BRANZ Campus Redevelopment

The Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) has completed a major transformation of its Porirua testing and research campus. The multi-stage redevelopment has delivered a suite of state-of-the-art facilities, replacing several ageing buildings with a 2,200 m² fire testing laboratory, a 520 m² structures laboratory, a 430 m² storage facility and an 800 m² administration building.

The new fire testing laboratory, officially opened in June 2025, is one of the most advanced of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Designed with a soaring 22.5 m ceiling and spanning more than 2,200 m², it allows full-scale testing of buildings up to three storeys high and the simulation of taller structures. Equipped with a 10 MW calorimeter, façade rig, open-burn hood and movable extraction systems, the facility enables BRANZ scientists to carry out rigorous, real-world testing in a controlled environment. Importantly, the lab also incorporates a wet scrubber to filter smoke, significantly reducing emissions and supporting more sustainable operations.

The redevelopment also saw the completion of a new structures laboratory, opened in 2023, which provides advanced capability for large-scale structural testing. Together, the new fire and structures labs strengthen BRANZ’s ability to investigate building performance, support innovation and provide evidence that underpins improved building standards across New Zealand.