BC Update 215: Consultation opens on new fire safety proposals

MBIE is seeking your feedback on proposals to improve fire safety regulations for New Zealand buildings. The consultation will run from 15 May to 14 July 2017.

MBIE is consulting on the following proposals:

  • increased flexibility in the use of internal surface finishes
  • clarify Building Code requirements for structural performance in fire
  • update the Verification Method and include more safeguards for tall buildings
  • support Alternative Solutions for fire designs by issuing guidance.

The new proposals are aimed at making fire safety requirements easier to understand and apply, promoting innovation in fire safety engineering and design, and supporting collaboration between building professionals.

The proposals are mostly adjustments and rebalancing designed to simplify and support the way fire design is currently performed, or to facilitate a shift towards how it should be performed. Changes to the fire safety requirements are relatively minimal apart from some additional or new requirements for specialised areas such as tall buildings, where MBIE considers it necessary to include more safeguards for building occupants and firefighters.

MBIE has received input from the New Zealand Fire Service, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, building control officials and architects, and has worked with international fire engineering experts to develop these proposals.

View the proposals and make a submission on the MBIE Corporate website

Read the Minister’s announcement Consultation sought on fire safety proposals on the Parliament website.