1 July 2013

News release
Evidence of Technical Compliance Essential, Says IANZ

International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) assesses its Building Consent Authorities (BCA), every two years. “There is a high level of responsibility placed on these organisations to ensure they continually meet the requirements of accreditation,” says IANZ chief executive Dr Llew Richards.

“For BCAs, the critical issue is ensuring all issued building consents fully comply with the technical requirements of the Building Code and Building Act. For example, buildings must meet structural engineering standards, fire protection requirements and be weather-tight.”

The BCA needs to check regularly the technical validity of building consents – on a robust sampling basis – by a person who is recognised as competent. 

“If the sample showed any non-compliance then obviously a greater number would need to be checked and appropriate remedial action taken. IANZ would expect to see a good process for such technical audits, backed up with records of which consents were reviewed and by whom.

“A core responsibility of a BCA is to ensure a sound audit process is in place and to provide IANZ with records of such technical reviews. Without such evidence, IANZ could not continue accreditation,” says Dr Richards.

“A lot of publicity is given to the statutory deadline for issuing consents. IANZ uses this information as only one of the indicators of adequate resourcing. An improvement in the rate of consents issued still requires an assurance they comply with the Code and Act requirements.”

Dr Richards says, ultimately, IANZ accreditation gives assurance to the people of a district that they can rely on their consent being valid and their building being Code compliant. 

“Everybody wants to know that the buildings we live and work in comply with the Building Code, are structurally sound, weather-tight, and meet fire protection requirements.

“For example, the technical requirements for installation of solid fuel heaters in premises are different from those for the construction of a two-storey home. A high rise commercial building is different again. 

“The people issuing consents must be technically competent to do so – and any limitations on their competence clearly understood. The BCA’s competence review of its staff and an on-going audit of allocating work to competent people all need to be recorded and established as effective.”

Dr Richards says IANZ views those records as evidence of on-going compliance with the legal requirements of the Building Act. 

“Without such evidence, neither IANZ nor the building owners can have assurance the consenting process is sound.”

ENDS

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