Streamlining changes to the Licensed Building Practitioner scheme
In February 2010 changes were made the Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) scheme to allow people with recognised qualifications to apply using a cheaper, streamlined assessment process.
On 1 April, further streamlining measures started, including a single design and a single site licence class, based on straightforward building categories. A new Foundations licence class was also introduced. Read the Minister’s announcement 
Simplified building categories
Feedback from the building sector indicated that the old building categories were too complex, and insufficiently aligned with business practice. These are the new building categories:
| Building category |
Definition |
Description |
| Category 1 buildings |
1. SH use, and
2. risk score of 12 or less for any external elevation.
|
Single household dwellings with low- or
medium-risk envelope design. |
| Category 2 buildings |
1. SH use, and
2. risk score greater than 12 for any external elevation.
OR
1. not SH use, and
2. building height less than 10 m.
|
Single household dwellings with high-risk envelope design, or other buildings with a building height* less than 10 m. |
| Category 3 buildings |
1. not SH use, and building height greater than 10 m.
|
All buildings greater than 10 m in building height*, except single household dwellings. |
Building height means the vertical distance between the upper surfaces of the floors of the buildings lowest and highest storeys. SH means sleeping single home.
You can ask just three questions about a building to determine its category:
Is the building SH use?
-> Yes -> Is the Risk score 12 or under? -> Yes-> Category 1
-> Yes -> Is the Risk score 12 or under? -> No -> Category 2
-> No -> Is the Building height less than10 m? -> Yes -> Category 2
-> No -> Is the Building height less than10 m? -> No -> Category 3
Single Site licence
From April 2010, a single Site licence class with three areas of practice replaced the old system of Site 1, 2 and 3 licence classes. The Site licence is for competent builders, site supervisors or construction managers, responsible for coordinating, overseeing or managing building work. They can apply to be licensed in one of the Site 1, 2 or 3 areas of practice.
The single licence class for Site with three areas of practice means Site LBPs can choose to be assessed in the area of practice that best fits their qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience. It’s also an indication to consumers of the type of work their LBP does.
| Site area of practice |
Building Category |
| Site area of practice 1 |
Coordinate and oversee the construction or alteration of Category 1 buildings
|
| Site area of practice 2 |
Coordinate and oversee the construction or alteration of Category 1, 2 and 3 buildings |
| Site area of practice 3 |
Manage some or all of the construction or alteration of Category 1, 2 and 3 buildings |
More about Design
From April 2010, a single Design licence class with three areas of practice replaced the old system of Design 1, 2 and 3 licence classes. Designers can apply to be licensed in one of the Design 1, 2 or 3 areas of practice. The Design areas of practice relate to the three categories of buildings.
| Design area of practice |
Building Category |
| Design area of practice 1 |
Design Category 1 buildings |
| Design area of practice 2 |
Design area of practice 2 Design Category 1 and 2 buildings |
| Design area of practice 3 |
Design Category 1, 2 and 3 buildings |
New Foundations class
A new Foundations licensing class started in April 2010. It covers practioners who construct foundations for category 1 and 2 buildings. The piling and foundation work needed following relocation can be carried out by those skilled at this work, without requiring a qualified carpenter.
Other occupational licensing schemes
Some building practitioners, such as engineers, are already registered under an existing occupational licensing scheme. From April 2010, those registered under other statutory registration systems will be automatically treated as having the corresponding LBP licence for the purpose of restricted building work. For example, a registered plumber and gas fitter will be treated as if they are an LBP for flashing pipe penetrations in roofs and walls.