Tip: Know who you are dealing with and what they want from you
I have noticed recently how many Councils, IQP firms, BWOF companies, LBP firms, even MBIE etc make up their own rules and some of them aren't lawful (it is the cost of doing business with them, guidance, suggestion or at worst the Bluff Act!)

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For example:
1. A Council cluster group requiring drainlayers to fill in LBP records of work prior to issue of CCC. 
(Drainlayers are NOT LBPs, 2. A CCC cannot be held up for LBP records of work of any kind any way)
2. Compliance company filling in 12A template sending to IQP and expecting the IQP to do one site visit and sign the form.
(IQP has not seen the Compliance Schedule and has not been on the job 12 months. While the system may be fully functional after one service it is not lawful for the IQP to complete the 12A form having not seen all the requirements listed in the Compliance Schedule).
3. Biggest bluff in town - You must get a fire engineer to do a fire report for an upgrade to existing building. Now that requirement has never been and is not int he Building Act. The fire compliance analysis is not the exclusive privilege of the Fire Engineering community, an architect can do it, an IQP can do it, a FM or property manager who knows the site intimately can do it.
4. MBIE staff - you MUST supply a draft Compliance Schedule on issuing the building consent or CPU. It does not state that in the Building Act anywhere and whilst it may be handy it is not a legal requirement.
Its guidance and a suggestion from MBIE only!
5. LBP company - The Director of the company who IS the LBP but has not been to site EVER signs the record of work ticking supervision! THIS IS UNLAWFUL - do I really need to spell out why!
Now if all or some of these observations and tips offend you or make you curious then I would love to talk this through with you and put the record straight!

FOR BUILDNET members: I will be online at our favourite hangout to talk about all these on MONDAY 3 APRIL 2017 10am - 10.30am
(BUILDNET members will be sent a link to our hangout inviting you to join me)


If you are not a BUILDNET member and would like to join the conversation you can. Sign up for the basic membership package first and lets get you on the call.

http://www.buildingnetworks.co.nz/buildnet.html

Builders and specialist tradies should be proud to be LBPs, wear it as a badge of honour rather than as a second prize in the weetbix packet!

We are in a really messy time in the building industry.

While we are still coming to terms with the legacy of leaky buildings along come some earthquakes and a building boom to boot.
The Building Act rules were changed in 2004 and a heap of regulations followed. Councils got scared after all the mediations and law suits and started to be more risk adverse creating their own architecture of special rules. In the meantime, our well-meaning government de-regulated building products even further making it harder to discern between the good, the bad and the bloody awful. (PS there is more control on a kid’s PJs at our boarder than there is building product).
Health and safety rules strengthed in 2016 making it harder to get up on a roof to check things (so who checks a roof after installation and all the scaffold gone down now – NOBODY).
The Government was so concerned for the home owner voter being ripped off that they brought in onerous contractual documents – stuff builders hate because they are not paper shufflers nor lawyers they are tradies (PS I think there is huge undiagnosed dyslexia in the building industry amongst all generations who are supposed to supervise and teach others).
 
Its bloody messy out there!
BUT – remember where we’ve come from …
As recently as February 2012 ANYONE could be a builder or designer. YES anyone! Including someone like me – or the guy driving the taxi – off a fishing boat – out of the first – who left school yesterday.
 
We are living in messy times that we may not live to see come right.
We are a turning point generation. We may not reap the benefit of any of this BUT our children’s children may.
 
What is the building industry doing about leaving a legacy fir future generations of home owners and future generations of tradies and designers?
 
One day – we may find that the rules are changed on who can be a Licensed Building Practitioner. It may become a qualified – apprenticed trade – where people take pride in their work, do the right thing by the client and build someone’s dream – not because the rules say so but because its back in our hearts and culture again.
 
Let’s not leave NZ as a third world tip of leakers, shakers and stuff ups. Do your bit to make it right. 

Rosie.

The job of the IQP when it comes to compliance is simple. Well I think so at least. Yet many people get this very confused.
1. They think the IQP writes the BWOF - NO - they can act as owners agent but that's a different hat
2. They think the IQP is there to sign off compliance - NO - they are there to ensure testing and maintenance has been done on the system to keep it working.
3. They think the IQP can add equipment and make design choices (eg. there's not enough fresh air in here, or you need to add an alarm). NOPE - not the IQPs job.

1. Get the Compliance Schedule (from owner, owners agent, or Council), note instructions on your system and the birthdate of the Compliance Schedule
2. Cross check the info is correct and gets owners permission to change if not
3. Get the referenced standards, checksheets named in the Compliance Schedule
4. Make up test sheets, checklists and set up routines on-site
5. Train owners /occupiers and techs what to do
6. Turn up at the alloted times and do the work or ensure it has been done
7. If all is on target sign the 12A and deliver to owner/ or their rep by target birthday anniversary
(I will cover what to do if things are wrong in a new upcoming video).

Rosie - out

Rosemary (Rosie) Killip