulation of walls even 1 or 2 rooms is worthwhile. I fear reading between the lines here I fear that the status quo will remain. Insulation installing is something that needs to be done correctly. Congratulations Ann for mentioning trained insulation installers. Some people think anyone can put in insulation. (It's a bit like saying anyone can paint a house!)Installing insulation correctly is a skill. Believe me from my experience of employing staff to install insulation, yes anyone can install insulation, but not many can produce a high standard of install that meets the manufacturers instructions and the New zealand standard for installing insulation. Insulation is out of sight when covered up, but don't take heed correctly installed insulation probably saves more money over the lifetime of the building than any other component.

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