Building A-Z

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Acceptable Solution

A prescriptive design solution comprising step-by-step instructions which, if followed, is deemed to comply with the Building Code. Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods are contained in the Department of Building and Housing's Compliance Documents, and often quote other documents such as New Zealand Standards. Designers and builders are not obliged to use Acceptable Solutions, and may put forward their own alternative solution proposal. Find out more.

Access for people with disabilities

The Building Act 2004 (section 118) requires access and facilities to be made available in new buildings or buildings that are to be altered, to which the public are to be admitted, for people with disabilities. Schedule 2 of the Act lists 26 types of building that must meet these provisions. Generally these are public buildings. The Building Code clause relating to access is D1 Access. There have been a number of determinations on access-related disputes that you can browse using the determinations search.

Accreditation

1. The Building Act 2004 requires that territorial authorities, regional authorities and private bodies carrying out regulatory building control work be accredited and registered as building consent authorities. The Department is currently working on designing the accreditation and registration requirements. Find out more.
2. Accreditation also relates to the old scheme of product endorsement under the Building Act 1991 that has been superseded by product certification under the Building Act 2004.

Alteration 

The rebuilding, re-erecting, repairing, enlarging and extending of a building. There have been a number of determinations on alteration-related disputes that you can view by selecting ‘Alterations to existing buildings’ on the determinations search. See also renovations.

Alternative solution 

A design solution that differs totally or partially from Acceptable Solutions or Verification Methods in the Compliance Documents, yet complies with the performance requirements of the Building Code. These are ‘standalone’ solutions put forward and substantiated by the building consent applicant and considered and approved on their individual merits by a building consent authority. Find out more.

Amendment 

1) Changes to the plans and/or specifications on which the building consent was granted require an amendment to the original consent.

2) Building Code Compliance Documents are reviewed and amended by the Department as required. See the record of amendments. Changes are also publicised in the Department’s newsletter Codewords, and via email notification.

Annual report

The Building Act 2004 (section 169) requires the chief executive of the Department to report annually to the Minister on the performance of functions of the Department, including current and emerging trends in building design affecting the Building Code and Compliance Documents. See the latest Annual Report.

Apartment

A self-contained housing unit that occupies part of a multi-unit dwelling, which may be known as an apartment building, block of flats or tenement. It may also be a self-contained housing unit in a building with other occupancies. Apartments may be owned (by an owner-occupier) or rented (by tenants). For information visit ConsumerBuild . For information about renting, see our Tenancy section.

Appraisal

An independent assessment of building products, materials, systems or methods of design or construction for Building Code compliance. There is going to be one legally endorsed system of quality assurance - product certification by a product certification body.

Architect

A person qualified and trained to design, document, coordinate and administer aspects of building design and construction, and who is registered under the Registered Architects Act 2005. For a discussion about the Registered Architects Act see Codewords No. 5. For more information about the role of architects and where to find one, see New Zealand Institute of Architects or ConsumerBuild. You can also view the Registered Architects Act online .

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