A guide to building regulation in
New Zealand and the place of
Acceptable Solution E2 in this
regulation.
A Compliance
Document is for use in
establishing compliance
with the New Zealand
Building Code
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
However, a Compliance
Document is only one
method of complying with
the Building Code. There may
be alternative ways to
comply.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
The
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
Building Act,
3rd edition 2011
which contains the
provisions for regulating building work.
•
The various
Building Regulations,
which
contain prescribed forms, list specified
systems, define ‘change the use’ and
‘moderate earthquake’, and set out the
rate of levy and fees for determinations.
•
The
Building Code,
contained in Schedule 1
of the Building Regulations 1992, which sets
performance standards all new building work
must meet, and covers aspects such as
stability, fire safety, access, moisture, safety
of users, services and facilities, and energy
efficiency.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
The New Zealand Building
Code
The Building Code is
contained in Schedule 1
of the Building Regulations
1992. The Building
Code contains compulsory
rules for all new
building work.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
The Building Code sets out
performance criteria
that building work must meet. It
covers aspects
such as structural stability, fire
safety, access,
moisture control, durability,
services and
facilities, and energy efficiency.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
The Building Code does not
prescribe how work
should be done, but states
how completed
building work and its parts
must perform.
An advantage of a performance-based
Building
Code is flexibility. It contains no
prescriptive
requirements stipulating that certain
products
or designs must be used. This flexibility
allows
developments and innovation in
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
building design,
3 edition 2011
technology and systems.
rd
During building design and construction
there are many influences on the makeup
of the final building.
Cost, appearance , environmental
considerations and size dictate design and
construction methods.
Cost and appearance led to the
construction of Mediterranean style
houses that sometimes failed in a New
Zealand environment.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
With the exception of
alternative solutions,
the paths illustrated on the previous
page must be accepted by the building
consent authority as meeting the
performance requirements of the
Building Code.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
Verification Methods and Acceptable Solutions
are usually referred to by their Building Code
clauses and unique identification numbers.
Some examples are listed below.
•
The Acceptable Solutions for Clause E2
External Moisture
are known as
E2/AS1,E2/AS2 and E2/AS3
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
Acceptable Solutions such
as E2
These are simple step-bystep instructions that show
one way to comply with the
Building Code.
Alternative solutions
An alternative solution is a building
solution that differs, in part or wholly,
from the solutions offered by the
Compliance Documents (an
Acceptable Solution or Verification
Method),
but achieves compliance with the
performance
requirements of the Building Code to the
satisfaction of the building consent
authority
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
There may be a number of reasons for the use
of an alternative solution.
•
There may not be a Compliance Document
for the proposed construction, for example,
if no Compliance Document is available
for on-site effluent disposal.
•
The building work may incorporate unusual
design features that fall outside the scope
of a Compliance Document.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
Whatever the reason for using an
alternative solution, the Building Code,
being performance-based, allows for
innovation and applicants have
the freedom to propose an innovative
solution.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
Determinations
A determination is a binding decision made
by the Department. It provides a way of solving
disputes or answering questions relating to the
Building Code and territorial authority/building
consent authority/regional authority decisions
under the Building Act.
A range of matters can be determined,
including:
•
whether a building or building work
complies
with the Building Code
•
a building consent authority’s decision
on a building consent, a notice to fix,
a code compliance certificate (CCC) or a
compliance schedule
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
A territorial authority’s decision to
issue a building consent subject to a
waiver
or modification
•
a territorial authority’s decision on a
certificate of acceptance, a compliance
schedule, a notice to fix, or a certificate
for public us.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
Territorial authorities
Territorial authorities are
responsible for
enforcing the Building Act,
Regulations and
the Building Code in their areas
of jurisdiction.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
Producer statements
A producer statement is a statement
supplied by or on behalf of an applicant
for a building consent, or by or on behalf
of a person who has been granted a
building consent.
It is a statement that certain work will be,
or has been, carried out in accordance
with certain technical specifications
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
Licensed building practitioners
The Building Act set up a licensed building
practitioners (lBP) scheme to promote,
recognise and support professional skills
and behaviour in the building industry. The
scheme has seven licence classes covering
designers, site supervisors and trades people,
such as carpenters, roofers, plasterers and
Bricklayers.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
To become licensed, building practitioners
must
show they meet the standard for the licence
class appropriate for them. Details of lBPs
are held on a public register at
www.dbh.govt.nz/lbp-register
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
E2.1
The objective of this
provision is to
safeguard people from
illness or injury that
could result from external
moisture entering
the
building
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
Functional Requirement E2.2
Buildings must be constructed
to provide adequate resistance
to penetration by, and the
accumulation of, moisture from
the outside.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
Performance
E2.3.1
Roofs must shed
precipitated
moisture. In locations
subject to snowfalls,
roofs must also shed
melted snow
E2.3.2
Roofs and exterior walls must
prevent the penetration of
water that could
cause undue dampness,
damage to
building elements, or both
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
E2.3.3
Walls, floors, and structural
elements in contact with, or in close
proximity to, the ground must not absorb
or transmit moisture in quantities that
could
cause undue dampness, damage to
building elements
, or both.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
E2.3.4
Building elements
susceptible
to damage must be protected from
the
adverse effects of moisture entering
the
space below suspended floors
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
E2.3.5
Concealed spaces
and cavities
in
building
s must be constructed in a way
that prevents external moisture being
accumulated or transferred and causing
condensation, fungal growth, or the
degradation of
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
building elements
3 edition 2011
rd
E2.3.6
Excess moisture present at the
completion of
construction
must be capable
of being dissipated without permanent
damage to
building element
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
E2.3.7
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3 edition 2011
Building elements
must be constructed
in a way that makes due allowance for the
following:
(a) the consequences of failure:
(b) the effects of uncertainties resulting from
construction
or from the sequence in which
different aspects of
construction
occur:
(c) variation in the properties of materials
and in the characteristics of the site
rd
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
E3.1
The objective of this provision is to—
(a) Safeguard people against illness, injury,
or loss of amenity that could result from
accumulation of internal moisture; and
(b) Protect household units and other
property from damage caused by free
water from another household unit in the
same building
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
E3.2
Buildings must be constructed to avoid the
likelihood of—
(a) Fungal growth or the accumulation of
contaminants on linings and other building
elements; and
(b) Free water overflow penetrat- ing to an
adjoining
household unit; and (c) Damage to building
elements caused
by the presence of moisture
E3.3.1
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3 edition 2011
An
adequate
combination of
thermal
resistance
, ventilation, and space
temperature must be provided to all
habitable spaces
, bathrooms, laundries,
and other spaces where moisture may be
generated or may accumulate.
rd
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
E3.3.2
Freewater from accidental
overflow from
sanitary fixtures or sanitary
appliances
must be disposed of in a way
that avoids loss of amenities
or damage to household
units or
other property
.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
E3.3.3
Floor surfaces of any
space containing
sanitary fixtures or
sanitary appliances
must be impervious
and easily cleaned
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
E3.3.4
Wall surfaces adjacent to
sanitary fixtures or
sanitary appliances must
be impervious and easily
cleaned.
New Zealand Building Code Handbook.
3rd edition 2011
E3.3.5
Surfaces of building elements likely to be
splashed or become contaminated in
the course of the
intended use
of the
building, must be impervious and easily
cleaned
References
New Zealand Building Code
Handbook
Third Edition
Prepared by the Department of Building and
Housing