BUILDING WORK BY LICENSED BUILDING PRACTITIONERS ONLY
Under the Building Act 2004, from 1 March 2012 critical building work that is known as Restricted Building Work, must be done by a licensed building practitioners (LBP). From this date, it will be an offence for an unlicensed person to carry out or supervise restricted building work and it is an offence to knowingly engage an unlicensed person to carry out or supervise restricted building work unless they have obtained an owner builder exemption from their building consent authority (council).
So, if you are managing your client’s property and engaging a builder, for example, ensure that you first check if the work involved needs to be undertaken by an LBP. Sheds, garages, free standing decks and conservatories are generally not “restricted building work.” The DBH maintains an online register at this link where you can find licensed building practitioners. Note that registered architects and chartered professional engineers are not required to apply to be an LBP.
RESTRICTED BUILDING WORK
Restricted Building Work (RBW) is coming, making it even more essential to be a Licensed Building Practitioner and to keep up to date with information relevant to your sector.
From 1 March 2012, any structural and/or weathertight renovations to residential houses or new builds can only be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner.
RBW only relates to residential construction, alterations and design of houses and small-to-medium sized apartment buildings. It doesn’t apply to any ancillary buildings such garages or garden sheds or to commercial property.
The type of work which will be restricted includes the design and construction of: Foundation and sub-floor framing, floors, walls, roof, columns and beams, bracing, damp-proofing, roof and wall cladding, water proofing as well as the design of fire safety systems for small to medium apartments.
The Department is currently developing information detailing how RBW will affect each licence class, and we will let you know through further licensing updates when this is available.
RBW is part of a number of changes to the Building Act 2004 following a review of the legislation which governs the building and construction sector in New Zealand.
The changes aimed at lifting productivity, improving quality standards and offering better protection to both consumers and tradespeople.
Source: Department of Building and Housing
http://www.dbh.govt.nz/
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