Report on the Review of the Building Code
1 Purpose
This document reports on the review of the New Zealand Building Code.
The report has nine parts and three appendices.
- Part 1 provides an executive summary.
- Part 2 provides background to the review.
- Part 3 explains the New Zealand Building Code.
- Part 4 sets out the requirements and focus of the review.
- Part 5 summarises the findings and recommendations arising from the review.
- Part 6 presents how the review was carried out.
- Part 7 presents the findings of the review.
- Part 8 presents recommendations for amendments to the Building Code.
- Part 9 presents recommendations for implementation.
Appendices include the:
- synopsis of submissions on the 2006 discussion document
- responses to the 2007 discussion document
- tables for performance requirements.
2 Executive summary
This document reports on the review of the New Zealand Building Code, as required by section 451 of the Building Act 2004. It recommends amendments to the Building Code - after considering the extent to which the Building Code meets the requirements of the Act, and contains enough detail to give clear guidance on the related performance standards.
The Department has considered how to address key issues such as the changing needs of people, a forecast ageing population, affordability, risks from forecast climate change, energy efficiency and sustainable development. It also considered the particular needs of people living in high-rise apartment buildings, such as aspects of fire safety, noise and accessibility.
It has considered how to meet the needs of building owners and users through performance standards in the Building Code, and through other non-regulatory tools such as guidance to the sector and consumers.
The review began in 2004 with research into the future needs of the built environment and international developments in expressing performance requirements for buildings.
The review has listened to the views of building users, owners, the building industry, local and central government, individuals and community organisations, through workshops, focus groups and submissions on two discussion documents released by the government for public comment, in May 2006 and August 2007.
The Department worked with technical experts from industry, research, sector organisations, design companies, territorial authorities and other government departments.
The key findings of the review are that:
- the Building Code largely complies with and meets the requirements of the Building Act 2004, but does not adequately address some areas
- some parts of the Building Code are not stated in sufficient detail to provide clear guidance on the performance standards buildings must meet to ensure compliance with the Building Code
- the additional requirements of the 2004 Act can be incorporated in the Building Code with relatively minor amendments
- some refinements to the structure of the Building Code would improve the usability of the Code for a wider range of users
- Compliance Documents are relied on by a large percentage of the sector for guidance and technical specificity.
The review recommends, in respect of the Building Code:
- amendments to the Building Code to clarify some performance requirements
- further consultation on proposals to change some performance requirements
- amendments to the structure, statement of objectives and functional requirements in the Building Code
- investigation and collaboration with the sector on some possible performance requirements such as for fire safety, space and connection to the outdoors. These would address issues arising from some poor-quality, high-density housing, and would enhance the quality of the built environment, particularly in intensified urban areas.
To provide guidance to the sector on the performance requirements of the Building Code, the review recommends:
- investigating whether the development of an Acceptable Solution for Housing could reduce the costs for typical house construction
- the preparation of guidance material such as non-mandatory Compliance Documents, New Zealand Standards and other information
- a comprehensive programme to educate designers, builders and building consent authorities about changes to the Building Code and Compliance Documents.
The recommendations in this report set the foundation for building standards in New Zealand for the 21st century. They provide a framework for a Building Code that is:
- clear (it helps smooth the way for getting a building designed and consented)
- performance-based (it allows efficient and cost-effective and innovative construction)
- able to deal with changing demographics, the needs of an ageing population and uncertain risks associated with climate change, such as severe storms.
Addressing sustainable development underpins many of the recommendations. A proposal to further investigate annual CO2 emissions is an innovative approach to considering resource efficiency. Living in intensified urban environments is likely to become increasingly common as a response to land prices and transport costs, and the recommendations on noise control, fire safety, and space and access in apartment buildings are an important contribution to having a good-quality built environment.
Good, comprehensive Compliance Documents that provide approved construction details and methods of design are an important tool in helping the sector meet the requirements of the Building Code, while reducing design and consenting costs. These must be supported with targeted education to ensure the smooth implementation of changes to the Building Code.