Buildings containing certain safety and essential systems, known as specified systems, are issued with a compliance schedule and regular inspections (not including buildings used wholly or partly as a single household unit).

This is important not only because it is required by the compliance schedule issued by the Council but because it gives occupants, customers and visitors to your building confidence about the building’s safety systems.

 What is a compliance schedule?

A schedule issued by the Building Consent Authority listing the specified systems within a building (e.g. sprinkler systems, lifts, smoke detectors).

These systems ensure a building is safe and healthy for people to enter, occupy or use. The compliance schedule for a building must identify which specified systems are present, the performance standards for those systems, and who is required to inspect, maintain, and report that those systems continue to function as installed.

See information on compliance schedules for building officials(external link) at the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) website.

What is a specified system?

Specified systems are systems or features installed in a building that are crucial to the safety and health of the building and those who use it, or systems which, if they are not maintained, could cause injury or harm. When you apply for a building consent, you must include a list of all specified systems in the building project.

Obtaining or amending a compliance schedule

For new buildings, a compliance schedule is issued with a code compliance certificate.

Where a compliance schedule has been issued for the first time, a compliance schedule statement is issued by the Council. This is a temporary public notification of compliance with the schedule requirements. It is replaced after 12 months, and every 12 months after that, by the building warrant of fitness.

The owner must display this document in a public area within the building.

After receiving a compliance schedule statement owners must engage an IQP as soon as possible (typically within one month) to ensure that all inspection, maintenance and reporting is completed for the next 12 months.

You will need to apply for an amendment to the existing compliance schedule if you want to:

  • Update owner details
  • Amend the inspection, maintenance or reporting procedures
  • Advise of any specified system not included on the compliance schedule for the building.

Providing you are the owner, you can apply for an amendment at any time. Complete and return:  Application for amendment to compliance schedule [PDF, 654 KB] (Form 11 B-031) also available in Word [DOCX, 389 KB]. 

Independent qualified persons (IQP)

An IQP is a person approved by a territorial authority as qualified to inspect, maintain and report on certain specified systems. 'Independent' means that the person has no financial interest in the building.

The Council does not perform building warrant of fitness inspections or certification for building owners (although from time-to-time we carry out inspections for auditing purposes).

The role of an IQP is to inspect, report on, and maintain the specified systems as detailed on the compliance schedule.

You are required by law to have annual written reports relating to the inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures of the compliance schedule signed by each person who has carried out those procedures. Keep the reports with the compliance schedule for two years and make sure they are accessible when inspections are carried out.

View information on IQP's registered to supply documentation in the South Island.(external link)

Fees

If a building consent requires a new compliance schedule as a result of building work, or an amendment to an existing compliance schedule is required, a fixed fee applies.

There is also an annual administration fee for processing the building warrant of fitness. This is comprised of a base fee and an additional fee per specified system.

A new fee for building warrants of fitness site audits following a failed audit has also been introduced.

Refer to the Building Consents Fee Schedule for related fees.

The cost of an IQP’s services is not included in the Council application fee or annual fees.

Further information

You can obtain further information on Buildings with compliance schedules for specified systems(external link) from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.