Oculus Ltd | Architectural Engineering

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We use science to design better buildings. Our team has expertise in the design of roofs, walls, windows, and waterproofing to make sure the outside stays out and the inside stays in. We work closely with architects to deliver weather-tight, cost effective, energy efficient, warm, dry buildings.

Dimas Rodriguez

Lesley Precious

Gab Davenport

Bernard Farrington

Glenda Yee

Annabelle

Baz

Vaughn

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A healthy home. What is it? 🏡⠀ Do you know ho

A healthy home. What is it? 🏡⠀
Do you know how healthy (or unhealthy) your home is? ⠀
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Comment below on what you think a healthy home is. We'll give you one to get started... A healthy home is, WARM. 🔆

It's back! 🙌 Building Science + Bullsh*t semina

It's back! 🙌 Building Science + Bullsh*t seminar brought to you by Oculus and Peter Raimondo!⠀
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Join Peter (via VC) as he presents Weathertightness 101 🌪️ ⛈️ ☀️ ⠀
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To RSVP for this seminar held on 17th June please email gab@oculusltd.co.nz

The number one change Oculus would like to see in

The number one change Oculus would like to see in the NZ building industry is an easy and cost neutral change. It is a low hanging fruit of a change which would have a massive impact. ⠀
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#1 Windows are the single biggest energy efficiency issue impacting our buildings, and aluminium is one of the best conductors of heat known to science. It would be an easy marketing win for window suppliers to offer thermally broken suites as standard, rather than an alternative. Failing that, legislation should be bought in to require thermal breaks for all windows and a minimum R value to ensure well performing windows.⠀ ⠀
The E2/AS1 window detail has become the de facto code compliant window detail but is seriously flawed, and only used in New Zealand. The detail results in air leaks and gaps between the insulation and the window, and as the detail is only used in New Zealand it limits competition to domestic suppliers, and results in an increase of construction costs.

Runner up in our top ten countdown to change we wa

Runner up in our top ten countdown to change we want to see in the industry comes in with with some terrible news: ⠀
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#2. Australia is beating New Zealand. They have brought in air tightness testing to all new buildings. Air tightness or blower door testing is common internationally, as poor air tightness can be responsible for up to 35% of the heat lost in a building. There is currently no requirement for this type of testing for new builds in New Zealand, despite the leaky building crisis. This is another simple measure to implement that would have big impact and provide a measure of quality control in buildings.

We are soon to reveal the #1 change we would like

We are soon to reveal the #1 change we would like to see in the industry. But before we get there, here is #3.⠀
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#3. 40,000 kids a year are hospitalised because of the house they live in, and 1,600 people a year die because of the house they live in. With nothing proposed in the next round of building code updates around building performance, it is time for the industry to support MBIE and rally for policy change. We believe it is necessary to develop a technical guidance roadmap which will set out the targets and the building performance measurements needed for New Zealand to reach a net zero ready building code, leading to carbon zero.

We are getting closer to the number one change we'

We are getting closer to the number one change we'd like to see in the industry. Coming in at #4 is: ⠀
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#4: Government to support the industry. ⠀
It’s a common response that the industry is already under pressure, and any changes to the way we build will be expensive to implement. Therefore, the Government should support the industry in being able to implement the required changes. That financial support could also be used for training and applying more environmentally friendly forms of construction - for example: grants for constructing more energy efficient buildings, or constructing with less waste, or lower upfront carbon emitting construction.

Halfway through the countdown, here is #5 in the t

Halfway through the countdown, here is #5 in the top ten changes we'd like to see in the industry: ⠀
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#5. Comfort, Comfort, Comfort.⠀
At present we can't afford to heat our houses to make every room in the home comfortable to live in. In many cases we prioritise heating one room at a time, or one room over another. We cannot be making comparisons relating to energy efficiency or emissions of our buildings without this basic level of performance. Defined performance criteria are required to communicate basic performance expectations for our buildings.

The countdown continues, so let's talk about the H

The countdown continues, so let's talk about the Healthy Homes Standards. Here is #6 in the top #10 changes we'd like to see in the industry. ⠀
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#6 If we set aside the key problem - unless the building fabric is improved, adding an expensive heat pump is pointless if the tenant cant afford to use it. There are some serious flaws with the standards such as: - The relevance of the heating calculations for new builds, and the lack of coordination with the building code. - The vague wording used to describe what are acceptable gaps in the building fabric or what buildings are excluded from the mechanical ventilation requirements (they all are)! These flaws desperately need to be addressed. Unless there is some form of support to landlords combined with a penalty for non compliance, one could argue there would be a very low level of implementation of the changes.

As we continue our top ten countdown of industry c

As we continue our top ten countdown of industry change we'd like to see, here is our #7.NZGBC are always between a rock and a hard place trying to balance increased implementation of Homestar, and these measures being robust enough to have a meaningful impact. Last year there was some strong criticism of Homestar 6 with solid evidence to support that there was little to no benefit of Homestar 6 over code minimum buildings. This suggests the balance in improving implementation has shifted too far. ⠀
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The #7 change we'd like to see is that NZGBC takes these criticisms seriously and implement changes to shift the balance back to using measures that ensure highly performing green buildings.

It is now more evident than ever that the level of

It is now more evident than ever that the level of our building standards must be taken seriously. We need reliable sources, reliable standards and reliable certifications. This is why #8 in our countdown for industry change is: ⠀
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#8. BRANZ to transfer to CodeMark certification rather than appraisals. There is considerable confusion about what the difference is between these forms of certification. The appraisal is a marketing document that building owners cannot place any reliance on. CodeMark is an unchallengeable form of product assurance. Building consent authorities (BCAs, usually councils) must accept a product certificate as evidence of compliance with the Building Code - that is, as long as the product is used in accordance with the use and limitations defined on the certificate.

NZGBC has shared that there are 1,600 expected dea

NZGBC has shared that there are 1,600 expected deaths in NZ. Not virus related, but housing related. A staggering 40% of homes are mouldy due to the poor quality of housing, and therefore causing death in NZ. ⠀
Let's Walk the Talk. ⠀
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#9 If you sign up to a climate emergency or a carbon zero target you change the way you build your buildings. We all want to live in healthy homes, correct. So why not start by making a commitment to the place that shelters your loved ones, and yourself - what will your target be?

As we continue to navigate through uncertain times

As we continue to navigate through uncertain times, there are some certainties that have become more relevant now, than ever before. We are calling out the top ten changes we would like to see in the building industry. ⠀
COVID-19 pandemic has provided an excellent opportunity to stimulate the economy by commissioning a major remediation of NZ building stock - to make our buildings healthy to live in. We know Internal Air Quality has a significant impact on the transmission of COVID-19 - good ventilation, comfortable temperatures and relative humidity between 40% - 60%. The quality of NZ buildings is so poor, we have no way of managing air quality therefore we are putting ourselves at unnecessary risk of illness. ⠀
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#10. A robust survey of NZ building stock to ascertain the cost of upgrade. Is it $11bn, $23bn, $47bn or more? These figures are little more than a moist finger estimate. Instead, let’s define what constitutes housing fit for human habitation, and do the survey work to get an evidence-based figure of the remedial work needed to achieve this level of performance. #oculus #top10 #constructionindustry #nz #fightcovidwithbuildingscience

Get in touch with us today to see how we can work with you on your next project.

98 France Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland 1010

Email: info@oculusltd.co.nz

Phone: 027 358 8463

Don’t hesitate to ask about video conferencing.

We have visitor carparks on the corner of Randolph and France Street South. The entrance to Oculus is around the corner on France Street South, you will find the doorbell at the top of the stairs. Please note you may be greeted by our friendly office dog, Annabelle.