In May, the New Zealand Government set up the Construction Industry Strategic Group to engage on key issues. The group of senior sector people will be chaired by Richard Aitken, who is also the chair of Beca Group Ltd.
Streamlining of the Licensed Building Practitioner scheme:
People with relevant qualifications will be now formally recognised and can apply to be LBPs using the streamlined process. The Department now recognises nearly 30 qualifications.
In April, further streamlining initiatives to simplify the Site and Design licence classes, based on straight forward building categories were announced. Also introduced was a new licence class for foundations workers.
Ongoing Competence: Remember to keep records for relicensing to prove ongoing skills maintenance.
Building Act Review aims:
This year the Department of Building and Housing has been reviewing the building act. The Department seeks to:
Clarify the rules so that everyone is clear about what's required from them and what they're accountable for;
Hold people to their responsibilities through effective contract and warranty arrangements;
Sort out any disputes under contract, through agreed adjudication processes;
Focus building consent authorities on a risk-based approach to checking plans and building work
Improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the system to minimise costs.
Some hot topics that were debated in the review were:
- Risk-based consenting
- Liability
- Weathertightness
- The Government has put together a financial assistance package to help affected homeowners to move on with their lives.
- The Department of Building and Housing is putting together information and guidance for designers on how to comply with the Building Code when designing remediation works for a leaky building.
- Product assurance
- The Department has just published a product assurance framework to help manufacturers and suppliers demonstrate compliance with the Building Code and is about to start a series of seminars with product suppliers, to improve the quality of information they provide.
Sector input
- The Department has been working with BRANZ and the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation, and industry associations to set up a ‘productivity partnership' to run a sector-led work programme on several fronts.
For more information see www.dbh.govt.nz
Posted: 25 June 2010