The New Zealand trend towards medium density developments comes with particular plumbing considerations, as Marley explains.

dBlue® is WaterMark certified, recyclable, and
designed to be installed in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.2.

Our cities are changing as we move to higher density housing in New Zealand. The number of building consents for townhouses, terraced houses and low rise apartments exceeds the ones for detached housing in Auckland and this scenario is likely to be replicated in other major cities in the country as councils in our largest urban areas will be adopting Medium Density Residential Standards to increase housing supply.

Medium density housing means more people living in close proximity, increasing the need to minimise noise transmission. The prevention of undue noise transmission is regulated in Clause G6 of the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC).

To assist with noise reduction, Marley offers the dBlue® Acoustic Plumbing System, which is designed to minimise the transfer of both airborne (internal acoustic) and structure-borne (acoustic resonance) noise from sanitary and drainage plumbing applications. As such, it is particularly suitable for intertenancy applications in medium density developments.

 The dBlue system is a triple layer pipe structure that offers
a combination of acoustic performance, weight, chemical and temperature resistance with mechanical strength. It also has a siphon boss gully trap of the same design as the Marley OPTIM® Compakt®. Both are shorter than the traditional boss gully traps as they don’t require bulky gully bends. As a result, the system allows for more useable space in the building.

Marley's dBlue® helps
to minimise noise transmission in buildings.

With the dBlue® Acoustic Plumbing System there is no need for lagging on site, resulting in less install time, less material used and less space required (in between levels)—and no need for lagging contractors on site to achieve the same acoustic outcome.

The system is a ring joint system, making it quicker to connect and with no solvent to deal with. It also has high chemical and temperature resistance (up to 90°C and down to -10°C), making it suitable for buildings with commercial kitchens, such as rest homes, and for use in hot waste removal. The pipes, fittings, and seals can be used continuously at 90°C and up to 95°C for brief periods.

Marley dBlue® is 100% recyclable and has been independently tested by CSIRO. The system meets the Australian Rw + Ctr 25 and 40 benchmarks without the need for lagging when separated from the living space by an industry-standard ceiling or wall structure.

The system is not intended for exposed installations. To meet acoustic requirements in habitable areas, the system must be separated from the living space by an industry-standard ceiling or wall structure.

Marley’s dBlue® Acoustic Plumbing System is BRANZ appraised (No.610) and meets the 15-year durability requirement of the NZBC.  

Quick Tips

Other tips to consider when designing and/or building a medium density project:

1. Avoid bend on pipes going straight down
2. The depth of the midfloor is important for the pipe diameter and its falls
3. Maintain pipes separated from the structure.

For design details and additional technical information, refer to marley.co.nz