Main findings of the review

Criterion 13 - Adequacy of resources

Purpose

To examine the resources that the Council's building control staff have at their disposal to carry out their building control operations.

Background

The effectiveness of building control staff can be enhanced with access to appropriate aids and resources such as a technical reference library, digital cameras and moisture meters.

Initial review

The initial review identified that the Council's offices have an adequate range of technical literature and current construction-related periodicals. However, the building control officer did not have a copy of all amendments to the Building Act at the time of the review visit and there was no copy of the Building Regulations 1992.

Recommendations to the Council	Action taken by the Council before the follow-up review
Ensure its technical literature and legislation is up to date and readily accessible to staff (including the Building Act, Building Regulations and Building Code, Compliance Documents, and relevant standards).	The Council has fully implemented this recommendation.

Follow-up review

The Department found that the Council had successfully implemented the recommendation of the January 2004 review. Building control staff had copies of the Building Act 2004, up-to-date copies of NZS 3604 were available in both the Taumarunui and Ohakune offices, and technical libraries in both offices had been reviewed, with standards and proprietary literature separated into sections for current and reference-only documents (superseded documents). The building control officers had access to computers and the internet, allowing them to access relevant information sources, including manufacturers' technical literature and websites such as Brookers and the Department of Building and Housing.

Conclusion

The Department is satisfied that the Council is providing its building control staff with an appropriate level of technical information and other technical resources.