Are natural building technologies compliant with NHBRC regulations? | Print |

Unfortunately at the moment the NHBRC is incredibly conservative (the codes do not even allow for structural stone walls!). They will not approve/sign off their NHBRC certificate of compliance unless the construction fits into an incredibly thin rule book. So it is relatively easy to obtain building plan approval despite its absence from our National Building Regulations. However to obtain any kind of bank finance or be free to sell your house in the first 5 years on the open market is pretty much impossible at present. We are trying our best to convince the NHBRC and the Minister of Housing, so hopefully in years to come we can also build Straw Bale buildings which are compliant as it is already the case in the most other countries.