The Building Code Review - second discussion document
The Department has released a second discussion document for the Building Code Review. We are seeking your views and comments on this important document that will help shape the future Building Code.
Submissions close on 28 September 2007.
Following the consultation, the Department will report to the Minister for Building and Construction with its final recommendations by 30 November 2007. Cabinet will then consider changes to the Building Code, which will be put in place from 2009.
The first discussion document, released in May 2006, asked for feedback on which features of building work the Building Code should cover. This second discussion document asks for views on the Building Code performance requirements - how those features of building work should perform.
An important idea in the Department's work on the Building Code review and in this discussion document is sustainability. The Department has looked at how buildings can use resources more efficiently and how buildings should connect with their wider environment. We have also considered how buildings can contribute to social sustainability by promoting health and wellbeing and improving accessibility.
Key points in the discussion document include:
- a new Building Code structure, based on the needs of Code users, especially building designers and building consent authorities
- a new fire design and performance framework
- a new system of tolerable impacts, recognising that buildings need to meet different performance requirements depending on their importance and risks to building users and society
- possible use of projected lifetime CO2 emissions of buildings as the principal measure of resource efficiency, including energy and water efficiency, construction materials and construction waste
- consideration of internal space requirements for housing that improve accessibility
- connection of buildings to the outdoors
- updates and clarifications of existing requirements, in line with stakeholder comments
- how the principles of universal design and adaptability can be applied in the Building Code.
The discussion document proposes three different types of changes to the Code.
- Changes that clarify existing performance requirements
- Changes that bring in different performance requirements, changes to the scope of requirements, or different approaches to describing requirements
- Ideas for some changes that are bold, are longer term and need further development with external expertise and consultation with the sector
The overall impact of the changes will be to clarify building performance requirements, leading to better decision-making and more certainty about building quality. It is too soon to assess the impact of the more far-reaching changes until further development work has been done.
The discussion document looks at how we might implement the changes that result from the review. We are conscious the sector is already responding to new measures, such as the licensing of building practitioners and the accreditation of building consent authorities, and we welcome comments on what practical support might be needed for the sector as the Building Code changes are implemented. It is likely that changes will be introduced in stages, with the most straightforward ones being made first. We are considering producing a long-term implementation plan, which would provide certainty for the building sector about when changes would be introduced.
It is important the review includes the best possible thinking from those involved in the building sector and from building users. Our thinking so far has been informed by the valuable feedback we have received on the first discussion document and throughout the review process. The performance requirements in the discussion document were developed with the help of workgroups set up by the Department, made up of experts from the building sector, territorial authorities, researchers and government. We are looking to get further valuable feedback on the second discussion document.
The discussion document has been distributed widely to the building sector and other interested parties. It is also available on the Department's website. We will be holding focus groups and public workshops during the consultation period. Further details of these will be announced shortly.