Licensing system developing with industry input

Note: For more recent information, see the 10 June 2005 news item, Licensing update.

3 Nov 2004: Development of a licensing system for builder practitioners is in full swing with more than a thousand people attending consultation meetings throughout the country to discuss the issue.

One of a package of changes under the Building Act 2004, the licensing system introduces the concept of restricted work - design and construction work so critical that if done badly it has the potential to cause significant harm to people or cause costly property damage.

The licensing system will see all restricted work carried out or supervised by licensed building practitioners by 2009.

A series of nationwide consultation meetings held in September and October were attended by 1050 people. These meetings prompted robust discussion from the building industry about the system outlined in the discussion document Licensing of Building Practitioners Discussion the Options.

A significant proportion of the audience was positive about licensing. They were particularly interested in staying up to date with the development of the licensing system to put themselves in a position to apply for a licence as soon as the voluntary system begins in 2007.

Others raised concerns about a licensed building practitioner's responsibility in relation to the responsibilities of territorial authorities, do it yourself renovators and consumers.

This was put into context by explaining the Building Act 2004 also introduces product certification, Building Consent Authority accreditation and a review of the Building Code which will work together with licensing requirements to set national standards across the building industry. These measures will be in place by the time mandatory licensing begins.

Feedback from the meetings covered the scope of restricted work such as whether or not farm buildings and plasterboarding should be included.

Discussion about the proposed licensing categories included the importance of having someone with a licence supervising the interfaces between different building systems ie cladding and roofing.

Common themes included liability, supervision, the role of territorial authorities and established industry organisations, licensing costs and meeting licensing requirements.

Licensing categories are expected to be set in March 2005 once submissions have been analysed.

Once these categories are set, licensing requirements will be developed with consultation from training providers and industry.