BC Update: No.67 - Consultation announced as next step in Building Code review

6 August 2007: The Minister for Building and Construction has announced the release of a discussion document on the performance requirements of the Building Code.  Submissions are open up to 28 September 2007.

The Minister has invited feedback on the discussion document – the second in the Building Code review.  It includes a world-first proposal to require the ‘embodied energy’, of building components to be taken into account when designing buildings. Embodied energy is the total amount of energy used to produce a final product from raw materials.

The new proposal raises the idea of factoring into the design of new buildings the embodied energy of the building’s components, as well as the carbon emissions of a building’s lifetime energy use, as a requirement of the Building Code. Such an approach would hold the potential to substantially reduce the ‘whole of life’ costs of buildings and would have significant environmental benefits. The embodied energy and carbon emission approach would take into account energy and water efficiency, construction materials and construction waste.

Public feedback on the review’s first discussion document found that there is widespread support among New Zealanders for a more sustainable and energy efficient approach to building, while maintaining a balance with affordability.

This is a major review, the first since the Code was introduced in 1991.  Since the Code was first introduced 16 years ago there have been significant advances in construction techniques and in our knowledge of building performance.  This second discussion document is a key milestone in the review.  Whereas the first discussion document focused on the scope of the review, this second document looks at the performance standards in more detail.

Other key points in the discussion document include:

• a new Building Code structure with clearly set out minimum performance standards that buildings must meet. This will better meet the needs of Code users, especially architects, building designers, builders and building consent authorities, and help improve their decision-making
• updates and clarifications of existing requirements, to ensure the Code is clear and understood by people involved in building work
• a new way to design buildings for people to be safe in the event of a fire
• a new system recognising that buildings need to meet different performance requirements depending on their importance and the risks to the building users and society (this takes account of the impact of flooding and climate change). For example, a school would have different performance requirements to those of a garden shed
• consideration of internal space requirements for housing to improve peoples’ well being and to also better meet the needs of people with disabilities.

Copies of the discussion document are available from the Department of Building and Housing website or by phoning 0800 242 243. Submissions close on 28 September 2007.

This discussion document, along with the public submissions received, will form the basis of a report to the Minister for Building and Construction by 30 November 2007.
Following further consultation with the public and the building sector, the new Code could be in place by the middle of 2009.

As part of the consultation, public workshops are taking place at the following locations:

• Christchurch, Latimer Hotel, 30 Latimer Square, Christchurch, 9am - 2pm, 13 August 2007
• Wellington, Intercontinental Hotel, 2 Grey Street, Wellington,  9am – 2pm, 14 August 2007
• Auckland, The Edge Convention Centre, 50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland Central, 10am – 3pm, 16 August 2007
• Dunedin, Clifford Skeggs Gallery, Dunedin City Council, The Octagon,10am – 3pm, 30 August 2007.

Lunch will be provided at all workshops.  Please RSVP to Tracey Bevan on (04) 470-1039 or buildingcodereview@dbh.govt.nz indicating which workshop you would like to attend. 

Thank you to all those who have contributed to the review so far.  Your continued input and interest is important to us in ensuring we develop a Building Code that meets the needs of New Zealanders and the sector.  We look forward to your feedback.