Building work

In future, some types of building and design work will have to be done or supervised by a licensed building practitioner (LBP). We explain the rules.

Licensing of building practitioners

The Building Act 2004 introduced the Licensed Building Practitioners Scheme, which was phased in from November 2007. 

The Scheme aims to set national standards of competence for people in the industry, and to ensure skills are raised and through ongoing skills maintenance.

It also recognises that some work is so fundamental to the structure and weathertightness of a building that it should only be designed and carried out by a practitioner with proven competence. This work is known as ‘restricted building work’.

Restricted building work is critical building work on houses and small-medium sized apartments.

Regulations to finalise restricted building work details are expected in 2011, and are likely to include the:

• design and construction of primary structure (eg, foundations and framing)
• design and construction of the external envelope (eg, roofing and cladding)
• design of fire safety systems (eg, sprinklers, fire alarms) for small-medium sized apartments.

From March 2012, people designing or carrying out restricted building work will have to be licensed for their area of expertise (or be supervised by a an LBP). It is expected that DIYers will be able to claim an exemption to carry out restricted building work when they apply for a building consent. 

The types of LBP licence
There are seven licence classes:

• Design 
• Site (for site supervisors or construction managers)
• Five trade and specialist classes:
  • (for Carpenters, External Plasterers, Roofers, Brick and Blocklayers, and Foundations workers).

What this means for DIYers

The LBP scheme will have little impact on the type of work most often done by DIYers.  You will still be able to maintain your property and make alterations to your house. Much DIY work does not need a building consent, and much of the work that does need a consent will not be restricted building work.

An exemption for DIYers will apply when restricted building work starts in March 2012. The exemption is intended to ensure that the Kiwi tradition of DIY building work can continue. People who want to build their own home can still do so, by claiming an exemption from restricted building work.

The exemption will include renovating your property, so long as you follow the consenting and inspection procedures.

If you hire someone to do restricted building work for you, then from March 2012, they will need to hold the required licence class.

By following these guidelines, future homeowners will have more certainty that significant work undertaken on any house they buy has been done to a good standard by competent and accountable practitioners.

For more detailed information about licensing, visit the Department of Building and Housing website: www.dbh.govt.nz/lbp or call the Department on 0800 60 60 50.