Change the way we build

In the future we are going to have better houses, apartments and buildings. They will be safer, healthier, more energy efficient and will promote sustainable development. Our buildings will be built to better performance standards.

This is an insight into the Building Code, which is part way through a major review. The Department is intending to publish a discussion document on what the new Building Code could address. This is expected to be made available in May 2006.

Building codes have traditionally been important for achieving safe and healthy buildings. Worldwide they are also becoming a means to achieve other goals such as energy efficiency, environmental protection, economic growth and social outcomes.

Building codes are intended to limit the likelihood of undesirable or unacceptable outcomes for people in buildings. Some undesirable events, such as earthquakes and storms, are natural and cannot be controlled. For these situations building codes provide rules to make sure buildings are strong enough to suffer only limited damage in anything other than the most severe event. For other outcomes, for example energy efficiency and good indoor air quality, building codes are designed to provide benefits to people all the time.

Building codes cannot totally eliminate the risk of unfortunate consequences. The standards set in building codes are a complex balance between quality, cost, affordability and accessibility. These issues are explored in the discussion document.

Resonding to the new Building Act

The Building Act 2004 is underpinned by a new purpose and principles that the review needs to take into account. The Building Act includes the health and safety objectives that were in the previous Act, and also adds some new ones. Most notable is the promotion of sustainable development and improvements to the wellbeing of building users.

The purpose and principles mean the Building Code will continue its role of protecting consumers and building users. It will also provide leadership on matters that are in the national interest, involving careful balancing between what people can choose individually, and what is good for the nation.

The review is scheduled for completion by 30 November 2007. Implementing the changes to the Building Code, and to the Compliance Documents that support the Building Code, will occur after 30 November 2007. When the review is finished, the Building Code will have different performance requirements. We cannot yet say what they will be - one purpose of the review is to work that out. The review will make recommendations about things that the Building Act requires, but that are not addressed in the current Building Code. The performance requirements of the Building Code will be more specific and they will be easier to understand. The Building Code itself will be easier to use.

Making your voice heard

The discussion document:

• sets out the factors that might affect how we shape a Building Code for the future
• discusses the proposed scope and content by providing extracts of objectives and related building features
• presents a preview of a possible structure for the Building Code.

We would like to hear your views on the proposals in the discussion document. To register your interest in receiving a copy, contact the call centre on 0800 242 243 or email info@dbh.govt.nz Copies are expected to be distributed in May 2006.