Request for comment
The Department of Building and Housing is consulting and requesting your comment on proposed changes to eleven of its Compliance Documents.
Proposals
The proposed amendments to these documents have been packaged together into one consultation document rather than releasing the eleven documents individually. Comments can be submitted on individual Compliance Documents. The proposals the Department is consulting on are as follows.
- E2 External Moisture A new Acceptable Solution E2/AS2 for earth buildings by referencing NZS 4299: 1998 Earth Building not Requiring Specific Design.
- F3 Hazardous Substances and ProcessesRevoking the Acceptable Solution F3/AS1 dealing with storage buildings for hazardous substances and replacing it with a new Acceptable Solution that is compatible with the new Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act and regulations, administered by the Environmental Risk Management Authority.
- F4 Safety from FallingRevoking the current Compliance Document and proposing timing for introduction of the new version. (The new version has already undergone public consult-ation and has been approved by the Building Industry Authority.) It concerns raising barrier heights in buildings other than housing.
- G1 Personal HygieneUpdating definitions, and minor amendments to the Acceptable Solution G1/AS1 for the provision of toilet numbers and line of sight.
- G4 VentilationUpdating publications referenced and making amendments to the Acceptable Solution G4/AS1 in the provision for natural and mechanical ventilation.
- G9 ElectricityUpdating the publications referenced by deleting New Zealand Electrical Codes of Practice and replacing them with AS/NZS 3000: 2000 Wiring Rules and updating definitions.
- G10 Piped ServicesUpdating the publications referenced, particularly NZS 5261: 2003 Gas Installation.
- G11 Gas as an Energy SourceUpdating the publications referenced, particularly NZS 5261: 2003 Gas Installation.
- G12 Water Supplies Updating the publications referenced, particularly AS/NZS 3500.1: 2003 Water Services, including the materials section for pipes and fittings for use with hot and cold potable water.
- G13 Foul Water Updating the publications referenced, particularly AS/NZS 2500.2: 2003 Sanitary Plumbing and Drainage.
- H1 Energy Efficiency Updating the publications referenced, particularly by referencing AS/NZS 4859.1: 2002 Materials for the Thermal Insulation of Building, BRANZ House Insulation Guide, second edition, 2005 and deleting the modifications to paragraph 5.0 of H1/AS1 relating to NZS 4305: 1996 Energy Efficiency - Domestic Type Hot Water Systems.
Effective date and transitional arrangements
The Department is also seeking comment on the effective dates and the transitional arrangements for the amendments to the Compliance Documents detailed above.
It is proposed that the amendments to the Compliance Documents will be published and become effective on the dates given in the table below.
The amended Compliance Documents will apply to all building work for which a building consent is issued on or after the effective date. The time between the publication date and the effective date is the introductory period. During this time a building consent authority can accept the published amended Compliance Documents as alternative solutions.
The introductory period is 3 months, except for the F3 Compliance Document, which has no introductory period, and the F4 Compliance Document, which has a 6-month introductory period.
Publication dates for compliance documents
Publication dates for compliance documents
| Compliance Document |
Publication date |
Effective date |
| E2 External Moisture |
27 November 2006 |
2 March 2007 |
| F3 Hazardous Substances and Processes |
27 November 2006 |
27 November 2006 |
| F4 Safety from Falling |
27 November 2006 |
28 May 2007 |
| G1 Personal Hygiene |
27 November 2006 |
2 March 2007 |
| G4 Ventilation |
27 November 2006 |
2 March 2007 |
| G9 Electricity |
27 November 2006 |
2 March 2007 |
| G10 Piped Services |
27 November 2006 |
2 March 2007 |
| G11 Gas as an Energy Source |
27 November 2006 |
2 March 2007 |
| G12 Water Supplies |
27 November 2006 |
2 March 2007 |
| G13 Foul Water |
27 November 2006 |
2 March 2007 |
| H1 Energy Efficiency |
27 November 2006 |
2 March 2007 |
This document Consulting on proposed changes to Compliance Documents contains technical amendments to the Compliance Documents, which are a means of compliance with the current Building Code. It does not form part of the wider review of the Building Code. In a separate consultation document, Building for the 21st Century - Review of the Building Code, a new scope and content for the Building Code is discussed. It is open for public consultation until 31 August 2006. Copies can be viewed at www.dbh.govt.nz
How to comment
Please submit comments in writing, preferably by email or by clear handwriting to the Department at the addresses below.
Please post or couriercomments to:
Consultation feedback - Compliance Document amendments,
Department of Building and Housing,
Building Controls,
Level 6,
86 Customhouse Quay
PO Box 10-729, Wellington
Or email comments to comments@dbh.govt.nz with 'Consultation feedback - Compliance Document amendments' in the subject line.
Or fax to 'Consultation feedback - Compliance Document amendments' on (04) 494 0290.
Additional copies of the document can be downloaded as a PDF from the Department's website: www.dbh.govt.nz or can be obtained by calling the Department on 0800 242 243.
The closing date for submitting comments on the proposed changes is 6 October 2006.