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Building Seismic Performance
The Ministry is consulting on proposed changes to the system for dealing with earthquake-prone buildings. The proposals set out a consistent national approach to dealing with these buildings.
Essentially the proposals would require all non-residential and multi-unit, multi-storey residential buildings to have a seismic capacity assessment done within five years. Owners of buildings identified as earthquake-prone would then have up to 10 years to strengthen or demolish these buildings.
The consultation closed on 8 March 2013.
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Unit Titles Amendment Bill
The Ministry is consulting on proposed amendments to the Unit Titles Act 2010 and Unit Titles Regulations 2011, to be addressed by the Unit Titles Amendment Bill (UTAB).
The discussion document details the proposed amendments for inclusion in the UTAB. We invite you to consider these amendments, and to provide comments.
If you are aware of other sections of the Act or Regulations which in your view contain minor and technical issues, we also invite you to bring these to our attention.
This consultation closed on 1 February 2013.
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LBP policy issues
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is consulting on licensed builder practitioner (LBP) policy issues. This consultation asks for your comments on five issues:
- What should the role of the site licence be going forward?
- Should the Site licence be split into a 'technical supervision' licence and a 'project manager' licence?
- Should any new licences be developed?
- Do any of the current licence competencies and performance indicators need to be amended?
- Should any work that is currently RBW be specifically excluded from being RBW?
A number of workshops, where you can discuss these issues with other practitioners and provide feedfback, are being held around the country.
This consultation closed on 3 September 2012.
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Deeming of Plumbers and Gasfitters as LBPs
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is consulting on whether the 'deeming' provision for registered plumbers and gasfitters as LBPs should be removed. This provision, which came into effect in 2012, has raised some concerns. The consultation asks for your comments on these concerns, the several options that have been considered, and the preferred option of removing the 'deeming provision'.
This consultation closed on 3 September 2012.
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Proposed variations to the Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008
The Retirement Commissioner and the Department of Building and Housing are consulting on proposed variations to the Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008 (the Code).
This joint consultation asks for your comments on the proposed variations to the Code of Practice. These concern no-fault exit situations in Retirement Villages such as that which occurred as a result of the Canterbury Earthquakes.
This consultation closed on 21 November 2011.
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Seismicity changes for Canterbury to B1 Structure documents
The Department proposes to confirm changes made under urgency for the Canterbury earthquake region on 19 May 2011 to the Building Code’s supporting documents for Structure (Building Code clause B1). The changes increased the minimum seismic hazard factor for Canterbury and required stronger foundations for buildings.
This consultation closed on 31 October 2011.
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Updating standards
To take into account recent changes to Standards, the Department is proposing some minor amendments to: update, replace or withdraw references to 60 Standards, cited in the Acceptable Solutions, Verification Methods and Compliance Schedule Handbook. We would value your feedback on these proposals.
This consultation closed on 11 July 2011.
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B1 (Structure) proposals
The Department proposes to: cite the next version of the widely-used timber-framed buildings standard NZS3604; cite new standards for steel-framed housing and low-rise buildings (NASH), and seismic restraint of engineering systems in buildings (NZS 4219:2009); and delete an Acceptable Solution for timber barriers.
This consultation closed on 4 February 2011.
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E2 (External Moisture) proposals
The Department proposes to: update Acceptable Solution E2/AS1 and Verification Method E2/VM1, dealing with weathertightness of timber-framed buildings; and introduce a new Acceptable Solution for weathertightness of concrete and concrete masonry buildings.
This consultation closed on 4 February 2011.
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Unit Titles Act 2010 Fees Regulations
The Department invites your comments on the Unit Titles Act 2010 Fees Regulations Discussion Document.
This consultation closed on 21 January 2011.
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Construction Contracts Act 2002 consultation
The Department invites you to share your experiences of the Construction Contracts Act 2002 (the Act). The purpose of this consultation is to find out how well the Act is working and to identify areas where improvements can be made.
This consultation closed on 16 December 2010.
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Protection from fire proposals
The Department is proposing a single Building Code clause C, a new Verification Method and a revised Acceptable Solution to clarify and simplify requirements, while retaining the current level of fire protection.
This consultation closed on 26 November 2010.
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Warning Systems proposals
The Department is proposing to amend the Acceptable Solution to align with the proposed changes to fire protection.
This consultation closed on 26 November 2010.
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Signs proposals
The Department proposes to amend the Building Code clause F8 and Acceptable Solution to modernise signage requirements and bring them into line with international practice.
This consultation closed on 26 November 2010.
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Protection from noise proposals
The Department proposes to introduce a new Building Code clause G6, two Acceptable Solutions and a Verification Method, to clarify noise insulation requirements in new apartment buildings and bring them into line with international practice.
This consultation closed on 26 November 2010.
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Medium density housing proposals
The Department proposes to introduce a new Acceptable Solution that incorporates fire and noise requirements for medium density housing into one document.
This consultation closed on 26 November 2010.
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Single hazard class for framing timber
The Department is proposing to simplify timber treatment to allow a single hazard class, H1.2, to be used for nearly all internal timber framing.
This consultation closed on 29 October 2010.
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Dam Safety Scheme
The Department consulted on the recommendations made in the Dam Safety Review.
This consultation closed on 14 August 2010.
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Unit Titles Regulations
The Department sought your views on proposals for regulations to support the Unit Titles Act 2010 (the Act).
This consultation closed on 10 June 2010.
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Building Act review
The Government is proposing a number of options for reform of the Building Act 2004, set out in the discussion document Cost-effective quality: next generation building control in New Zealand.
Without compromising safety and quality, the proposals are aimed at making it easier and cheaper for New Zealanders to build dependable-quality, cost-effective homes and buildings.
This consultation closed on 23 April 2010.
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Compliance Documents
The Department sought your comments on proposed changes to 11 Compliance Documents. The changes are to update references to Standards and other documents which are cited in the Compliance Documents. These contain building methods that assist designers, architects and builders to ensure compliance with the Building Code.
This consultation closed on 15 February 2010.
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Retirement Villages
Consulting on the style and content of disclosure statements for retirement villages closed on 11 December 2009.
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The Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme
Proposed minimum standards for three new licensing classes – Steel structure, Concrete structure and Foundations closed on 9 October 2009.
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Streamlining the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme
Consulting on streamlining the Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) Scheme closed on 25 September 2009.
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Hollow core floor systems consultation
The New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering is consulting on a document entitled Seismic Performance of Hollow Core Floor Systems: Guidelines for Design Assessment and Retrofit. The document aims to provide a useful source of information to engineers tasked with designing, assessing or retrofitting buildings with hollow-core floors. Consultation closed on 20 May 2009.
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Building code Compliance Document for Backcountry Huts consultation
The Department is seeking your views on the proposed Compliance Document for Department of Conservation (DoC)backcountry huts. Consultation closed on 31 October 2008.
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Proposal for an owner builder exemption to the restricted building work regime
The Government has proposed that owner builders will be exempt from the restricted building work regime. This would allow homeowners to do restricted building work on their own houses (without the need to use licensed building practitioners) while still protecting future owners of the property. Consultation closed on 1 August 2008.
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The Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme
Proposed minimum standards and fees for three new trade licensing classes – roofing, bricklaying and blocklaying, and external plastering. Consultation closed on 6 June 2008.
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Evaluation of the Fencing of Swimming Pool Act 1987
The Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 (‘the Act’) is a small but important piece of legislation intended to promote the safety of New Zealand’s young children around swimming pools and spa pools. Consultation closed on 30 June 2008.
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Proposal for a definition of restricted building work
The Building Act 2004 (the Act) made significant changes to New Zealand’s building regulatory system to address systemic failures identified following ‘leaky homes’ issues. These reforms aim to lift the performance of the building and construction sector, while promoting and improving skills and rebuilding consumer confidence.
This consultation closed on 11 September 2008.
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Building Code Review 2007 consultation
With your help New Zealand houses and buildings will be designed and built right the first time, they will be suited to our environment, and meet the needs of all New Zealanders.
This consultation closed on 28 September 2007.
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