Continuing to Improve the Building Code

The Building Code is required to evolve over time to meet the needs of New Zealanders. To achieve this, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is holding biannual consultations and Code reviews.

In New Zealand, building work must meet mandatory requirements. These are laid out in the Building Act 2004 and its supporting regulations – the Building Code. The Building Code System sets performance requirements that all building work must meet, covering aspects such as structural stability, fire safety, access, moisture control, durability, services and facilities. It is a performance based system, which allows for innovative building solutions to be developed and used, provided they meet the performance requirements of the Building Code. To help establish compliance with the Building Code, the Building Act specifies compliance pathways that are ‘deemed to comply.’ These include:

• Acceptable Solutions • Verification Methods • National Multiple-Use approvals (Multi-proof)

To help establish compliance with the Building Code, the Building Act specifies compliance pathways that are ‘deemed to comply.’

Consulting on change MBIE is committed to updating the Building Code so it keeps pace with innovation, current construction methods and the needs of modern society. It also provides clarity, certainty and consistency to the building and construction sector. New Zealand needs to have an efficient building regulatory system that encourages innovation, while ensuring buildings are safe, healthy and durable. The current focus of the Building Code update programme is to support densified housing. MBIE consults on the Building Code twice a year, every February/March and August/September. The consultation runs for 6 weeks, and the public is invited to make submissions through the MBIE website on a range of proposed amendments. After the consultation closes and all submissions are analysed, Building Code documents are updated and published in June and November each year.

June 2020 update Consultation is now open on proposed changes for the June 2020 update. Proposed amendments focus on fire safety requirements, surface water drainage and waterproofing in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries. The most significant proposals aim to do the following: Increase clarity and consistency around fire safety requirements by:

• improving building features for firefighter operations in emergencies to better align with current Fire and Emergency New Zealand procedures and equipment. • amending fire testing requirements for cladding systems, so that international fire test methods can be considered Providing more options to comply with the building code for surface water drainage by: • issuing a new Acceptable Solution for the design and installation of stormwater drainage systems, and • making it easier to determine rainfall intensities for specific locations Provide a new Acceptable Solution for waterproofing in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries by: • referencing the Waterproofing Membrane Association code of practice for Internal Wet-area Membrane Systems. Consultation closes on 27 March 2020. Submissions can be made through on the MBIE website.

More information about anything in this article or if you would like to receive email updates on changes to the Building Code and when consultations are open check out our website www.building.govt.nz

MBIE is the over-arching regulator of New Zealand’s building system. Our Building System Performance (BSP) branch provides policy and technical advice on New Zealand’s building system, rules and standards, and implements building legislation and regulations to meet New Zealand’s current and future needs. For more information visit www.building.govt.nz