Building A-Z

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O

Owner

 The person who is entitled to the rent from the land, should the land be let (section 7 of the Building Act 2004). This includes the owner of the fee simple of the land, or the person who has a binding written agreement (whether conditionally or unconditionally) to purchase the land, leasehold estate or interest in the land, or take a lease of the land. ‘Building’ owners (as distinct from ‘house’ owners) have a number of duties under the Building Act regarding building warrant of fitness processes. For more information about the duties of building owners see information for building owners, managers and developers. There is also information for homeowners and consumers.

P

Parking 

A space in which vehicles can be parked. The need to provide adequate parking is one of the requirements of section 118 of the Building Act 2004, which provides for access and facilities for people with disabilities. Building Code clauses that make reference to parking include C Fire Safety in Buildings, and D1 Access Routes.

Penalty 

Punishment, usually a fine, for breaching the law. The Building Act 2004 contains a number of provisions to protect public health and safety of importance to building owners and managers. There is a range of penalties for failing to comply with these provisions. Find out more »

Plans and specifications

The drawings, specifications and other documents (eg. calculations, appraisals) according to which a proposed building project will be carried out. They are used to tender for quotes, to gain building consent, and as the blueprint for the actual construction work. They include proposed procedures for inspectionduring the building work. For further information see Building consent and inspections process. See also variations.

Plumbing

Utility consisting of the pipes and fixtures for the distribution of water or gas in a building, and for the disposal of sewage. Most plumbing/drainage work requires a building consent. There are a number of Building Code clauses dealing with plumbing, sanitation and ‘piping’ including: B2 Durability, E1 Surface water, and several sections of Clause G (Services and facilities). Other legislation relating to plumbing includes the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 1976, the Local Government Act 1974, and the Resource Management Act 1991, which you can access at www.legislation.govt.nz. For further information about plumbing see Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ Inc . Visit ConsumerBuild for safety tips.

Practice advisory 

See structural practice advisory.

Premises

Land and the buildings, structures and facilities on it. See ‘premises intended for public use’ below.

Premises intended for public use 

Section 363 of the Building Act 2004 provides that it is an offence for owners, occupiers and people who control premises to permit people to use those parts of premises intended for public use that are affected by building work. This applies where a code compliance certificate or certificate for public use has not yet been issued, or where building work has been undertaken without a building consent. For more information see our information for building owners, managers and developers and building officials.

Producer statement 

A statement expressing the author’s view that plans, specifications, or completed works comply with the technical requirements to satisfy some or all requirements of the Building Code. A producer statement will usually be issued by a recognised specialist, for example, an engineer, architect or competent contractor. It is up to the building consent authority (BCA) to decide whether to rely on such a statement. These documents have no specific status in law, but they can still be accepted and considered by a BCA as part of the plans and specifications.

Product certification

Certification by a product certification body that a specific building product, system or method meets nominated provisions of the Building Code, if used in accordance with conditions on the product certificate. Find out more about Product certification »

Project information memorandum (PIM) 

A report issued by a territorial authority before a building consent is issued that lists any requirements under Acts other than the Building Act 2004 eg, the Resource Management Act 1991, the Fire Service Act 1975 or the Historic Places Act 1993. (You can view these Acts at www.legislation.govt.nz. ) A PIM includes information likely to be relevant to the proposed work, such as potential erosion, subsidence, slippage and flooding. Building Act 2004 requirements for PIMs are found in sections 31-39. Find out more general information, or enquire with your local territorial authority in regard to a specific project - see the Council finder on the Local Government NZ website.

Project manager 

The person who organises and oversees a building project. A project manager may be involved in some or all of the following tasks - arranging finance, organising the designer, builder and sometimes subcontractors, organising the building consent and, where necessary, resource consent, dealing with suppliers and delivery of materials, monitoring progress to make sure the work complies with the contract and consent documentation, arranging for inspections, arranging for progress payments, managing variations and amendments to the building consent where necessary, and arranging the final inspection for the code compliance certificate. For more information about project management, including the types of people who undertake this work, visit ConsumerBuild . See also manager (building).

Property inspection

An examination of the exterior and interior of a property to determine its condition, usually commissioned by a prospective purchaser. The property inspector will provide a report detailing the scope of the inspection, a conclusion as to the overall condition of the property, taking into account its age, type and general expectations of similar properties, and a list of significant faults or defects. The property report is, however, not a guarantee that the house meets all the requirements of the Building Act or complies with the Building Code. (Information about the property may also be found in the land information memorandum (LIM) and territorial authority files.)

There is a New Zealand Property Inspection Standard (NZS 4306) that can be purchased to help guide property inspections – see Codewords no.4.  See also ConsumerBuild for further information about property inspections and who does these.

(Note: ‘Property inspection’ is not to be confused with inspections undertaken by building consent authorities and territorial authorities for the purposes of verifying compliance with the Building Act and Regulations.)

Public use 

A building is intended for public use if the building is open to the public, or is being used by the public, whether for free or on payment of a charge (section 362A of the Building Act 2004). Examples of buildings for public use are shopping malls, sports stadiums, swimming pools etc. See also premises intended for public use.

Publications 

The Department of Building and Housing produces a range of building and housing related publications. Browse these in the publications section.

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