Inspection procedures during construction
Building inspection processes are completed by a Christchurch City Council Building Inspector based at the Civic Offices.
Types of inspections
During processing of the building consent application, we will determine what inspections will be necessary to enable us to be satisfied on reasonable grounds that compliance will be achieved.
Each inspection will be identified along with the requirements for that particular inspection. A list of inspections will be attached to your building consent.
Some of the things we will be checking for include:
drainage, including drains under buildings
excavation for a foundation
reinforcing steel for a foundation
any other steel to be embedded in concrete
any damp proof membrane to be covered (including tiles over a membrane)
any flashing/sill wrapping/cavity batten that will not be concealed on completion
coating of any monolithic cladding
pre-wrap – where structure is to be enclosed
pre-lining – plumbing or when timber has to have a specified moisture content
post-lining but before plaster stopping – firewalls and bracing walls
a final inspection to confirm all works as complete.
Bookings for inspections must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Delays in booking inspections can sometimes be experienced during busy times of the year particulary leading up to and after holiday periods. If you are booking concrete, it is advised that you book your inspection at the same time but be sure that the concreting work is completed in time.
Audit inspections will also be carried out to ensure that relevant inspections by the owner's consultants have been completed and that a record of these inspections has been kept on site.
Inspections by other parties
Sometimes it is necessary for specialists to conduct inspections in addition to the inspections carried out by the Building Consent Authority. If a specialist inspection is necessary you will generally be advised before the consent is issued.
Typically these types of inspections may involve having a Geotechnical Engineer confirm ground stability or having an aspect of specific structural design checked by a Registered Engineer. Please ensure you read the inspection requirements and are familiar with them before commencing work.
Booking building inspections
Bookings are made through the Customer Call Centre. You are unable to contact the Building Inspector directly. Inspections are undertaken Monday to Friday from 9am – 4pm (excluding public holidays).
Inspection bookings can be made by submitting an online form or by phoning (03) 941 8888 .
Or, for earthquake related Project Management Office (PMO) inspection bookings use an online form or phone (03) 941 8555 .
You must provide the following information:
- Site address
Building consent number
On-site contact person and daytime phone number
Date and time the inspection is required
Type of inspection (plumbing, drainage, foundation, pre-slab, preline)
Where approved plans will be kept on site
For more information, view our information sheet on what you need to know when booking an inspection [PDF 33.8KB].
If you or your representative are not on-site together with the approved building consent documentation, a booked inspection will not proceed but you will be billed for our visit.
Confirmation of a satisfactory inspection
At the conclusion of each inspection the outcome will be recorded on a site inspection record and a copy is required to be left on-site.
Confirmation of an unsatisfactory inspection
If an inspection fails certain works, the work to be rectified will be recorded on the site inspection record. In some cases another inspection may be required to be re-booked to inspect remedial work.
All re-inspections will be charged for, usually at the current applicable rate. If the work is not remedied to the satisfaction of the Building Consent Officer it is likely that a Notice to Fix will be issued.
A Notice to Fix
This is a formal notice issued by the territorial authority (such as Council) advising that certain works have not been carried out in accordance with the Building Code.
If a Notice to Fix is issued you are required to address the issues identified within a prescribed timeframe to prevent further action being taken. Enforcement of a Notice to Fix is undertaken by the territorial authority.
If a Notice to Fix is issued, a letter identifying the process will accompany it explaining the process.
The need for a final inspection
All building consents require a final inspection. Your consented building work should be completed within two years of the date that the building consent was issued. If you can not complete the work within this timeframe it is essential that you contact Council to discuss possible ramifications.
If we do not receive a request for a final inspection within two years of issuing building consent then we will automatically make the decision to refuse the issue of a Code Compliance Certificate until we are notified that you are ready for a final inspection.
Changes in design after a building consent is issued
Small amendments and minor variations may be dealt with by a Building Inspector (discretionary) however Council has a preference for seeing alterations processed formally through the building consent system.
Applicants may be charged for any review time where a change has occurred since the consent was issued.
The life of a building consent
A building consent has a life of 12 months from the date of issue. Work must have commenced within the 12 months or the building consent shall automatically lapse requiring a new application.
All building work should be completed within two years from the date the building consent was issued. If the project has been delayed it may be possible to apply for an extension to this time.
Compliance after project completion
When all work has been completed in accordance with the building consent, it is the owner's responsibility to apply for a Code Compliance Certificate.
Code Compliance Certificate
A Code Compliance Certificate is issued after the final inspection of the finished building project and an assessment of the inspection records and supporting documentation has been conducted. It confirms that the Building Consent Authority (Council) is satisfied that the completed building work complies with the building consent.
It is mandatory to apply for a Code Compliance Certificate after all work has been completed.
This certificate is important and should be retained for future reference. Council has 20 working days to decide whether to issue or to refuse to issue a Code Compliance Certificate. In most cases these are issued within a few days, provided all the required information has been received and the final inspection has been passed. Delays in receiving the information required, money owed, or failing the final inspection will cause delays in issuing the CCC.
Certificate for Public Use
A Certificate for Public Use is issued by the Council and ensures that all or part of the premises is safe for members of the public to use. You are required to obtain a Certificate for Public Use if you intend the public to have access to all or parts of the premises (either during construction or on completion) prior to the issue of the Code Compliance Certificate.
The Certificate for Public Use is processed upon receipt of the application form.
Compliance Schedules and Building Warrant of Fitness
Buildings containing the specified safety systems, such as fire alarms and lifts, require a Compliance Schedule. This applies to all buildings other than a single household unit and building owners must keep safety systems in good working order (e.g. automatic sprinklers, emergency lighting).
Compliance Schedules are required by the Building Act 2004 to ensure that building owners take responsibility for ensuring the safety of building occupants and buildings.
A Compliance Schedule lists the building's safety systems and the inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures needed to keep them in good working order.
A copy of the Building Warrant of Fitness must be provided annually to the Council and publicly displayed at the building it pertains to.
Compliance Schedule information must be presented as part of the building consent application where specified systems are relevant to the building and/or alteration.
