Department of Building and Housing, 4 March 2009 Building Controls Update

No.96 – Guidance on the classification of freestanding, uninhabited garages

The Department of Building and Housing has moved to clarify the classification of freestanding, uninhabited garages.

The Department considers that freestanding, uninhabited garages should be classified as Importance Level 1 (low consequence of failure) under Compliance Document B1/VM1 (visit www.dbh.govt.nz/building-code-compliance-documents) and AS/NZS 1170.

AS/NZS 1170 came into effect in December 2008 as a cited reference in the compliance document B1/VM1 Structure. This Standard, like the previously referenced NZS 4203, differentiates buildings based on the risk that their failure would present to the safety of people, as well as any social, economic and environmental consequences that might arise. This differentiation is expressed through 'importance levels', which determine the applied design loads that buildings should be able to withstand.

Specified systems and compliance schedules – requirements for security and gas detection systems

Reprinted from Codewords 34, February 2009, Department of Building and Housing.

Some systems in buildings are so fundamental to the ongoing safe use of the building that they must be regularly inspected, tested, and maintained, and records of these activities kept. These systems are known as 'specified systems' and include fire safety systems, as well as building features such as lifts and ventilation systems.

The Building Act 2004 requires a building not used as a single household unit to have a compliance schedule if it has any specified system. This applies regardless of why the specified system was installed in the first place. Therefore, if a building has a specified system it must be on the building's compliance schedule. (Note that the only instance when a single household unit requires a compliance schedule is if it has a cable car.)

UPDATE ON STANDARDS IN DEVELOPMENT

Timber framed buildings

Committee: P3604
Project manager: Mani Taare
Estimated publication date: 2010
Comments: Formation of the leadership group is complete. The P3604 Technical Committee has been constituted and the second meeting was held on 19 March 2009. Working groups have been established to review specific sections of the Standard. They are: Loadings (1170), Bracing, Durability, Roof framing, Design appearance and clarity.

Revision of NZS 3122:1995 and NZS 3123:1974

Committee: P3122-3123
Project manager: Mani Taare
Estimated publication date: August 2009
Comments: A project for the amendment of NZS 3122:1995 Specification for Portland and blended cements (General and special purpose) and revision of NZS 3123:1974 Specification for Portland pozzolan cement (type PP cement). The first committee meeting took place on 12 February 2009.

Code of Practice for concrete structures for the storage of liquid

Committee: P3106 Phase 2
Project manager: Sonia van Ree
Estimated publication date: June 2009
Comments: A public comment meeting was held March 17, and the committee is now working through action points. Postal ballot is scheduled for mid April.

Thermal insulation – Housing and small buildings

Committee: P4218
Project manager: Sonia van Ree
Estimated publication date: June 2009
Comments: The remainder of the large number of public comments received are being worked through by the committee. Postal ballot will then be carried out and this is expected to be mid April.

Revision of NZS3404 Steel structures - Phases 1, 2 & 3

Committee: P3404
Project manager: Jono East
Estimated publication date: June 2009 (NZS 3404 part 1 only)
Comments: A committee meeting was held in February to review public comments received on NZS 3404 Part 1. The committee is commencing scoping work and revision of Parts 2 & 6.

WS-013 Review of domestic wastewater systems

Committee: WS-013
Project manager: Jono East
Estimated publication Date: June 2009
Comments: The committee is revising the AS/NZS1547 draft in light of comments received during the ballot stage.