Building Code under review

In a recent discussion on the future of the New Zealand Building Code, the key recommendations were that the Code needs to focus on high-quality, energy- efficient buildings that last for generations.

From June to August this year, the Department sought public submissions on the discussion document Building for the 21st Century: Review of the Building Code.

Wide range of submissions

The Department received a total of 265 submissions, two-thirds of which were online. Just under a third of the submissions were from industry professionals (such as builders, designers, architects and engineers). Local and central government agencies also made valuable contributions.

The submissions are supplemented by community feedback gathered from recent focus groups. These focus groups gave the Department an opportunity to understand what ordinary people want from their homes and buildings and the Building Code.

Analysis of submissions

The review of the Building Code will change what we build and the way we build. There was general support for change and an acknowledgement that the current Building Code could be improved. Overall, submitters recognised the need to balance costs and benefits with affordability and long-term outcomes.

An analysis of the submissions has provided invaluable feedback for ensuring the review is on the right track. Some of the key themes and submissions are summarised below.

• Sustainability is a key concern. Many submitters want the new Code to ensure buildings are designed and constructed strongly enough to cope with the rigours of climate and weather change patterns. However, submissions also included the view that warning systems rather than engineering solutions would better address extreme hazards such as tsunami, volcanoes and wildfires.
• It was suggested that the design life of a building be increased (the current design life is a minimum of 50 years). To achieve a longer life, better materials are likely to be used, resulting in higher-quality houses being built.
• There was support for including sustainable development concepts for disposal of waste and water, such as space for waste and recyclables in multi-unit dwellings and commercial and industrial buildings.
• Submitters linked health out-comes to thermal performance and energy efficient design, and stated that the Code should set a level of building thermal performance that requires conscious consideration of energy-efficient design.
• Nearly all respondents supported the proposed objectives for fire safety. In addition, many submitters thought that hard-wired smoke detectors and sprinkler systems should be mandatory for all buildings.
• There was support for universal design/lifetime design principles (wide doorways, lever door handles, lever handles on taps), but as guidelines rather than Code requirements.
• Many submitters agreed that historic, heritage and cultural buildings need to be treated differently to preserve their value. A distinction was made between heritage/historic buildings and new buildings with cultural significance. Generally, submitters felt that new buildings with cultural significance should have no concessions for Building Code requirements.
• There was a view that the Building Code should fit better with other laws, particularly the Resource Management Act.
• On the structure of the Building Code itself, there was strong support for the Code to be organised by outcome. However, there was also strong support for the current structure of the Code (organised by building element).
• There was also strong support for a performance-based Code, but different interpretations about what this meant and the hierarchical level at which the performance should be stated. There was a range of views about 'best practice' and 'minimum acceptable practice'.
• 'Acceptable Solutions' for particular types of building were generally supported, and suggestions were made that the requirements within the Acceptable Solutions should be arranged by building element or trade.

Next steps

The Department wishes to thank all submitters and focus group participants for their input and feedback.

A detailed synopsis of the current round of submissions will be published on the Department's website ( www.dbh.govt.nz ) before the end of the year.

The comments made in these submissions and focus groups will guide the direction for a second discussion document, which is expected to be available for public comment in the first half of 2007. This document will give detailed performance criteria for the new Building Code.

The entire review is scheduled for completion by November 2007. The new Code is projected to take effect from 2008.