A Word from the Chair

Tēnā koutou katoa (Greetings to you all)

On behalf of the Association of Building Compliance (ABC), I extend my sincere gratitude for your continued membership and dedication to the building compliance industry. With two months of the year already behind us, it feels like we're mid-year already as our building compliance services are now back in full swing. Behind the scenes our team are busy finalising plans for our annual conference, providing valuable technical support to members by answering their questions, organising workshops & forums, engaging in vital networking activities to strengthen our industry relationships, and carefully reviewing and approving applications for new ABC members. 

 As advocates for education and staunch supporters of Independent Qualified Persons (IQPs) & Compliance Companies, we are committed to fostering a collaborative environment within the building compliance sector with both IQPs and Territorial Authorities.

 The inconsistent application of processes and policies across different Territorial Authorities (TAs) continues which makes building compliance incredibly challenging.  Many of us struggle to keep up, creating a sense of inconsistency and frustration nationwide.  Nationalising the Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF) administration process by TAs may be the only solution as the current system feels very arbitrary.  A hard-line stance towards building owners and IQPs who are diligently following established (yet varying) processes is not only counterproductive, but also detrimental to overall building safety.  Open communication and a willingness to find practical solutions are paramount. By fostering a collaborative approach, we can facilitate better information flow, ultimately enhancing, not hindering, life safety in buildings. I continue to advocate for our TAs to take a pragmatic and realistic approach to effectively administering the Building Act on behalf of MBIE, as a one-size-fits-all solution is not practical.  I also applaud those TAs who have strong relationships with their IQPs and BWOF administrators – we hear many great success stories like these.

 Lastly, I encourage you to continue your commitment to high standards and continued professional development as well as actively engaging in discussions that promote a more collaborative and effective approach to building compliance.

Thank you for your continued support.

Ngā mihi nui

Laura Williams

Chair

Kia ora koutou,

Recognising Our Valued Members 

At ABC, we deeply appreciate the ongoing support of our members and the vital role you play in our community. Your commitment allows us to continue to provide industry-leading resources, training, and advocacy. As a token of our appreciation, we are excited to introduce a new membership bonus scheme designed to add even more value to your membership.

New Membership Bonus Scheme

To encourage greater engagement and reward our loyal members, we are offering complimentary memberships based on your existing corporate or affiliate memberships. 

Corporate Plus (4+1):

• For every four paid memberships, you receive one complimentary membership.
• Example: If your organisation has eight paid memberships, you will receive two complimentary memberships.

Affiliate Plus (6+1):

• For every six paid Affiliate memberships, you receive one complimentary membership.
• Example: If your organisation has 12 paid Affiliate memberships, you will receive two complimentary memberships.

This has been incorporated into the current membership renewal invoice that you have received for those with more than 4 corporate members or more than 6 affiliate members. This has resulted in a savings for those companies or councils.

This initiative not only rewards our valued members but also provides greater opportunities for more of your team to benefit from ABC’s resources, networking, and professional development offerings. If you have any questions or would like to take advantage of this scheme, please get in touch with our team at admin@abciqp.org.nz. Thank you for being a part of ABC – we appreciate your continued support and look forward to growing and succeeding together.

Forums

Our recent round of forums has sparked a lot of discussion which is what they are all about. These forums are usually recorded and are posted on our members only page. Also attached is the pdf of the presentation slides for you to review. So please go back to these and see the discussions that have taken place. The discussions have included:

• Section 108A of the Building Act
• Owners Compliance Checks
• Notice to Fix and Infringements
• SS2 Other warning systems

So please head over to the members only section and keep yourself up to date with what is happening around the country.

Nga mihi ora mai,

Trent Fearnley

UPCOMING TRAINING WORKSHOPS – REGISTER NOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE!

We are excited to announce our upcoming scheduled online workshops over the next couple of months to provide greater flexibility and convenience. These workshops are designed to enhance your skills, update your industry knowledge, and help with your IQP registration. Whether you're aiming to upskill or update your qualifications, our sessions offer valuable insights and networking opportunities to keep you leading in building compliance.

Don't miss this opportunity to advance your professional development. Register now!

Friday 7 March 2025 – HVAC and Smoke Control – requirements for SS5, SS9, SS11 and SS13 - Auckland - Full Day Workshop - 8.30am - 4.30pm.

This workshop will look at the various types of ventilation systems that are included under the Specified Systems. It will simplify the numerous requirements and focus on the inspection criteria. The workshop will cover the Building Act and Building Code relating mechanical ventilation, NZBC G4 Ventilation requirements and compliance, Basis HVAC design criteria, Smoke Control Systems, Fire Dampers, Stairwell Pressurisation, Fume Cupboards and HVAC Interface with fire safety features.

 Friday 7 & 14 March 2025 - IQP Backflow Prevention Workshop - Auckland - Full Day Workshops - 8.00am - 4.30pm.

This course is intended for those who want to register with Councils to become IQP certified in Backflow prevention and gain the following Unit Standards:
NZQA Unit Standard 23847 - Prepare to test, and inspect and test, water supply backflow prevention devices.
NZQA Unit Standard 23848 - Describe suitability, installation, and testing of water supply backflow prevention devices, and fault identification.
It is a 2-day workshop with 16 hours of self-directed learning via Google Classroom.

Wednesday 12 March 2025 - Christchurch *HYBRID - Means of Escape to a Final Exit - Half Day Workshop - 8.30am - 12.00pm

The Means of Escape to a Final Exits workshop will include all aspects of means of escape from a building including open paths, safe paths, exitways and final exits. The workshop is designed to be both theoretical and interactive. It includes a technical presentation, a building case study, product examples, a technical quiz challenge and an assessment.

Wednesday 12 March 2025 - Christchurch *HYBRID - Emergency Lighting SS4 - Half Day Workshop - 1.00pm - 4.30pm.

The Emergency Lighting workshop will include Building Code clause F6 visibility in escape routes, central supply and single point systems and illuminated exit signage. Each workshop is designed to be both theory and interactive. It will include a technical presentation, two separate building case studies, product examples, a technical quiz challenge and an assessment.

REGISTER FOR BOTH THE MEANS OF ESCAPE TO A FINAL EXIT AND EMERGENCY LIGHTING WORKSHOPS AND RECEIVE A 15% DISCOUNT!

Friday 14 March 2025 - SS7 Automatic Backflow Preventers - Refresher Theory and Practical - Auckland - Full Day Workshop - 8.00am - 2.30pm

This is a 1-day workshop with theory and practical hands-on testing.

Wednesday 19 March 2025 - ONLINE - Compliance Schedule Best Practice  - Half Day Workshop - 8.30am - 12.30pm

This is a 4-hour workshop that provides a practical hands-on opportunity to work through and complete a detailed compliance schedule document working with the new MBIE ‘best practice’ exemplar compliance document, guideline and ABC Code of Practice, learn from those who wrote it. It also provides you with the tools needed to write your own Compliance Schedule.

Friday 21 March 2025 - SS15/3 and SS15/5 Fire and Smoke Separations - Introduction to Passive Fire Protection - Auckland - Half Day Workshop - 8.00am - 12.00pm

This course is a step-by step guide through the purpose and broad concepts of Passive Fire Protection providing a general understanding of the different elements that make up passive fire systems for different buildings, types of construction, fire stopping systems, fire rated dampers, fire rated ducting, fire rated structural elements and the latest trends and products. Suitable as a general introduction or refresher on passive fire protection.

Friday 21 March 2025 - SS15/3 and SS15/5 Fire and Smoke Separations - Inspect, Maintain and Report - Auckland - Half Day Workshop - 1.00pm - 4.30pm

This workshop looks at the BWOF requirements relating to Passive Fire inspections and reporting. What and where inspection personnel are obliged to inspect under the BWOF and compliance regime. This workshop includes the purpose and components of fire stopping systems, how to approach the process and procedures of inspections. Essential areas in a building to inspect and why, a practical look at common defects and maintenance, key points regarding fire and smoke doors, what inspectors should know in relation to fire rated dampers, duct protection and fire stopping of service penetrations, information recommended for compliance schedule document.

REGISTER FOR BOTH THE PASSIVE FIRE WORKSHOPS AND RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT!

Friday 26 March 2025 - Auckland *HYBRID – Understanding a Fire Engineering Design Report - Full Day Workshop -  8.30am – 4.30pm

A FEDR forms an integral part of the documentation detailing a building’s consent, construction and compliance history. As an IQP, you can use information contained in the building’s FEDR to inform decisions around how you conduct inspections, what you should expect to find and how you interpret features of the building.

Thursday 27 March 2025 - HVAC and Smoke Control – requirements for SS5, SS9, SS11 and SS13 - Wellington - Full Day Workshop - 8.30am - 4.30pm.

This workshop will look at the various types of ventilation systems that are included under the Specified Systems. It will simplify the numerous requirements and focus on the inspection criteria. The workshop will cover the Building Act and Building Code relating mechanical ventilation, NZBC G4 Ventilation requirements and compliance, Basis HVAC design criteria, Smoke Control Systems, Fire Dampers, Stairwell Pressurisation, Fume Cupboards and HVAC Interface with fire safety features.

Thursday 10 April 2025 – HVAC and Smoke Control – requirements for SS5, SS9, SS11 and SS13 – Christchurch - Full Day Workshop - 8.30am - 4.30pm.

This workshop will look at the various types of ventilation systems that are included under the Specified Systems. It will simplify the numerous requirements and focus on the inspection criteria. The workshop will cover the Building Act and Building Code relating mechanical ventilation, NZBC G4 Ventilation requirements and compliance, Basis HVAC design criteria, Smoke Control Systems, Fire Dampers, Stairwell Pressurisation, Fume Cupboards and HVAC Interface with fire safety features.

 Wednesday 30 April 2025 - SS15/3 and SS15/5 Fire and Smoke Separations - Introduction to Passive Fire Protection - Christchurch - Half Day Workshop - 8.00am - 12.00pm

This course is a step-by step guide through the purpose and broad concepts of Passive Fire Protection providing a general understanding of the different elements that make up passive fire systems for different buildings, types of construction, fire stopping systems, fire rated dampers, fire rated ducting, fire rated structural elements and the latest trends and products. Suitable as a general introduction or refresher on passive fire protection.

Wednesday 30 April 2025 - SS15/3 and SS15/5 Fire and Smoke Separations - Inspect, Maintain and Report - Christchurch - Half Day Workshop - 1.00pm - 4.30pm

This workshop looks at the BWOF requirements relating to Passive Fire inspections and reporting. What and where inspection personnel are obliged to inspect under the BWOF and compliance regime. This workshop includes the purpose and components of fire stopping systems, how to approach the process and procedures of inspections. Essential areas in a building to inspect and why, a practical look at common defects and maintenance, key points regarding fire and smoke doors, what inspectors should know in relation to fire rated dampers, duct protection and fire stopping of service penetrations, information recommended for compliance schedule document.

REGISTER FOR BOTH THE PASSIVE FIRE WORKSHOPS AND RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT!

Thursday 8 & Friday 9 May 2025 - IQP Backflow Prevention Workshop - Christchurch - Full Day Workshops - 8.00am - 4.30pm.

This course is intended for those who want to register with Councils to become IQP certified in Backflow prevention and gain the following Unit Standards:
NZQA Unit Standard 23847 - Prepare to test, and inspect and test, water supply backflow prevention devices.
NZQA Unit Standard 23848 - Describe suitability, installation, and testing of water supply backflow prevention devices, and fault identification.
It is a 2-day workshop with 16 hours of self-directed learning via Google Classroom.

Friday 9 May 2025 - SS7 Automatic Backflow Preventers - Refresher Theory and Practical - Christchurch - Full Day Workshop - 8.00am - 2.30pm

This is a 1-day workshop with theory and practical hands-on testing.

Register here:  Workshops/Seminars » Association of Building Compliance (abciqp.org.nz)

 If you have any questions regarding the above workshops or need assistance please email us - admin@abciqp.org.nz 

External Wall Fire Safety - Fire risk appraisal of external wall construction and cladding  **Note new dates**

INTRODUCING A RISK-BASED APPROACH FOR REVIEWING SYSTEMS ON EXISTING BUILDINGS IN THE UK TO THE NEW ZEALAND MARKET

Following the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 there has been a significant evolution in legislation, guidance and practice which has changed how we design new buildings and combat existing buildings. Currently the design of any new building attracts strict combustibility requirements within the defined external wall zone, whereas reviewing existing buildings requires a reasonable and proportionate approach to the risks presented based on a holistic building review. This session will introduce current UK practice for both new build design and existing buildings and explore whether such practices could be introduced into the New Zealand market.

We will be hosting 2 seminars in the following locations:

Auckland 8 May 2025 - This will be a hybrid one to allow people to attend either in person or virtually

Wellington 6 May 2025

Speaker - James Groves is a Fire Engineer in the UK with significant experience of external wall related fire safety, he is a Chartered Engineer and member of the Institution of Fire Engineers. This course would be beneficial for building professionals who would like to know more about assessing the risks posed by external wall systems.

#Architects, #fireengineers, #BuildingOfficials and #IQP's are encouraged to register. Check out the seminars page for more details and to register here.

Conference 2025 - Auckland

We are excited to announce that we will be having Nat Andrews back as our keynote speaker this year. He will be supported by an exciting list of speakers, representing almost the whole of the compliance sector. The list is 90% confirmed and we are aiming to have our delegates brochure out in the next week. 

Our speaker list includes Michael Belsham (Belsham Fire), John Lucas (Insurance Council), Ryan Cooper (Chair South Is IQP register), Kerry Highsted (Clevertronics), Shane Rogers (Orbitz), Danilo Macedo (Nelligan), Prashant Patel and Rob Holland (Nelligan) to name a few.

Our exhibitor brochure is out now and can be downloaded here. You can also view all the conference details on our conference website. Check out our site for those exhibitors already confirmed. We have 9 exhibitors already locked in for you with a few more in the pipeline. Sponsorship details are also on the exhibitor brochure.

Association of Building Compliance 2025 Conference: "Unified Compliance - Strengthening Standards across the BWOF industry"

We are excited to announce the Association of Building Compliance's flagship event next year, our 2025 Conference: "Unified Compliance - Strengthening Standards across the BWOF industry". Next year’s conference is dedicated to Uniting all IQP’s and Councils with a common goal of building compliance and building a cohesive framework for compliance through collaboration and standardised laws.

One direction, one team – He waka eke noa.

This event will bring together Independently Qualified Persons (IQPs), Council representatives and others with a shared vision of enhancing building compliance through collaboration and standardised laws. Together, we can build a cohesive framework for compliance that ensures the safety and reliability of buildings across our communities.

Conference Key Highlights:

• Expert-Led Sessions: Learn from leading experts who will share their insights on the latest trends, technologies, and methodologies in building compliance.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers, industry leaders, and innovators in the building compliance field.
• Interactive Workshops: Participate in engaging workshops designed to equip you with knowledge and new skills to apply in your role.

Registration Now Open! We are pleased to inform you that our registration portal is now open. Secure your spot to be part of this pivotal event that promises to shape the future of Building Compliance in New Zealand. We are offering Extra Earlybird pricing until 28 February 2025 (same price as our 2024 Earlybird price).

To register, please visit our website and to the conference section here. Early bird registrations are available until 1 July, offering special rates to our members, affiliates, and partner association members.

In relation to accommodation options, we have secured a Delegate rate for you at the Grand Millennium Hotel with a special price. View your accommodation options here.

Do not miss out on this opportunity to be at the forefront of building compliance, innovation, and excellence. Join us in setting new standards and contributing to a safer, more compliant future. We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be an insightful and transformative event.

Conference 2024 Presentations and Videos now online

The conference presentations and videos are now available to view for all paid conference delegates. You should see a Tab on the top our webpage - "Conference 2024". This Tab is only available to conference delegates.

We are delighted to welcome our new members to the Association. Your addition to our community is exciting, and we look forward to both sharing our expertise and learning from your experiences. We are committed to continuous improvement and development, and we believe that together, we can achieve great strides in building compliance excellence.