If you’re planning to build a new home, you may have heard that insulation requirements have changed in recent years.
Back in 2022–2023, the government introduced significantly higher insulation standards to create warmer, more energy-efficient homes. Those higher standards are still in place today.
What’s changed more recently is how homes prove they meet those standards.
And that’s where things are getting more interesting.
Until recently, many homes were designed using what’s known as the “Schedule Method”. This is a straightforward, checklist-style approach where you follow set insulation levels to meet the rules. In the latest update from MBIE, the schedule method will no longer be used.
From November 2026, new homes will need to use more detailed calculation methods instead. Many designers are already working this way now to future-proof their projects.
When you hear something like “R2.8 wall insulation,” it’s easy to assume that’s exactly how your wall will perform. But in reality, it’s not that simple.
In a typical timber-framed wall:
All of this reduces the actual performance of the wall.
Under the new calculation method, designers must now properly account for the timber framing in walls. If they don’t provide specific details, the rules assume that:
Around 38% of your wall is timber framing.
That’s a big portion of the wall not performing at the same level as the insulation. So, even if you specify high R-value insulation, the overall wall performance can drop. This is sometimes enough to make compliance more difficult.
There is another option to the Calculation method. It is possible to use a more advanced modelling approach, but it often requires specialist tools and added cost, not always practical for everyday builds.
This is where building systems differ.
Lockwood homes use a solid timber wall system, rather than traditional framing with insulation in between.
Because of this:
There are no insulation gaps within external walls
The result is a Lockwood wall performs more consistently in the real world.
Our wall system delivers R2.1, but importantly, that performance is reliable and consistent. It’s not dependent on how well insulation is installed on site.
If you’re planning a new home, the key takeaway is this:
It’s no longer just about how much insulation you put in, it’s about how the whole building performs.
As the rules become more detailed, the way your home is designed and built plays a bigger role in:
Even though the final deadline is November 2026, homes are already being designed to meet the new requirements now.
The earlier your designer and builder work together, the easier it is to make smart decisions around wall systems, insulation, and overall performance.
Because in today’s environment, good design isn’t just about how your home looks. It’s about how it performs, every day, for years to come.