Read on for important information about your obligations under the NZ Building Act 2004.

Alterations to existing buildings (s112 BA 2004):

As mentioned in the BCA accreditation article in this publication, our external assessment  highlighted the importance of applicants becoming familiar with section 112 of the Building Act 2004 that deals with alterations to existing buildings.

Building consent applications for alteration work are required to comply with section 112 parts 1, 2 or 3. Applications should clearly state which part they are complying with and how compliance is achieved. We will be closely monitoring this.

We have recently created a new policy around the requirement for peer review and PS2 (Producer Statements) for structural design work. The new trigger points for requiring peer review are as follows:

• Where an author of a PS1 is not CPEng or on the Southern Building Control Group author’s register.

• Roof members spanning further than 12 metres.

• New builds of importance level 3, 4 & 5 buildings as defined by Clause A3 of the NZ Building Code.

• New builds of involving more than two stories in height or more than 100 occupants.

• Structural designs involving alternative solutions.

• Projects with significant structural work and an estimated value of work exceeding $10 million.

• Any other project at the discretion of the Building Control Authority.

Specified Systems

Specified systems are systems designed to ensure that the building is safe and healthy for members of the public to enter, occupy or work there. Our recent external assessment also highlighted the requirement for building consent applications to include detailed information on specified systems.

Both the Compliance Schedule Specified Systems Form (SBCG 27) and the individual specified system (SS) forms are required to be completed for any new or altered systems, including compliance standards and the version (year) of those standards. To make this requirement clearer, minor changes have been made to some of the SS forms.

Please make sure applications include the latest form versions which can be found on the Dunedin City Council website.

Our building consent vetting and processing staff are tasked with ensuring this information is correct and complete.