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Publications update

New E2/AS1 and E2/VM1

 The new weathertightness Compliance Document (containing E2/AS1 and E2/VM1) became effective on 1 July 2005. The version of the document that took effect being Amendment 2. Earlier versions were made available for guidance only but had no official status. Amendment 2 differs from those earlier versions by:

  • removing reference to approved applicators from the requirements and placing it under comment
  • amending the metal roofing span tables and including the use of 0.4 mm steel
  • reorganising existing information for clarity and extending references where further information is considered helpful
  • easing existing limits where appropriate, such as removing references to weathertightness experts and roll formed barge flashings, adding wider use of soft edge flashings, providing lower risk assessment for walls with two claddings, and easing requirements for 50-year durability for some flashings to align with New Zealand Building Code Clause B2 Durability
  • making adjustments to align more closely with industry practice, especially around roofing practice and window details.

The new Compliance Document is available free on the Department's website. Alternatively, it can be purchased in several formats from Victoria University Bookcentre (phone 0800 370 370, or visit www.vicbooks.co.nz).

Further release of structural Practice Advisories

The Department has recently published an amended issue of structural Practice Advisories 1 to 6. These were initially published in December 2004 to address poor practice related to structural design and construction. These advisories have been available on the Department's website and a limited number were issued in hard copy earlier this year. In response to concern that the message had not been received widely enough by the sector, a much larger distribution of hard copies will occur. The reissue incorporates some minor improvements to the text and references.

The Department will issue further Practice Advisories from time to time in response to emerging concerns on any aspect affecting the compliance of buildings with the Building Code. A new structural Practice Advisory on Grade 500E reinforcement is due to be published shortly.

New risk matrix guidance document

To support the risk management-based approach that underpins the E2 Compliance Document, the Department has also developed a new Risk Matrix guidance document. The Risk Matrix guidance document will be of particular interest to, and will provide guidance for, those involved in building design and weathertightness compliance.

The Department has printed 10,000 copies of the guidance document and these have been mailed out to associations and stakeholders.
The guidance document can be downloaded from the weathertightness section of the Department's website. If you would like a hard copy, please call the Department on 0800 242 243 to obtain one.

For more information, contact the Department of Building and Housing on 0800 242 243, or visit our website at www.building.dbh.govt.nz

Effective date, transitional arrangements and publication of Compliance Document for Building Code Fire Safety clauses

The Department has published the amendments to the Compliance Document for the Building Code Fire Safety Clauses.

New amendment to C/AS1

The Acceptable Solution C/AS1 has been amended. Amendment 4 will become effective on 1 October 2005. The amendments include changes in respect of:

  • minimum fire ratings
  • safety in early childhood centres
  • citing of three recently amended New Zealand Standards.

These changes include the following.

1. Referencing of the 2003 editions of:

  • NZS 4512 Fire detection and alarm systems in buildings
  • NZS 4515 Fire sprinklers systems for residential occupancies
  • NZS 4541 Automatic fire sprinkler systems.

2. Reformatting Table 4.1 (Fire Safety Precautions) to specify different F ratings for each Fire Hazard Category where deemed necessary.

3. Reformatting Table 4.1 to more clearly indicate where fire sprinklers are required. If there is an option to omit fire sprinklers, the table provides additional F ratings and fire safety precautions.

4. An increase in fire ratings where deemed necessary, as a result of recent research into the results of fire resistance tests and the comparison to 'real fires'.

5. Other than in specific circumstances, the use of 15/15/15/ rating has been discontinued.

6. The treatment of 'small areas' of FHC 4 has been clarified.

7. Identifying early childhood centres as separate from other day care centres and defining the use as FHC 2.

8. Specifying the requirements for early childhood centres in respect of smoke detection and means of escape.

The effective date of the amendments is 1 October 2005. Until 1 October 2005 the current version of the Compliance Document for the Fire Safety Clauses will remain in force.

The new Compliance Document is available free on the Department's website. Alternatively, it can be purchased in several formats from Victoria University Bookcentre (phone 0800 370 370 or visit www.vicbooks.co.nz).

For more information, contact the Department of Building and Housing on 0800 242 243, or visit our website at www.building.dbh.govt.nz