A Word from the Chair

Kia ora koutou katoa, 

Welcome to the June edition of the Association of Building Compliance (ABC) newsletter. I hope this finds you well.

Welcome New Members! A warm welcome to all our new members who have joined us this past month. We're thrilled to have you on board and look forward to your contributions to the ABC. We encourage all members to spread the word about the benefits of ABC membership to your colleagues and industry contacts who aren't yet members. A stronger association benefits us all! Please encourage them to visit our website for more information on joining.

Committee Update. The ABC committee has been working diligently on your behalf on a number of key initiatives which will be revealed over the coming months and we continue our preparations for your annual conference in Auckland in July! This year's conference is shaping up to be one of our biggest and most informative yet, with a fantastic line-up of speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities. Don't miss out – secure your tickets as soon as possible!

In industry news, there is a continuing trend across various councils regarding the installation of access control systems in commercial and industrial properties without the required building consents. It appears that electrical and security companies are often installing these systems for tenants or building owners who may be unaware of the consent requirements.

Access control (Egress Control) systems are classified as specified systems under the Building Act 2004 and must be included on a building's Compliance Schedule with the necessary checks relevant to the system's performance standards. It's crucial to remember that excluding building consent responsibility in a contract is not a valid excuse for non-compliance. Undertaking such work without an approved building consent constitutes an offence under the Building Act 2004.  We commend Tauranga City Council for their proactive approach in addressing this issue by sending out a mass email to known installers of SS3/2 systems in their region, aiming to improve installer education and compliance. We encourage other councils to consider similar initiatives.

Thank you for your continued support of the ABC. We value your membership and are committed to providing you with the resources and support you need to excel in the building compliance industry.

Ngā mihi nui

Laura Williams

Kia ora koutou, 

I have had a very busy past month hosting the Navigating Liability, Risk and Corporate Contracts: Strategies for a Risk-Averse Era Seminar and then hosting the International Presidents Technical Conference for the Institution of Fire Engineers. At both events I came away with lots of learnings that I will be putting into our training packages. It was interesting to hear that we are not alone when it comes to wanting to improve our competency standards. This is also a big issue in the UK and other countries. 

A major takeaway from the Liability and Risk Seminar was the need for IQP's to have a solid contract in place to reduce their liability. It was pointed out in the seminar that lawyers are using weak or non-existent contracts to lay claims against all those involved in a building issue. We are working with the lawyers from the seminar to provide our members a robust contract template that is tailored for IQP work. This will limit their scope and involvement with the building and reduce their liability. We are also working on a project to get lower insurance premiums for our members. Stay tuned for updates on both. 

I have also been working closely with Greg North, SFPE President, to build our relationship between our respective organisations. I believe it is important that we have close relationships with other industry bodies as we often need their support when it comes to issues such as support for new qualifications and Codes of Practices. SFPE have lent their support so far to both of these and have been actively involved with the advisory committee for the Diploma of Fire Engineering. They have also extended an invitation to our members to attend local SFPE Branch events. See here for the link to coming events. We look forward to building a strong relationship with them.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as I can at the conference next month.

Noho ora mai,

Trent Fearnley

We are thrilled to announce the 2025 Conference, themed "Unified Compliance – Strengthening Standards Across the BWOF Industry". This pivotal event will take place on 30-31 July 2025, at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland, and is set to be the premier gathering for Independently Qualified Persons (IQPs), Council representatives, and building compliance professionals across New Zealand.

Keynote Speakers

The conference will feature two distinguished keynote speakers:

• James Groves: Director of Assurance and Risk Management at BB7 UK, James is a chartered fire engineer with extensive experience in fire engineering and risk assessment. He contributed to the development of the British Standard BS9980 for external wall cladding assessments.

• Nat Andrews: Returning as a keynote speaker, Nat will share insights alongside a diverse lineup of speakers representing various sectors within the compliance industry.

Conference Highlights

• Expert-Led Sessions: Gain insights from leading experts 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.

Don't miss 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.

For more details and to register, visit the official conference website or download the full conference brochure here

REGISTER for Conference here

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS - Special Delegate rates here

 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 2024 Conference delegates.

Association of Building Compliance Annual General Meeting – Wednesday 30 July 2024

This is a notification that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Building Compliance will be held during our annual conference in Auckland.  You are welcome to participate either in person or online.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday 30 July 2025
• Time: 5:00pm
• Location: Coromandel Room, Grand Millennium Auckland, 76 Mayoral Drive, Auckland

Thank you to everyone who attended our Navigating Liability seminar held recently in Auckland.  While the group was small, the conversations were powerful, engaging and thoughtful — especially around liability coverage and how insurance impacts our community. With all the recent news and these timely issues in the spotlight, it’s clear these topics are more important than ever. We’re planning to hold the seminar again soon to keep the conversation going - we’d love to see you there - details to follow!

Wellington City Council continues its proactive approach to maintaining building safety through ongoing Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) audits across the city. These audits are a key part of Council’s commitment to ensuring that commercial and public buildings remain safe, compliant, and fit for purpose.

The BWoF system requires building owners to annually confirm that specified systems—like fire alarms, emergency lighting, lifts, and means of escape—are being inspected, maintained, and performing as intended and are listed on the compliance schedule.

During audits, Council officers review documentation (including Form 12As), inspect site conditions, and check that Independent Qualified Persons (IQPs) are fulfilling their responsibilities.

Recent audits have highlighted both positive practices and areas for improvement.

While many building owners and IQPs are demonstrating strong compliance and professionalism, there have also been instances of serious non-compliance—particularly around means of escape and locked or obstructed exit doors. These findings have led to follow-up enforcement action in some cases, emphasising the importance of accurate reporting and regular inspections.

Council encourages all stakeholders—building owners, facility managers, and IQPs—to stay up to date with their responsibilities and engage proactively with the BWoF process.

The shared goal is clear: safe buildings and peace of mind for everyone who lives, works, and visits Wellington.

For more information visit wellington.govt.nz or contact the BWoF team info@wcc.govt.nz

Upcoming Training Workshops – REGISTER NOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE!

We are excited to announce our upcoming scheduled workshops over the next couple of months, some delivered online 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!

ONLINE

Monday 29 September - HVAC and Smoke Control - requirements for SS5, SS9, SS11 and SS13 - Full-day workshop

Thursday 9 October - Compliance Schedule Best Practice - Half-day workshop

Thursday 23 October - BWOF Fundamentals and Owners Compliance Checks - 2x Half-day workshops - Register for both and get 15% off!

Thursday 23 October - BWOF Fundamentals - Half-day workshop 

Thursday 23 October - Owners Compliance Checks - Half-day workshop 

Friday 7 November - Understanding a Fire Engineering Design Report - Full-day workshop 

AUCKLAND

Friday 4 & Friday 11 July - IQP Backflow Prevention Course with Unit Standards - Full-day workshop

Friday 11 July - SS7 Automatic Backflow Preventers - Refresher Theory and Practical - Full-day workshop

To find out cost and times for our courses, as well as others taking place later in the year, click here:  Workshops/Seminars » Association of Building Compliance (abciqp.org.nz)

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

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.