Reference

MeasuringBuilding – a guide to getting started

See also

Quick links to Christchurch City Council building information

Kiwis are great DIY enthusiasts, and many people love the ability to save themselves money and create their own ‘dream home’ or renovate their existing dwelling.

Follow the guidelines - check with your council before you start

Building and DIY projects need to follow certain guidelines – for safety and weathertightness, for example.

Before you plunge into a building project, it pays to be armed with knowledge – a bit of research and planning can save you a great deal of time and money. For most projects, such as decks, pools, or additions building consent needs to be applied for and issued before building work commences. Resource consent may also be required.

Always check with your local council before you start a project to see what is required – knowing what needs to be done before you start can save a lot of headaches.

Building law in New Zealand

The Department of Building and Housing Te Tari Kaupapa Whare clearly outlines building law in New Zealand on it’s Building Law and Compliance page. (June 13, 2007). It reads:

New Zealand's main systems for governing building work (collectively known as ‘building controls’) are the Building Act 2004, the Building Regulations 1992, and the Building Code, which is the First Schedule to the Building Regulations. All building work must comply with the Building Code.

The Building Act mainly applies to the physical aspects of building work. Other legislation may also apply to building proposals, the ongoing use of a building, consumer protection, and the health and safety of workplaces in buildings.

Compliance Documents are published by the Department of Building and Housing to help people comply with the Building Code. Many Compliance Documents reference New Zealand Standards.

The consents and inspections process ensures that building work complies with the Building Code. In other words it is safe, durable and does not endanger health, both for the current users of the building and to protect those who may buy and use the property in the future.

Any construction that will be lived in, have power or water supplied to it, for example, needs to be built to a certain quality. This process is referred to as compliance, or ‘complying with the code’.

It is important to note that the code specifies the level of performance for building work, not how the work is done

The Building Code

The Building Code is part of the Building Regulations 1992. Consumerbuild explains:
'The New Zealand Building Code is a schedule to the Building Regulations 1992. It provides requirements for compliance with the Building Act when constructing a new building or altering an existing one. The Building Code sets out performance standards that building work must meet, and covers aspects such as structural stability, fire safety, access, moisture control, durability, services and facilities.'

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.’

Standards

New Zealand, Australian and many international Standards are available to customers as part of the central library’s Standards collection, and may be borrowed for one week.

Buildings and constructions must meet particular standards, as set down in the New Zealand Building Code. The Standards NZ web site explains on its What are Standards page: Standards are specifications which define materials, methods, processes or practices. Standards provide a basis for determining consistent and acceptable minimum levels of quality, performance, safety and reliability.’ (Standards NZ website June 13, 2007).

Working with your local council

Local councils administer the compliance process for their area, inspecting buildings and issuing consents. Consents must be applied for and issued before building work commences.

We encourage you to visit the building section of the Christchurch City Council web site – it has helpful guides and introductions to building planning. It includes building forms and charges, design and planning guides, as well as information on building consents and a useful glossary.

Consent application forms are available on the Christchurch City Council site. Other district councils, such as Selwyn, Hurunui and Waimakariri will have regulations and by-laws specific to their area.

Useful glossaries / explanations

The building industry is full of jargon, with words and laws that you may have never encountered before. This list will help you find authoritative sites that clearly define building-industry related terms, and act as an introduction to building law and the compliance process.

  • Consumerbuild A glossary providing most common terms in the building industry
  • Christchurch City Council building glossary A commonly used list of terms from Christchurch City Council. This short glossary is intended to assist applicants for building consents.
  • LIM – Land Information Memorandum – information from the Christchurch City Council. Anyone may apply for a LIM, which gives information on any piece of land, including (among other information) any Building Consents or other authorisations applying to buildings on the land. Fees apply.
  • PIM – Project Information Memorandum – information from the Christchurch City Council. The PIM provides an applicant with information relevant to the proposed building work, other than the normal requirements under the Building Act, 1991. This information enables the applicant to assess the feasibility of his/her project before proceeding with a Building Consent application with the Council. Fees apply.
  • Standards New Zealand issues a ‘Glossary of building terms’ (NZMP 4212:1998). It is available at the central library.
  • A to Z guide from the Department of Building and Housing. Definitions of commonly used terms and links to further information.

See also

Browse the resources in our library