Work has begun on checking the status of our building warrants of fitness.

Let me first try and explain what a BWoF is.

“A building warrant of fitness (BWoF) is a building owner’s annual statement confirming the specified systems in the compliance schedule for their building have been maintained and checked for the previous 12 months, in accordance with the compliance schedule.”

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment – Guides for building officials

A compliance schedule of specified systems includes (but is not limited to) things like sprinkler systems, fire alarms, security doors, fire doors, exit signs, and heat detectors.

Buildings likely to have specified systems will be churches, halls, hospitals, offices and boarding houses. Buildings with a number of specified systems often fit the criteria – such as those with fire alarms, emergency power systems, sprinkler systems, passenger-carrying lifts, automatic sliding doors, mechanical ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

The compliance schedule will also outline the frequency of checks that must be carried out each year and who should do the checking. Some items can be checked off by the building stewards, but other items will require specialists to do the checking – Independent Qualified People (IQPs). All councils provide a list of IQPs that operate in their region – check out your council’s website.

The councils and I have checked our systems, and two out-of-date BWoFs have been discovered so far, but we still have Auckland to check, where most of our buildings are.

Of the two out-of-date one of them didn’t pass inspection as a new IQP interpreted the rules differently than the previous IQP. This led to the council coming to audit the building and overturning the new IQP interpretation. The new BWoF has been issued.

The second BWoF has just been neglected and the building steward has been informed to bring it up to date. In the meantime, the council will be booking an appointment to audit the building.

My queries have also prompted one council to arrange an audit of non-BWoF buildings. This means that they may request passive options be installed in the buildings such as exit signs and clearways of final exit points.

Remember too, that the Insurance Fund provides a subsidy for the installation of a monitored alarm system of $2,000 or 80% of the cost, whichever is the lesser amount. These systems may be incorporated with items from the compliance schedule.

While I apologise for stirring up the councils to look at our buildings, I am not sorry if our buildings become safer.

Remembrance service for Loafers Lodge victims

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa

Nā Trudy Downes
trudyd@methodist.org.nz
027 457 4196