| Term/abbreviation |
Description |
| Acceptable solutions |
Acceptable Solutions prescribe a particular building method, or use of a particular building material, and set out a method of complying with a specific requirement of the Building Code. Acceptable Solutions are deemed to meet the performance requirements of the Building Code. |
| Accreditation |
Accreditation involves an independent accreditation body, International Accreditation New Zealand, conducting assessments of an organisation’s competencies, procedures, systems and policies to ensure these are being followed and that identified outcomes are being met and are fit for purpose. |
| Alternative solutions
|
Alternative solutions are building methods or materials that are not covered by Compliance Documents. When using alternative solutions the applicant will need to demonstrate that the product or method complies with the Building Code. Means of proving compliance include calculations or test results, comparison with an Acceptable Solution, a determination on a similar product, technical data from the manufacturer’s literature or expert testimony. |
| Authorised representative |
The primary contact person for the building consent accreditation body and the person with delegated authority to accept assessment findings on behalf of the building consent authority. |
| BRANZ Ltd |
BRANZ Ltd is an independent and impartial research, testing, consulting and information company providing resources for the building industry. Its website is www.branz.co.nz |
| Building consent |
The legal document issued by a building consent authority giving formal approval to carry out building work. |
| Building consent authority |
A regional or territorial authority acting as a building consent authority or private building consent authority, registered under section 273 of the Act and responsible for performing functions under Part 2 of the Act. |
| Building control functions
|
See the definition in regulation 3 of the Building (Accreditation of Building Consent Authorities) Regulations 2006. This defines the term as a function of a building consent authority under particular sections of the Building Act 2004. In summary, these sections cover a range of legislative functions associated with the processing, inspection and approval of building consents. |
| Building official15 |
Person employed by a territorial authority, regional authority or building consent authority whose main function is to ensure building compliance is achieved in accordance with the Building Act 2004, regulations made under the Act, including the Building Code, and any other relevant legislation. |
| Building Officials Institute of New Zealand (BOINZ) |
BOINZ is a non-profit voluntary organisation. It strives to raise the status and advance the interests of the building controls profession. BOINZ encourages members to develop a better understanding of the responsibilities and duties imposed by Acts and regulations. To achieve this, it facilitates opportunities for the members to meet, correspond and interchange knowledge relevant to the science of building. It will review, promote, or lobby for legislation and standards that will provide safe and healthy buildings for our community. Its website is www.boinz.org.nz
|
| Building Research |
Building Research is an independent association owned and directed by the building and construction industry in New Zealand. Building Research collects the Building Research Levy and funds research and information transfer activities that will help strengthen the industry and ultimately enhance the economic and social wellbeing of all New Zealanders. Its website is: www.buildingresearch.org.nz |
| Building warrant of fitness (BWOF) |
in the compliance schedule are performing and continue to perform to the performance standards listed in the compliance schedule. |
| Certificate of acceptance |
A certificate issued by a territorial or regional authority confirming that certain work (generally work undertaken without a building consent) is deemed to be acceptable as far as the territorial or regional authority can ascertain. |
| Certificate for public use |
A certificate issued by a territorial or regional authority confirming that public premises are safe to use in certain circumstances. This certificate is issued when there is a need to open or use public premises that are still under construction, and that have not yet been completed to a stage that a code compliance certificate can be issued. |
| Cluster |
A group of building consent authorities who have established a collective relationship or partnership. They may develop and implement common building control processes or look to share knowledge, skills, experience or resources to optimise how they undertake their building control functions, create efficiencies, and provide a better service in multiple jurisdictions. |
| Code compliance certificate |
A certificate issued by a building consent authority confirming that certain building work has been completed and complies with the building consent. |
| Compliance Document |
A document comprising Verification Methods and Acceptable Solutions used for establishing compliance with the New Zealand Building Code, previously known as an Approved Document. |
| Compliance schedule |
A certificate issued by a territorial or regional authority or a building consent authority that identifies life-saving features or systems contained within a building, and states the reporting, maintenance and inspection criteria for these. |
| Contractor(s) |
For the purpose of this document only, a person or organisation engaged by a building consent authority to undertake building control functions and who may operate under their own procedures. |
| CPENG |
Chartered professional engineers |
| Employee(s) |
For the purpose of this document only, a person employed by a building consent authority to undertake building control functions and who operates under the building consent authority’s quality assurance system. |
| IANZ |
International Accreditation New Zealand, the building consent authority accreditation body, appointed under the Building Act 2004. Its website is: www.ianz.govt.nz |
| Independent qualified person |
A person qualified to inspect and report on items listed on a compliance schedule.
Note: Independent qualified persons will be replaced with licensed building practitioners as at 30 November 2009.
|
| Internal audit |
Internal audits are a series of scheduled audits/reviews performed to verify that the quality assurance system has been effectively implemented and maintained, and that it continues to conform to the requirements of the prescribed standards and criteria. |
| Licensed building practitioner |
A building practitioner whose name has been entered onto the register of licensed building practitioners and who is permitted, within his or her licence class, to design, construct or supervise restricted building work.
Note: The provisions relating to licensed building practitioners and restricted work do not come into effect until 30 November 2009.
|
| New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB) |
NZIOB is an organisation for all members of the building industry including architects, builders, building managers and officials, construction managers, designers, engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors, researchers, site managers, teachers and students. Its website is: www.nziob.org.nz |
| New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors (NZIBS) |
NZIBS is a national body of skilled, professional building consultants who have a high degree of qualification, knowledge and experience. Its website is www.buildingsurveyor.co.nz |
| Notice to fix |
A legal document issued by a responsible authority instructing a specified person to remedy a contravention of the New Zealand Building Act or Regulations. |
| New Zealand Fire Service Commission (NZFSC)
Design Review Unit (DRU)
|
A unit set up by New Zealand Fire Service Commission to review plans requiring Fire Service input. |
| New Zealand Historic Places Trust |
The body set up to protect and preserve New Zealand’s heritage. Its website is www.historic.org.nz |
| Policy |
A documented overarching statement, course of action or protocols intended to influence and determine decisions, actions and other matters. Refer to the Building Consent Authority Development Guides’ quality management section. |
| Procedure |
A detailed low-level documented series of acts, especially of a practical or operational nature, involved in a particular form of work. This is ‘how’ you must do it. An example will include an inspection or processing checklist. |
| Process |
This is ‘what’ you must do. The Building Consent Authority Development Guides set out numerous examples of building control processes |
| Project information memorandum |
A document issued by both regional and territorial authorities that includes information relevant to proposed building work. |
| Quality assurance system |
A documented system describing the organisational structure, responsibilities, procedures, processes and resources for implementing quality management principles to achieve management goals and objectives (including statutory) within a business. This includes all activities that contribute to quality, directly or indirectly. |
| Quality policy |
The quality policy is meant to be an outward statement of an organisation’s commitment to its customers and the provision of products or services. It should include the overall intentions and direction of an organisation regarding quality as formally expressed by management. The quality policy should be in line with the purpose and mission of the organisation or company it is written for. It should also be understandable by employees, managers and other stakeholders. |
| Regional authority |
The authority that performs the functions of a building consent authority for its region, as set out in section 12, to the extent that those functions relate to dams. |
| Registration |
Registration is the tool that the Department of Building and Housing will use to ensure that, having attained the standards required for accreditation, a building consent authority performs to the required registration standards. Registered building consent authorities will be recorded in an appropriate publicly available list. |
| Responsible authority |
A building consent authority, regional authority or territorial authority. The authority responsible for issuing a notice to fix. |
| Restricted building work |
Work that is critical to the envelope and structural integrity of the building.
Note: The provision relating to restricted work does not come into effect until 30 November 2009.
|
| System |
A system typically consists of an organised group of independent but interrelated resources and processes connected together to accomplish a set of specific functions. |
| Territorial authority |
The authority performing the functions of a building consent authority for its district and for any coastal marine area adjacent to its district that is not within the district of another territorial authority. |
| Training programme |
The set of related elements that focus on addressing an organisation’s training needs. It includes an organisation’s training plan, materials, development, conduct, facilities, evaluation and maintenance of training records. |