Centre of Excellence News - building code

Minor Variation Guidance

Understanding When a Change to an Approved Building Consent Qualifies as a Minor Variation

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This document provides guidance on when modifications or changes to an approved building consent can be considered a minor variation under Section 45A of the Building Act. It defines what constitutes a minor variation, provides examples, and outlines criteria for assessing whether a proposed change qualifies as a minor variation or requires a formal amendment to the building consent. The guidance aims to help owners, agents, and building consent authorities determine the appropriate process for making changes to approved building plans and specifications while ensuring compliance with the Building Code.
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External Escape Routes for Household Units

Updates to New Zealand's C/AS1 Compliance Requirements for Safe Egress in Residential Buildings

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The article discusses recent updates to the C/AS1 compliance document in New Zealand regarding external escape routes for residential buildings, particularly in situations where there are multiple dwellings on the same property. The updates aim to address concerns raised by fire authorities about occupant safety when escaping from one dwelling while another is on fire.
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Sanitary Plumbing Requirements

Know about the new changes for E1, G12 & G13.

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MBIE has recently announced changes and improvements to the plumbing and drainage provisions of the building code. These updates cover newly added and revised acceptable solutions and verifications methods for E1 Surface Water, G12 Water supplies and G13 Foul Water.  
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Interconnected Smoke Alarms

What to know about the new Type 1 Fire Safety system

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Amid efforts to improve the safety of people from fire, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has announced new versions and substantial revisions to their acceptable solutions C/AS1, C/AS2, F7/AS1 and verification method C/VM2. These changes will have a 12-month transition period before coming into full effect on November 1st, 2024.
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