Code Compliance Certificates for older buildings

If you are applying for a Code Compliance Certificate on an older building, there are some other considerations to be aware of.

Materials used in construction have minimum performance requirements specified in the building code, in particular NZBC B2, regarding durability – or how long it should last.

For claddings, the non structural outside "covering" of a building, for example, the minimum "durability requirement" is 15 years.

If your building was completed, say, 10 years ago, we will be asking for the durability to be modified under the building code.

This does not affect issue of the Code Compliance Certificate, this simply recognises that materials have already "aged" and that the Certificate will be effectively "back dated" with respect to durability, to a date when the building work was originally completed or to the "substantial completion" date.

Please also note that this modification is sent to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and forms part of the property record.

New Zealand Building Code Clause B2

Sometimes, applications for Code Compliance Certificate will be refused. This may occur if the work is not complete, does not comply with your building consent, or the required documentation has not or cannot be supplied.

A refusal to issue a Code Compliance Certificate does not prevent owners from applying for a Code Compliance Certificate at later date, however, a further or future applications will only be considered if the reasons for the original refusal have been meaningfully addressed.

If you are unhappy with the decision made by the building consent authority, you can request a determination from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on the decision.

Building Performance - Determinations