How it works
When you apply for a building consent to change or renovate an existing building, we must be satisfied that, after the alteration, the entire building will comply, as nearly as is reasonably practicable, with the Building Code clauses relating to:
- means of escape from fire
- access and facilities for people with disabilities (if required).
Full list of buildings required to provide access and facilities for people with disabilities – legislation.govt.nz
For more information you may wish to refer to Section 112 of the Building Act – legislation.govt.nz
If the rest of the building complies with the current Building Code
It must continue to comply after the alteration.
If the rest of the building doesn't comply with the current Building Code
You must provide an assessment on the compliance level of the entire building and propose upgrades so that it complies with the requirements for means of escape from fire and, if required, access and facilities for people with disabilities.
The rules for managing building alterations are mainly contained in Section 112 of the Building Act.
If full compliance with the building code cannot be achieved , we may grant the building consent anyway if you can prove that the alteration:
- will improve the building's means of escape from fire or disability access, and
- wouldn't go ahead if the building was required to comply with all the relevant provisions of the Building Code; or
- the building will continue to comply with the relevant clauses of the Building Code to the same extent as it did before the alteration and any improvements made will outweigh the drawbacks of the existing non-compliance of the building
We recommend providing a cost-benefit analysis or report from a suitably qualified person to demonstrate this.