August - September 2021
COMPLIANCE
T
he system came into effect on 1 July 2017, after substantial legislation changes were made around how earthquake-prone buildings are identified and managed in New Zealand. A recent evaluation shows that there is broad support for policy development and design, and that the system was adequately implemented. “The report also provides useful information for us to act upon to help us continually improve the system over the next 50 years, such as improving the information and guidance MBIE provides to owners of earthquake-prone buildings,” says MBIE Manager Building Policy Amy Moorhead. All priority earthquake-prone buildings
Getting control of earthquake management The MBIE says the earthquake-prone building system is working well overall have been identified by the 38 territorial authorities located in high seismic risk areas. The Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016 introduced a schedule for Territorial Authorities (TA) to report to MBIE on progress toward identifying potentially earthquake-prone buildings. Previously, TA set their own policy and
timeframes. MBIE says these changes were introduced to ensure the way buildings are managed for future earthquakes is consistent and strikes a balance between protecting people; the costs of strengthening; and the impact on New Zealand’s built heritage. Priority buildings include those that are considered higher risk because of their
construction, type, use or location. This includes buildings such as hospitals, schools and emergency centres. Buildings come to the attention of TA because they meet certain criteria that indicate that a building could potentially be earthquake prone. The TA then contact the building owners, who have the building assessed.
IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL EPBs IN HIGH AND LOW SEISMIC-RISK AREAS 30 June 2020
New Zealand is extremely prone to seismic activity. Failure of buildings, or parts of buildings, can endanger lives. Protection of people and property is paramount. The Building Act 2004, as amended in 2016, requires territorial authorities (TAs) to identify potentially earthquake-prone buildings (EPBs) and to report their progress on a set schedule to MBIE.
KEY STEPS 1
38
TAs manage buildings in the high seismic-risk area
38
have identified all potential priority EPBs
694
potential priority EPBs identified in the last 12 months
1,285
estimated potential non-priority EPBs to be identified by 1 July 2022
TAs to identify potential EPBs
2 All identified potential EPBs require an engineering assessment
5
TAs manage buildings in the low seismic-risk area
2
TAs have started identifying non-priority buildings
0
priority buildings exist in the low seismic-risk area
Seismic risk areas
3
high seismic-risk area
TAs decide if a building is earthquake prone
medium seismic-risk area low seismic-risk area (Map indicative only)
4 Owners of EPBs must take action (i.e strengthen or demolish) within set timeframes
222 1 JULY 2019
1 JANUARY 2020
1 JULY 2020
1 JULY 2021
TAs report on high and medium seismic-risk areas
TAs identify all potentially priority EPBs in high seismic-risk areas
TAs report on high and low seismic-risk areas
TAs report on high and medium seismic-risk areas
56 propertyandbuild.com
estimated potential non-priority EPBs to be identified by 1 July 2032
1 JULY 2022 TAs identify all potential non-priority EPBs in high seismic-risk areas
TAs identify all potential priority EPBs in medium seismic-risk areas
TAs report on high seismic-risk areas
