New building code

[flyingcrocodile46]

Apparently, from the 1st March, any alterations, around the house that requires a building permit has to be carried out by a bonified builder.

Currently I'm putting up a decent lean to along side the garden shed for the firewood. Was told it would need to be put up by a builder if done after the 1st. because it will be a permanent structure.

The local Gestapo can get fucked, if they think I'm getting a builder in to put up a bloody cover for the firewood.

Any body else aware of the implications of the new rules? from a FIY perspective?

The Building Act 2004 Section 1 excerpt says...........

Schedule 1 s 41(1)(b)
Exempt building work
A building consent is not required for the following building work:
(a) any lawful repair and maintenance using comparable materials, or replacement with a comparable component or assembly in the same position, of any component or assembly incorporated or associated with a building, including all lawful repair and maintenance of that nature that is carried out in accordance
with the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 1976, except—
(i) complete or substantial replacement of a specified system;
or
(ii) complete or substantial replacement of any component
or assembly contributing to the building’s structural behaviour
or firesafety
properties; or
(iii) repair or replacement (other than maintenance) of any component or assembly that has failed to satisfy the provisions of the building code for durability, for example, through a failure to comply with the external moisture requirements of the building code; or
(iv) repair or replacement of any water storage heater connected to a solidfuel heater or other supplementary heat exchanger, except for the repair, or replacement with a comparable heater, of any openvented water storage heater using the same pipework:
(ab) the opening and reinstatement of any purposemade access point within a drainage system that—
(i) is not a NUO system or part of a NUO system; and
(ii) is carried out in accordance with the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 1976:
(ac) the alteration to drains for a dwelling, if the alteration—
(i) is of a minor nature (for example, shifting a gully trap);
and
(ii) does not include making any new connection to a service provided by a network utility operator; and
(iii) is carried out in accordance with the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 1976:
(ad) the alteration to existing sanitary plumbing (as defined in section 3 of the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 1976) in a dwelling (for example, replacing a bath with a shower or moving a toilet) carried out in accordance with the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 1976:
(ae) the installation, replacement, or removal in any existing building of a window (including a roof window) or an exterior doorway if—
(i) compliance with the provisions of the building code relating to structural stability is not reduced; and
(ii) in the case of replacement, the window or doorway being replaced satisfied the provisions of the building code for durability:
(af) the alteration to an entrance or an internal doorway of a dwelling to improve access for persons with disabilities, if compliance with the provisions of the building code relating to structural stability is not reduced:
(ag) the alteration to the interior of any nonresidential building (for example, a shop, office, library, factory, warehouse, church, or school), if the alteration does not—
(i) reduce compliance with the provisions of the building code that relate to means of escape from fire, protection of other property, sanitary facilities, structural stability, firerating performance, and access and facilities for persons with disabilities; or
(ii) modify or affect any specified system:
(b) the construction or alteration of any motorway sign, stopbank, culvert for carrying water under or in association with a road, or other similar structure that is a simple structure and is owned or controlled by a network utility operator or other similar organisation:
(c) construction or alteration of any retaining wall that retains not more than 1.5 metres depth of ground and that does not support any surcharge or any load additional to the load of that ground (for example, the load of vehicles on a road):
(ca) the construction, alteration, or removal of an internal wall (including the construction, alteration, or removal of an internal doorway) in any existing building if—
(i) compliance with the provisions of the building code relating to structural stability is not reduced; and
(ii) the means of escape from fire provided within the building are not detrimentally affected; and
(iii) the wall is not made of units of material (such as brick, burnt clay, concrete, or stone) laid to a bond in and joined together with mortar:
(d) the construction or alteration of any wall (except a retaining wall or an internal wall), fence (except a fence as defined in section 2 of the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987), or hoarding, in each case of a height not exceeding 2 metres above the supporting ground:
(da) the construction or alteration of any dam that is not a large dam:
(e) the construction or alteration of any tank or pool and any structural support of the tank or pool (except a swimming pool as defined in section 2 of the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987), including any tank or pool that is part of any other building for which a building consent is required,—
(i) not exceeding 35 000 litres capacity and supported directly by the ground; or
(ii) not exceeding 2 000 litres capacity and supported not more than 2 metres above the supporting ground; or
(iii) not exceeding 500 litres capacity and supported not more than 4 metres above the supporting ground:
(f) the construction, alteration, or removal of any tent or marquee that has a floor area not exceeding 50 square metres if that tent or marquee is to be, or has been, used for public assembly for a period of not more than 1 month:
(fa) the construction, alteration, or removal of any tent or marquee that has a floor area not exceeding 100 square metres if that tent or marquee is, or has been, for private use for a period of not more than 1 month:
(g) the construction or alteration of any platform, bridge, or the like from which it is not possible for a person to fall more than 1 metre even if it collapses:
(h) the construction or alteration of any temporary storage stack of goods or materials:
(i) building work in connection with any detached building (except a building that is required to be licensed in terms of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 or a building closer than its own height to any residential accommodation or to any legal boundary) that—
(i) houses fixed plant or machinery, the only normal visits to which are intermittent visits for routine inspection and maintenance of that plant or machinery; or
(ii) into which, or into the immediate vicinity of which, people cannot or do not normally go; or
(iii) is used only by people engaged in the construction or maintenance of another building for which a building consent is required; or
(iv) does not exceed 1 storey, does not exceed 10 square metres in floor area, and does not contain sanitary facilities or facilities for the storage of potable water, but may contain sleeping accommodation (without cooking facilities) if the detached building is used in connection with a dwelling:
(j) building work in connection with the closing in of an existing veranda, patio, or the like so as to provide an enclosed porch, conservatory, or the like with a floor area not exceeding 5 square metres:
(ja) the construction, alteration, or removal of any fabric, glass, or metal awning on any building that—
(i) is on the ground or first storey level; and
(ii) does not exceed 15 square metres in size:
(jb) the construction, alteration, or removal of a pergola:
(jc) the construction, alteration, or removal of a porch or verandah on any building where that porch or verandah—
(i) is on the ground or first storey level; and
(ii) is over a deck or a patio; and
(iii) does not exceed 15 square metres in size:
(k) any other building work in respect of which the territorial authority (or, as the case requires, the regional authority) considers that a building consent is not necessary for the purposes of this Act because that building work—
(i) is unlikely to be carried out otherwise than in accordance with the building code; or
(ii) if carried out otherwise than in accordance with the building code, is unlikely to endanger people or any building, whether on the same land or on other property





Plus the following additional exemptions recently added.

In summary, building work that was added to the current list of exempt work includes:

• replacing or altering linings or finishes of any internal wall, ceiling, or floor of a dwelling
• making a penetration no greater than 30cm in diameter to enable the passage of pipes, cables, ducts, wires and hoses and the like through any existing building, and any associated work such as weatherproofing, fireproofing or sealing
• installing thermal insulation in an existing building other than in an external wall or a firewall of the building
• demolishing all or part of a damaged building that is detached (stand alone) and no more than 3 storeys high
• repairing and replacing all or part of a damaged outbuilding with a comparable outbuilding within the same area
• removing any sign and a sign’s structural support, retaining wall, plinth or similar foundation, or playground equipment

Constructing, installing, replacing, or altering any:

• sign and any structural support of a sign if the sign has been designed by a chartered professional engineer, or the sign does not exceed 6 square metres and is no more than 3m above the ground
• height restriction gantry, and the removal of any such gantry
• retaining wall in a rural zone if the wall has been designed by a chartered professional engineer, retains no more than 3m depth of ground and is no closer than its own height to any legal boundary or existing building
• plinth or similar foundation designed by a chartered professional engineer, used for supporting mechanical plant, a tank, equipment, machinery, or any similar item
• stall, booth, compartment, or similar structure with a floor area less than 100 square metres used at a fair, exhibition or market for no more than one month, and the removal of any such stall, booth, compartment, or similar structure
• shade sail less than 50 square metres, made of fabric or other similar lightweight material and associated structural support provided it is at least 1m from any legal boundary and on the ground level or first storey level if on a building, and the removal of any such shade sail
• ground level carport not exceeding 20 square metres and the removal of any such carport
• playground equipment designed by a chartered professional engineer provided the work is for a government department, Crown entity, licensed early childhood centre or a territorial or regional authority
• playground equipment used by a single household provided no part of the equipment is more than 3m above the ground

The following changes were also made to existing exemptions listed under Schedule 1:

• in relation to the construction or alteration of a platform, bridge or the like, the maximum height that a person may possibly fall from the platform or bridge will increase from 1 to 1.5 metres
• the maximum height of a wall, fence, or hoarding will increase from 2 to 2.5 metres above the supporting ground
• in relation to the construction or alteration of tanks and pools and any structural support of the tank or pool the following additional configurations will be exempt:
  
  • up to 16,000 litres and no more than 0.25m above the ground
  • up to 8,000 litres and no more than 0.5m above the ground
  • up to 4,000 litres and no more than 1m above the ground
  • up to 1,000 litres and no more than 3m above the ground
  
  
• in relation to the construction, alteration or removal of a public tent or marquee the maximum floor area will increase from 50 to 100 square metres
• in relation to the construction alteration or removal of a fabric, glass, or metal awning on the ground or first storey level, the maximum size will increase from 15 to 20 square metres
• in relation to the construction alteration or removal of a porch or veranda on the ground or first storey level over a deck or patio, the maximum size will increase from 15 to 20 square metres.

Seems like a pretty big list to me.

Don't get all worked up about it. As long as you are staying a metre or more away from the boundary you can build yourself a pergola (without consent but with sloping rafters) - (see bolded section above) then maybe install a bit of clear roofing over it at a later stage.

[Brett]

Yeah, it's a pain in the arse, but necessary. I am in the process of sorting out my Site 3 LBP certification so that we can keep going with a sideline business.

[Laava]

Me too. I have been approved for Qual and site 1 but I am not convinced it is not all a rort. Every year you will be required to pay an ongoing registration, but you just watch how that cost is going to inflate. I would not hesitate to build for myself without permit, but you need to be savvy about how you go about it. ie, location, size and cost. If the council get a complaint they WILL chase it up! Otherwise they do not want to know. That from several inspectors I have spoken to over the last couple of years.

[MisterD]

Yeah, it's a pain in the arse, but necessary.

NotPC says bullshit

We are sure the great collective will be happy when they seek a small craftsman to do a small alteration, and find instead that the small craftsman can no longer afford the time both to build and to fill out paperwork. That instead of choosing from a big pool of small craftsmen they must choose instead from a small pool of big companies—all bearing the seal of the State.

[flyingcrocodile46]

NotPC says bullshit

An entertaining and well written theory/opinion but it is really all just his opinion which is largely unsupported by the facts (some of it is twaddle). I doubt very much that even 5% of his views come to fruition as he has grabbed the wrong end of the stick and is barking up the wrong tree.

Licensing (LBP) is long overdue (about 40 years overdue) and will ultimately help shape a much better equipped and educated industry. Though it will take at least 10 years before any really measurable benefits will be seen. Frankly the level of knowledge of builders, designers, contractors etc about what they do for a living is abysmal.

Short of removing 90% of available building products to suit the current knowledge levels (going back to the 70's designs and selections) this is the best answer.

[Scuba_Steve]

An entertaining and well written theory/opinion but it is really all just his opinion which is largely unsupported by the facts (some of it is twaddle). I doubt very much that even 5% of his views come to fruition as he has grabbed the wrong end of the stick and is barking up the wrong tree.

Licensing (LBP) is long overdue (about 40 years overdue) and will ultimately help shape a much better equipped and educated industry. Though it will take at least 10 years before any really measurable benefits will be seen. Frankly the level of knowledge of builders, designers, contractors etc about what they do for a living is abysmal.

Short of removing 90% of available building products to suit the current knowledge levels (going back to the 70's designs and selections) this is the best answer.

I would say his view is the opposite bias of the corporate media, but there's probably more truth in his bias than the other given less money to spend on spin doctors.
Licencing always sounds good in theory, but may I point you to our vehicle licence's, or maybee our gun licence if it plays out the same as them it is nothing more than a tax to make an already expensive process even more expensive & complicated.
I personally think you have to much faith in this LBP, especially given it's effectively brought about by those responsible for most the problems in the 1st place

[flyingcrocodile46]

I would say his view is the opposite bias of the corporate media, but there's probably more truth in his bias than the other given less money to spend on spin doctors.
Licencing always sounds good in theory, but may I point you to our vehicle licence's, or maybee our gun licence if it plays out the same as them it is nothing more than a tax to make an already expensive process even more expensive & complicated.
I personally think you have to much faith in this LBP, especially given it's effectively brought about by those responsible for most the problems in the 1st place

Lol. I must admit to my own skepticism in the early stages, but given that the woes caused by "those responsible for most the problems in the 1st place" are mostly (but not solely) born out of a lack of adequate governance, (as well as political interference) I don't see how the much needed increase in industry knowledge is going to occur without something along the lines of the LBP system, which at the very minimum at least provides a mail out list for educational material (industry updates from DBH, BRANZ, Councils, Suppliers etc) which otherwise doesn't exist.

All these accusations of builders not complying with best trade practice are questionable when there is no mechanism for the distribution of the knowledge of those practices. You can't be held to be negligent if you are ignorant.

[Brett]

NotPC says bullshit

I bloody hope it is. It will save me a lot of money....

[Drew]

I would say his view is the opposite bias of the corporate media, but there's probably more truth in his bias than the other given less money to spend on spin doctors.
Licencing always sounds good in theory, but may I point you to our vehicle licence's, or maybee our gun licence if it plays out the same as them it is nothing more than a tax to make an already expensive process even more expensive & complicated.
I personally think you have to much faith in this LBP, especially given it's effectively brought about by those responsible for most the problems in the 1st place

I am gonna see what level of LBP I qualify for, with nothing but hands on job training, and most of the commercial building. I may well share you skepticism after that.

I would bet good money that the "tax" you speak of, is not the intended purpose of the LBP bill. I'd probably bet my winnings that it is however, what it becomes.

[Drew]

I bloody hope it is. It will save me a lot of money....

Notice how bullshit is a different colour? It's a link to what appears to be a middle aged tradesman, who takes a lot of pride in his work and how he goes about it, telling of what he thinks he's just been forced to become.

[MisterD]

It's a link to what appears to be a middle aged tradesman,

Peter Cresswell, Architect, blogger and Libertarian spokesman for a bunch of stuff. You should really go read his posts on leaky buildings.

[Coldrider]

Don't know how long this has been happening in other areas but I see now the foundations are boxed up straight on the ground without foundation footings dug into the ground, not even tied onto a sunken pile or such. It is as if ahouse can be nudged around a section with a bulldozer. Now that is a saving. I assume this would be for lightweight exterior cladding only.

[paturoa]

Well the powers that be are running out of nails to get all of those BAD BAD BAD home handyman types that built all of the leaky homes and apartment biuilding complexes.

FOR FUCKS SAKE. This really pisses me off. CORRUPTION.

So what is happening here is that the councils are organising to get themselves leglislated out of any liability for the service(?) they provide. By requiring "licensed" peeps to do all structural work....

[flyingcrocodile46]

Don't know how long this has been happening in other areas but I see now the foundations are boxed up straight on the ground without foundation footings dug into the ground, not even tied onto a sunken pile or such. It is as if ahouse can be nudged around a section with a bulldozer. Now that is a saving. I assume this would be for lightweight exterior cladding only.

That may be a raft slab you are looking at. They are designed to float on the ground (spread the weigth over the whole area rather than just through the perimiter footings). They are well capable of supporting heavy claddings such as brick (even two or three levels) but depending on ground conditions may require piling and brittle cladding such as bricks may require control joints.

Conventional floor slabs require strip footings around the perimiter of each level (of the slab). The embedment depth varies depending on ground conditions. Most areas of Auckland are clay so embedment depth tends to be a minimum of between 450 to 600mm.

[Coldrider]

That may be a raft slab you are looking at. They are designed to float on the ground (spread the weigth over the whole area rather than just through the perimiter footings). They are well capable of supporting heavy claddings such as brick (even two or three levels) but depending on ground conditions may require piling and brittle cladding such as bricks may require control joints.

Conventional floor slabs require strip footings around the perimiter of each level (of the slab). The embedment depth varies depending on ground conditions. Most areas of Auckland are clay so embedment depth tends to be a minimum of between 450 to 600mm.

Yes i did see heaps of poly in a stack so that is what it will be. My current house built four years ago is on clay, 300 X 300 footings supporting plaster over block, fill being straight haul. Am looking to build again so watching.