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Evacuation schemes

For information regarding the development of an evacuation scheme or plan for a building, go to the following link at Fire & Emergency New Zealand: Evacuation

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New Zealand Building Code Handbook

For an overview of New Zealand building regulatory controls and relationships with other provisions, the NZBC Handbook is a useful source of information. A copy of the NZBC Handbook can be downloaded here: NZBC Handbook

The short answer is yes you can, but with conditions.

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The Building Code sets out minimum performance requirements for buildings and can be met using a variety of products, systems, or both. Some products or systems may exceed the minimum requirements of the Building Code, whilst others may only meet the minimum requirements.

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Often the consented product performance is dictated by cost or owner/designer preferences.

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Product substitution is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate the substitute product will meet the performance requirements of the Building Code. If the substitute product performs differently from the one specified, the applicant should also describe the effect of the change on other work.

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 If the building consent authority has existing knowledge about a substitute product or system, or an already-evaluated building product or system, justifying its compliance can be a simple matter.

For further information about substituting products, we recommend you go to the building.govt.co.nz website at this link. Substitutions

The International Standard Organisation (ISO) defines fire engineering as, ‘The application of engineering principles, rules and expert judgement based on a scientific appreciation of the fire phenomena, of the effects of fire, and the reaction and behaviour of people, to:

• save lives, protect property, and preserve the environment and heritage,
• quantify the hazards and risk of fire and its effects,
• evaluate analytically the optimum protective and preventative measures necessary to limit, within prescribed levels, the consequences of fire

The NZBC documents the Objectives, Functional and Performance Requirements needed to achieve and maintain a level of safety from fire in buildings that are deemed acceptable by the community.

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 The Performance requirements describe how the building must perform but do not describe how it is designed or constructed. A Building Consent Authority (BCA) must grant a building consent if it is satisfied the design (including fire safety design) complies with the relevant performance requirements. If the work is built to the consented documents and receives a code compliance certificate, it confirms the requirements of the Building Code have been met.

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There are two methods to demonstrate compliance with the performance requirements of the NZBC for fire safety. They are,

1. Comply with a deemed to comply solution including an acceptable solution or a verification method. These methods are the easiest way to demonstrate compliance with the performance requirements of the NZBC.
2. Alternative design solution. This method is more design-intensive but offers the advantage of increased flexibility and innovative methods to demonstrate compliance with the performance requirements.

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The building regulatory framework is best illustrated by the diagram below from the NZBC Handbook. The upper three tiers of the triangle define the mandatory requirements that must be achieved. The base of the triangle show available methods for demonstrating compliance with the mandatory requirements.

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A Fire Report documents the fire safety design for the building and specifies, in performance terms,  the fire safety features that must be incorporated into the building to comply with the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC). The fire safety report has several functions,

• The information is used by building design professionals (Architects, Building Services Engineers & Structural Engineers) to ensure fire safety design features are incorporated into their building design documents.
• Building Consent Authorities (BCA) rely on the Fire Safety Report as evidence the building design complies with the NZBC fire safety requirements.
• The report is used as a reference document during the construction of the building works.
• It forms part of the building documentation and is a valuable record of the building’s fire safety design should the building undergo alterations or change of use in the future.

 Building Consent Authorities (BCA) (Usually the local Council) will generally require a fire report with a building consent application whenever any of the following building works are carried out,

• a new building
• alterations to an existing building
• change of use of an existing building
• subdivision of land that affects a building
• extending the life of a building beyond its specified life

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The relevant BCA should be consulted regarding the building consent compliance requirements for your project.

As a building owner, you are responsible for determining if the proposed building work is exempt from requiring a building consent and to make sure any building work carried out, regardless of whether a building consent is required or not, complies with the building code and other relevant legislation.

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The building act 2004 allows certain building works to be carried out without a building consent. Section 42A of the building act 2004 describes categories of building works exempt from building consent. These categories are described in schedule 1 of the building act 2004. 

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The Ministry of Building, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has issued a guidance document that lists all building works that do not require a building consent and provides examples to assist with compliance. We recommend that you review this guidance document in the first instance and, if necessary, consult with your local Council for further advice.

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The MBIE guidance document can be found at this link: exemptions