Recently the Ministry of Business, Employment and Innovation banned the retrofitting of foil insulation under Section 26 of the Building Act 2004. “26 Chief executive may issue warning about, or ban use of, building methods or products (1) This section applies if the chief executive considers on reasonable grounds that the use of a building method or product has resulted, or is likely to result, in a building or building work failing to comply with the building code.”
Now the Ministry banned the product because of the unsafe work practices which has unfortunately killed 5 people in the past 30 years.
I note that more than this number of people die on constructions site (let alone forestry operations) every year in New Zealand from other reasons so to ban foil for 1 death every 6 years is ridiculous.
It is also an illegal reason because the Building Code does not address worker safety and the product has never shown any evidence if failing to comply.
It is not the product which is the problem just shoddy and cowboy practices in it’s installation. The cowboys in the building industry are protected by the corrupt officials in the Ministry and instead of laying manslaughter charges against the negligent installers they ban a product which is the most cost effective solution to insulating a suspended floor.
The media is quiet and the cost of building has once again been raised for no apparent reason but policy making idiocy.