Workshops with opportunity

On 31 August 2020, the list of building work which can be undertaken without a building consent was expanded. This exempt building work holds great opportunities for our members for the simple fact: we are informed practitioners.

To ensure our members are in the best position to make use of market opportunity and keep their LBP ticket safe from liability, New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Consulted with various councils and the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE). MBIE’s Principal Advisor Regulatory Performance, Paul Hobbs and Senior Structural Engineer Building Performance, Reza E Sedgh, took time to shoot a video, which clarified the new exemptions and areas where LBPs will need to be informed.

During October and November, NZCB hit the road with our latest Building Trade Professionals Workshop – Exempt Building Work and took this message to 10 different venues across New Zealand. We talked to members about the opportunities they can take on certain building work from start to finish to avoid the disruption and cost of a building consent.

These new exemptions can be quite grand. They don’t have to be the traditional car shed or detached building we often relate to exempt building work. In fact, the exemptions are surprisingly open to the builders’ and homeowners’ creativity. For example, the measurement of a 30m2 single level detached building is measured from the inside framing, meaning 150mm framing or SIP panel construction could make for a very cosy sleep out. This becomes a market point of difference when your client or B&B operates within the South Island.

Compliance when completing exempt building work was another touchpoint at the workshops, as it becomes important when exempt building is entwined in consented work. For the builder that’s one contract, plus one plan with two ways of compliance to consider. With the increase in consenting numbers coupled with Council capacity pushed to limits, I can see this may become a common approach within the design sector.

For members who could not travel to these workshops, NZCB also undertook a webinar in November. NZCB has now put together a video that contains information from the workshop

Building Exempt Work breakfast workshop at the Plough and Feather in Kerikeri.

NZCB Group Technical Manager Jason McClintock presenting on Exempt Building Work in Kerikeri, sponsored by Carters.

and webinar presentations that members can now access in the Building Trade Professionals tab of the members’ only Toolshed.

I would like to thank our hosts and NZCB Business Development Managers, Shane Ririnui and Nick Matthews, for organising these events and presenting on Association matters.

Our Strategic Partner for this round of workshops was Carters “Your Building Partner”. A big thank you for your ongoing support with the Association’s higher learning programme, Building Trade Professionals.