Definition
Healthy Homes Heating Standard The Healthy Homes Heating Standard requires every rental property's main living room to have a fixed heater capable of maintaining a minimum indoor temperature of 18°C, calculated using the Schedule 2 formula: kW = (Volume × Temperature Rise × 1.0) ÷ 1000, where Volume is the room's interior volume in cubic metres and Temperature Rise is the local BRANZ climate zone delta. ALLWISE auto-fills this calculation from address + room dimensions + ceiling height.
Compliance threshold
18°C minimum; kW per Schedule 2
Formula
kW = (Volume_m³ × ΔT_zone × 1.0) ÷ 1000How to comply — step by step
- 1
Measure the room
Measure the main living room's length, width, and ceiling height in metres. Record exact dimensions, not estimates.
- 2
Calculate the volume
Multiply length × width × ceiling height to get Volume in cubic metres (m³). For example, a 5m × 4m room with 2.4m ceilings is 48 m³.
- 3
Look up the BRANZ climate zone
Use the property's address to look up the BRANZ climate zone (1=warm north, 6=cold south). The zone determines the Temperature Rise (ΔT).
- 4
Apply the Schedule 2 formula
kW = Volume × ΔT_zone ÷ 1000. For Zone 2 (Auckland/Wellington): ΔT = 14. Zone 3 (Christchurch/Dunedin): ΔT = 15. Zone 6 (Invercargill): ΔT = 18.
- 5
Verify the heater capacity
Confirm the installed fixed heater nameplate capacity is ≥ the calculated kW. ALLWISE auto-compares nameplate to required kW and flags shortfalls.
Common heating calculation failures
- Heat pump sized below the Schedule 2 kW requirement
- Portable electric heaters (not fixed — fail HHS)
- Heater in hallway instead of main living room
- Wrong climate zone used (e.g. Zone 2 instead of Zone 3 for Christchurch)
Frequently asked questions
What is the Healthy Homes heating temperature requirement?
Is a heat pump accepted as a fixed heater under HHS?
Skip the manual calculation
Need an assessment for this standard?
Book a certified inspection.
ALLWISE auto-fills the heating calculation check into every statutory pack based on the property address, room dimensions, and BRANZ climate zone. Court-defensible evidence in 11 minutes.