Building A-Z

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C

Carpenter

A person who builds or repairs wooden structures or their structural parts. For information about the training and qualifications required to become a carpenter, visit the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) website . Builders are usually, but not always, carpenters. See also: information for builders, trades and designers.

Cavity

One definition of ‘cavity’ in relation to building work is the cavity space immediately behind a wall cladding that has vents at the base of the wall. Cavities allow for drainage, which is one the four principles in managing water in and around buildings. See the 4Ds of weathertightness design in our weathertightness section. The Building Code clause relating to cladding is E2 External Moisture.  You can look up the determinations issued around weathertightness and cavities using the determinations search feature.

CCA (copper chrome arsenate) 

A chemical used in treating timber to give protection from decay. Recently there have been concerns about the chemicals used in timber treatment. The Department of Labour has a number of publications dealing with this issue on its website: www.osh.govt.nz (search under ‘timber treatment’.) A factsheet on CCA treated wood is available on the New Zealand Timber Preservation Council website . (Click on ‘All Publications’ and scroll down the ‘Factsheets’.)

Certificate of acceptance

A certificate issued by a building consent authority to retrospectively approve unconsented work, or approve work where a building consent authority is unable or refuses to issue a code compliance certificate in respect of building work for which it granted a building consent. The certificate confirms that, to the extent an inspection was able to be carried out, the work complies with the Building Code. More information »

Certificate for public use 

A certificate specifically applicable to ongoing construction work. It is issued by a territorial authority where it is satisfied the premises are safe for members of the public to use, before a code compliance certificate is issued. More information »

Change the use 

To change the use of a building in a manner described in the Building (Specified Systems, Change the Use, and Earthquake-prone Buildings) Regulations 2005. The requirements may differ from one type of use to another, but written notice needs to be given to the building consent authority and a building consent will likely be required. More information. See also the determinations search feature for technical rulings on disputes related to change of use.

Cladding

The exterior weather-resistant surface of a building. The cladding is a key element of weathertightness as it helps deflect water from buildings. See the 4Ds of weathertightness design in our weathertightness section. The Building Code clauses relating to cladding include E2 External Moisture and B2 Durability.

Clause (Building Code) 

The Building Code consists of 35 technical clauses (sections) setting out performance standards that buildings must meet. Compliance Documents provide a prescriptive means of complying with the clauses of the Building Code.

Code compliance certificate (CCC) 

A certificate issued by a building consent authority at the completion of building work, confirming that the building work complies with the building consent. See Building consent and inspections process, or for more detail go to information for building officials on code compliance certificates.

Codewords

The building controls newsletter  of the Department of Building and Housing. You can subscribe or view past issues on this website.

Compliance 

Occurs when performance, according to the standards in the Building Code, has been achieved. Compliance may be evidenced through code compliance certificates, or certificates of acceptance.

Compliance Documents

Documents published by the Department to help people comply with the Building Code. There is one Compliance Document for each of the Building Code’s 35 clauses. Compliance Documents contain Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods (most Compliance Documents contain both), and provide one way of establishing compliance with a particular clause of the Building Code. If followed correctly Compliance Documents must in law be accepted by building consent authorities as demonstrating code compliance. (Compliance Documents were formerly known as Approved Documents.) You can view and download Compliance Documents or find out more about their role.

Compliance schedule

A schedule issued by the building consent authority listing the specified systems within a building (eg. sprinkler systems, lifts, smoke detectors). These systems ensure a building is safe and healthy for members of the public to enter, occupy or use. The compliance schedule for a building must identify which specified systems are present, the performance standards for those systems, and how those systems will be monitored and maintained, as well as inspections and reporting carried out to ensure they will continue to function. See information for building officials on compliance schedules or you can download examples of compliance schedules.

Consultation and discussion documents 

Documents published by the Department inviting public consultation and comment on regulatory proposals.

ConsumerBuild 

A website developed jointly by the Department of Building and Housing and Consumers’ Institute , which provides information on building, renovating and maintaining houses in New Zealand. Visit www.consumerbuild.org.nz

Contract

A legally binding agreement between two or more competent parties made either orally or in writing. For information about what a contract for building or design services should include, see ConsumerBuild: Dealing with tradespeople – the contract document . See also information for builders, trades and designers. See also warranties.

Cooling tower 

A cooling system used to cool water (by partial evaporation) before reusing it as a coolant. Recently there have been concerns around the relationship of some cooling towers to the spread of legionella. For information about regulatory controls on cooling towers see Building Controls Update No 28,  and information for building owners, managers and developers on legionellosis.

Costs

See building costs.

Council 

See territorial authority.

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