The Building Code is changing – MBIE

This Building Code update aims to support higher-density housing by providing safer building solutions and increased design options. We are focusing on improving the long-term resilience of buildings in areas with liquefaction-prone ground, applying learnings from the Canterbury earthquakes and providing a further compliance pathway for light steel framing.

The consultation runs from Monday 5 August until Friday 13 September 2019, before changes are reviewed and finalised in November 2019.

We encourage you to make a submission. Your feedback is important to ensure we’re making changes that improve the Building Code for everyone.

The proposed changes were identified as part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) biannual update programme, which serves MBIE’s commitment to continuously improve New Zealand’s Building Code.

Proposed changes

Within the updates proposed to the Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods, the most significant changes are in two main areas:

Promote robust foundation solutions for liquefaction-prone ground

• Changes are proposed to support safer and more resilient housing foundations. Buildings on ground that has been identified as prone to liquefaction will require specifically designed foundations.

Support building higher-density housing and give more choice in framing specification

• This proposal will help streamline the building consenting process for light steel framing, which will help housing densification and encourage off-site manufacture, while also giving designers additional material choices.

View the full proposal and provide feedback on the MBIE Corporate website.