Installing insulation
Installing insulation correctly is very important to ensure you are getting the best value and efficiency. Poor installation, such as gaps as small as 2mm, can reduce the performance by as much as 50%.
Good quality, well-installed insulation will significantly reduce energy losses in all parts of a house: ceiling, underfloor and external walls. It will also mean lower power bills and a healthier home.
In New Zealand, there are about 900,000 homes built before insulation became mandatory in 1978. Many homeowners have installed insulation, but that could be up to 25 years old, so it pays to check it over to make sure it is doing what it should be. Installing insulation can be very dangerous with potential risks including electrocution, biological hazards and sharp objects. In all cases of installing insulation EECA recommends you contact a professional.
Standards New Zealand have produced a standard on how to install insulation in residential buildings and is a great guide to follow if you are looking at installing insulation in your property. The Standard NZS 4246: 2006 Energy efficiency - Installing insulation in residential buildings provides comprehensive instructions on the best and safest ways to install insulation to ensure that it works as efficiently as possible.
To ensure you are getting the best performance, durability, and safety from installing insulation this Standard should be followed.
Another useful guide to installing insulation:
Department of Building and Housing's Guide to Smarter Insulation [PDF 2.89 MB]
NZS 4246: 2006 is reproduced with the permission of Standards New Zealand under Licence 679.