The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has begun consultation on a proposed ban on retrofitting foil insulation into existing residential buildings.
MBIE proposes banning the practice under the Building Act, because of the risk that anyone installing foil could pierce live electrical cables when attaching it to the building's structure with fasteners such as staples or nails.
Because foil is metallic and conducts electricity, it could become live if it comes into contact with live electrical wiring, potentially making large parts of a building's structure live.
In a Building Controls Update, MBIE said there have been five reported deaths caused by electrocution associated with foil insulation in residential buildings and one reported non-fatal electric shock.
The proposed ban will not affect installation of foil insulation in new buildings during their construction.
The proposed ban has been prompted by changes to the Residential Tenancies Act due to come into force on July 1, which will require insulation and smoke alarms in rental properties.
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