Issue 31 – September 2011
In 2010, more than 600,000 people in New Zealand were seriously injured as a result of accidents that happened in the home. This is more than the combined number of people injured on the road and in the workplace.
ACC Programme Manager Justine Ropata says, 'Beyond the huge personal costs for individuals, families, and friends that these injuries cause, there is also a social and economic toll. While there is a lot of great information available on safety in the home, ACC identified a need for a guide that would provide information on safety issues at the home design, building, and maintenance stages.'
To meet this need, ACC contracted Standards New Zealand to develop SNZ HB 4102:2011 Safety in the home.
Published in August 2011, SNZ HB 4102 is an easy-to-use guide that provides a general overview of steps that can be taken through design, building, and maintenance to reduce hazards in the home. The guide is recommended for people who undertake do-it-yourself projects, homeowners, tenants, and real estate agents, as well as a wide range of people in the building industry such as builders, architects, engineers, plumbers, electricians, glaziers, and landscapers.
Plunket's National Child Safety Advisor Sue Campbell, who served as Chair on the development committee, says, 'The P 4102 development committee included representatives from nearly every aspect of the building industry, as well as health and safety experts and consumer representatives. With such a diverse committee we've been able to develop a guide that discusses a wide range of safety issues in the home and offers practical and often simple solutions to reducing risks.'
In discussing common safety hazards in the home, the SNZ HB 4102 identifies what actions are required under the New Zealand Building Code or other legislation. It also provides design, building, and maintenance recommendations that are beyond minimum legal requirements, but are considered good practice for reducing hazards in the home. As noted in the guide, however, it is strongly recommended that when undertaking a building or major home renovation project certified professionals should be consulted with through the design and building process.
The next step for the project is to use the information in SNZ HB 4102 to develop a series of brochures to promote safe home design, building, and maintenance practices. The brochures will be available online at no cost through the ACC website and, while supplies last, in hard copy through various home improvement stores.
This guide has been completely revised from the previous NZS 4102:1996.
→ Buy SNZ HB 4102:2011 Safety in the home
Related Standards
- NZS 3604:2011 Timber-framed buildings
- NZS 4223 Glazing Standards Set
- AS/NZS 1428.4.1:2009 Design for access and mobility Part 4.1: Means to assist the orientation of people with vision impairment – Tactile ground surface indicators
- AS/NZS 3000:2007 Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules)
- ISO 13746:2000 Textile floor coverings – Guidelines for installation and use on stairs
Related Touchstone article