Designing Quality Learning Spaces
Design teams must comply with the Designing Quality Learning Spaces (DQLS) requirements when designing schools and kura.
About the requirements
Our ‘Designing Quality Learning Spaces’ (DQLS) documents detail the requirements for the main internal environmental quality factors in school buildings. These are:
- acoustics
- lighting and visual comfort, and
- indoor air quality and thermal comfort.
The DQLS documents were developed to provide technical requirements to help architects, designers and engineers create quality learning environments that are fit-for-purpose. The requirements apply to:
- all ‘new-build’ structures, including extensions
- prefabricated and new contracts for modular buildings
- refurbishments of existing school buildings, including significant alterations.
Design teams must ensure any new learning space design complies with the DQLS requirements. Upgrades must meet the requirements as closely as is practical.
Complying with the DQLS requirements is mandatory.
Indoor air quality and thermal comfort
Reports
Design teams must use the internal environmental quality (IEQ) design report to show compliance with the DQLS mandatory requirements.
An Energy Engineer, an Electrical Engineer, or a professional with a similar level of expertise must complete the electrical infrastructure capacity report. It’s used when a project increases the electrical load to a site, and may require an upgrade to the existing electrical infrastructure capacity.
Calculators
Design teams must use the daylight calculator to provide supporting calculations for simple building forms, and the LCCA heating and cooling calculator to provide supporting calculations for indoor air quality and thermal comfort.
Amendments
The following amendments apply to the DQLS.
More information
We’re constantly seeking to improve the content and usability of our DQLS documents. If you’d like to clarify anything within the documents, or provide feedback on them, email us at school.design@schoolproperty.govt.nz.
You’ll also find more information in our FAQs.
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