Teulo Ed | Designing for Strength, Safety and Sustainability

10.15am - 11.15am | Soteria Doors

Talk title: Designing for Safety — Understanding Fire Door Standards and Specification

Overview: This CPD presentation provides a comprehensive guide to the role of fire doors in building safety, with a particular focus on New Zealand’s compliance framework and how it compares globally.

Attendees will gain an understanding of the critical life-safety function that fire doors perform, the regulatory requirements of the NZ Building Code (Clause C/AS2), and the AS/NZS 1530.4 testing standard that underpins certification and labelling.

Learning outcomes: 

• Interpret New Zealand’s fire door testing framework (AS/NZS 1530.4 and FRR ratings) and compare it with key international standards.
• Identify and specify compliant fire door systems, recognising critical components, certification requirements, and common causes of failure.
• Apply best practices in installation and maintenance, ensuring ongoing compliance with the NZ Building Code and reducing liability risks.

11.15am - 12.15pm | Technoform 

Talk title: Thermal Breaks: Designing for  Strength, Safety and Sustainability

Purpose: Equip building professionals with knowledge to make informed decisions about thermal break technology in aluminium joinery systems and external insulation by understanding performance, compliance, and long-term value beyond brand names.

Overview: This session explores the role of thermal breaks in aluminium windows and doors and externally insulated buildings as a critical components for structural integrity, occupant safety, and sustainability outcomes. It will compare and contrast globally emerging worldwide polyamide thermal break technologies, highlighting why material choice matters for durability, structural safety, and thermal performance. The goal is to empower building professionals to specify systems confidently, knowing what lies behind the frame—not just the brand name.

Learning Outcomes: 

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Explain the function of thermal breaks in aluminium joinery and externally insulated facades and why they are essential for energy efficiency, condensation control, and occupant comfort.
• Identify key performance criteria for thermal break materials, including mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, shear & torsional strength and dimensional stability.
• Compare global polyamide technology e.g., PVC, polyurethane, hybrid composites and understand the implications for compliance and longevity.
• Recognise risks of low-spec imports—including structural failure, poor structural performance, and accelerated degradation—and how these affect safety and sustainability.
• Apply best-practice specification strategies to ensure thermal break systems meet NZBC H1 energy efficiency, AS/NZS structural standards, and durability expectations.