Glossary of Terms

This short glossary is intended to assist Applicants for building consents. It is written in general terms and does not include the complete range of terms and procedures, or the precise descriptions found in The Building Act and Regulations. Accordingly, reference to the Building Act 1991, the Building Regulations 1992, and the Approved Documents is strongly recommended. Permission to use materials published by the Building Industry Authority, and the Department of Internal Affairs is acknowledged with gratitude.

A

Accreditation: a certificate of accreditation issued by the Building Industry Authority states that a specific product, system or method meets nominated provisions of the Building Code.

Alternative Solution: a design solution which differs totally or partially from solutions given in the Approved Documents yet complies with the Building Code.

Amenity: attributes of a building which contribute to the health, physical independence, and well-being of the building's users but which are not associated with disease or a specific illness e.g. lighting, ventilation, access for people with disabilities.

Approved Documents: documents issued by the Building Industry Authority. They provide methods of compliance with the Building Code. The methods are not mandatory.

Automatic systems: Systems forming part of a building, requiring maintenance and inspection, and subject to a Compliance Schedule e.g. lifts, escalators, sprinlker systems, and other mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and electronic systems. ( Building Act 1991 section 44).

B

Building: Under the Building Act 1991, means any temporary or permanent, movable or immovable structure, including any mechanical or electrical system forming part of the structure. Certain structures, such as roads, vehicles, scaffolding, and network utility systems (e.g. gas or water pipes, power lines) are specifically stated not to be buildings. (Building Act section 3(1)).

Building Certifier: a privately employed person or organisation approved and registered by the Building Industry Authority to check plans and specifications, and building work during construction. Owners have the choice of employing Building Certifiers, as alternatives to Territorial Authority officers.

Building Certificate: a formal confirmation by a Building Certifier that plans and specifications, or specific aspects of a building comply with the Building Code. Territorial Authorities are obliged to accept such a Certificate.

Building Code: A national, mandatory set of standards for Building Work, forming part of the Building Regulations made under Section 48 of the Building Act 1991. The Building Code is "performance based", that is, it specifies the performance required of a building rather than the particular materials, methods etc. to be used in construction.

Building Consent: An authorisation to carry out Building Work, granted by a Territorial Authority, to the owner of the land on which a building is to be constructed. Routine maintenance and repair, and certain types of building (such as power poles and water tanks) are exempt from the requirememt for a Building Consent. ( Building Act Sections 32-35 Third Schedule)

Building Control: Regulation of the construction and use of buildings, with the primary objective of safeguarding the health and safety of people using any building.

Building Controls Process: the system of consents, inspection and certification of Building Work, aimed at safeguarding the health and safety of people using any building.

Building Industry Authority (BIA): A Government - appointed agency established under the Building Act 1991, with responsibility for the co-ordination of Building Control enforcement, including: advice to the Minister of Internal Affairs on building control matters; oversight and approval of the Building Code; making Determinations on disputed matters; reviewing the performance of Territorial Authorities; approving the appointment of Registered Building Certifiers; accredition of building products and processes; and the provision of education and information on Building Control. (Building Act 1991 Sections 10 -23)

Building Warrant of Fitness: A document suppiled by the building owner to a Territorial Authority on the anniversary of the issue of the Compliance Schedule for a building, certifying that the automatic systems and other essential factors forming part of the building comform to the Compliance Schedule. A copy of the warrant of fitness must be publicly displayed in the building. (Building Act 1991 Section 44).

Building Work: The construction, alteration, demolition or removal of a building. (Building Act 1991 Section 2).

C

Code Complying Certificate (CCC): A document issued by a Territorial Authority or Building Certifier, certifying that a completed building complies wuith the Building Code. ( Building Act 1991 Section 43).

Compliance Schedule: A document issued by the Territorial Authority listing the inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures for certain systems and features in a building ( such as lifts, fire alarms, air conditioning) to ensure their continued safety of operation. Compliance schedules sre not required for single residential dwellings.

D

Determination: A formal ruling by the Building indusrty Authority withrespect to a doubt or dispute over whether building work complies with the Building Code to the required extent.

E

F

G

H

I

Independent Qualified Person (IQP): A person or organisation (such as a specialist contracting company) accepted by the Territorial Authority as being appropriately qualified to undertake inspection and maintenance of Compliance Schedule items. "Independent" means having no financial interest in the building.

Inspection: Checking a building to ensure that: building work is being done in accordance with a building consent; the building owner is complying with any compliance schedule; and the building is safe and sanitary (Building Act 1991 Section 76). Inspection may be carried out by an authorised officer of a Territorial Authority, or by a Registered Building Certifier. In the case of compliance schedules, it is the reponsibility of the building owner to ensure that the building is periodically inspected by the Independent Qualified Persons.

J

K

L

Land Information Memoradum (LIM): A document issued ( normally on payment of a fee) by a Territorial Authority. Anyone may apply for a LIM, which gives information on any land within the Territorial Authority district, including ( among other other information) any Building Consents or other authorisations applying to buildings on the land. (Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act Section 44A).

M

N

Notice to Rectify: A Notice issued by a Territorial Authority to the owner or contractor. This Notice requires any building work not complying with the Building Act or Building Code to be rectified. Failure to rectify defective work could lead to prosecution.

O

P

Plans and Specifications: The documents according to which the building work is proposed to be constructed, altered, demolished, or removed. They include proposed procedures for inspection during construction, alteration, demolition or removal and features to be included in the Compliance Schedule.

Producer Statement: A statement (e.g. design certificate) confirming that plans, specifications or completed works for all or a specific part of a building comply with certain technical requirements that will satisfy the Building Code. A Producer Statement will usually be issued by a recognised specialist (e.g. engineer, architect or competent contractor). It is up to the Territorial Authority to decide whether to accept such a statement.

Project Information Memorandum (PIM): A report issued by a Territorial Authority prior to issuing of a Building Consent. It lists any requirements under any other Acts other than the building Act. It also includes information likely to be relevant to the proposed building work such as special features of the land concerned including potential erosion, subsidence, slippage , flooding.

Q

R

S

Specific Design: Calculations and detailed drawings usually of an engineering nature, by persons with appropriate technical expertise, relating to a design solution specific to a particular project. Specific designs may be supported by a Producer Statement.

T

Territorial Authority: A City or District Council. The Territorial Authority enforces the Building Act and Building Regulations in it's territory. It issues all building authorisations such as Building Consents and Compliance Schedules.

U

V

Value: (of building work): The aggregate of the values of all goods and services to be supplied for building work. (Building Regulations 6(6)).

Verification Method: A method by which an Alternative Solution may be verified for compliance with the Building Code. Methods can include calculations, laboratory tests or tests in-situ. Verification methods are approved by the Building Authority and are published in the Approved Documents.

W

X

Y

Z