Schedule 1 Overview: Exempt Building Works
Schedule 1 Overview.
Welcome to the Schedule 1 Overview. Here we will give a brief outline of Schedule 1 works. We’ll explain what it is, what information is currently available and where you can go to find that information. We will then start to unpack each of the sections in detail and identify where information is lacking.
NZ Building Code Exempt Building works.
The New Zealand Building Code 2004, provides pathways for meeting compliance for all building works carried out in New Zealand. For most works, compliance is achieved through the building consent process. There are however, some building works that are exempt from requiring a building consent. These works are covered under Schedule 1 of the Building Code.
Although these works are exempt from requiring a consent, they still need to meet compliance with the Building Code. Some of these works, also must be carried out by authorised professionals.
There have been some recent changes to Schedule 1 that has extended the types of works that are included in the schedule.
MBIE has published a PDF guidance document to explain these and also has developed some online tools to explain these works.
Below is an outline of the chapters in the guidance document, with links to the MBIE online guidance for each item.
Schedule 1 Works.
- Notes for single-storey detached buildings.
- Single-storey detached buildings not exceeding 10 square metres.
- Single storey detached buildings between 10 and 30sqm in floor areas, using lightweight material.
- Single-storey detached buildings up to 30sqm in floor area with prefab or kitset components.
- Single-storey detached buildings not exceeding 30sqm in floor area.
- Unoccupied detached buildings for housing fixed plants or machinery.
- Notes for Single-storey pole sheds and hay barns in rural zones.
- Single-storey pole sheds and haybarns in rural zones – Chartered Professional Engineer.
- Single-storey pole sheds and hay barns in rural zones – Licensed Building Practitioner.
- Repair or replacement of outbuilding.
- Demolition of detached building.
- Repair, maintenance and replacement of sanitary plumbing and drainage.
- Drainage access points.
- Repair and maintenance of existing water heater.
- Replacement of open-vented water storage heater connected to supplementary heat exchanger.
- Replacement or repositioning of water heater connected to controlled heat source.
- Minor alteration to drains.
- Alteration to existing sanitary plumbing (excluding water heaters).
- Notes for carports.
- Carports not exceeding 20sqm in floor area.
- Carports between 20 and 40 sqm in floor area – Chartered Professional Engineer.
- Carports between 20 and 40 sqm in floor area – Licensed Building Practitioner.
- Shade Sails.
- Tents, marquees, and similar lightweight structures.
- Notes for Ground floor awnings.
- Ground Floor awnings up to 20 sqm.
- Ground floor awnings between 20 and 30 sqm in size – Chartered Professional Engineer.
- Ground floor awnings between 20 and 30 sqm in size – Licensed Building Practitioner.
The above links take you directly to each page of the www.building.govt.nz Building Performance Schedule 1 guidance website.
For a more project focused approach, you can visit canibuildit.govt.nz. This give a handy Q&A for each section which will help you understand if the work requires a consent or not.
Recap: What is Schedule 1?
Under the New Zealand Building Code, some building works do not require consent. Schedule 1 is a list of these works.
At first glance, this sounds like an opportunity to save money. Avoid the hassle and cost of council involvement, consultant fees, and labour costs.
However, these works still need to meet compliance with the New Zealand Building Code. This a fact often overlooked and where things can become unstuck. Not always immediately, but further down the track.
Non-professionals and professionals carry out this work daily, but guidance on how to carry out this work is lacking at best. We’re working on filling that void with this blog.
More to come...
This concludes our overview of Schedule 1 Works.
We will now start drilling into each of the above categories and give a more detailed breakdown on how you might go about undertaking these works.
We will be adding posts on a weekly basis so keep your eye on this page. If you would like to be notified directly when new information is available, please sign up for our newsletter below.
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As we are building this resource, we are very keen to hear what you would like to know more about. We would really appreciate it if you took part in our short Schedule 1 Works survey so we can focus our efforts on what you need to know.