The latest news from Licensed Building Practitioners scheme.
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Kia ora
Welcome to this edition of the Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) newsletter.
This issue focuses on the importance of understanding and meeting your legal and professional obligations, alongside maintaining strong technical competence. In particular, we highlight key requirements under Part 4A of the Building Act, including the documents and information that must be provided for residential building work. These requirements play an important role in supporting transparency, protecting consumers, and reducing disputes.
We also include guidance on building consent requirements for residential pool barriers. Given the safety implications, it is important that LBPs understand when consent is required and ensure barriers are designed and constructed to meet Building Code Clause F9.
Recent Building Practitioners Board decisions in this edition reinforce the importance of meeting core obligations, such as providing records of work, supervising appropriately, and complying with the law. They also demonstrate the consequences of failing to meet expected standards of conduct and competence.
Finally, we draw attention to a recent WorkSafe case which is a reminder that compliance with regulatory requirements is not optional. Ignoring notices or cutting corners can have serious safety and legal consequences.
Together, these examples highlight the importance of getting the fundamentals right – understanding your obligations, maintaining good practices on site, and upholding the standards expected of licensed practitioners.
Ngā mihi nui,
Duncan Connor
Registrar of Licensed Building Practitioners
LBP skills maintenance
Building Consent requirements for Swimming Pool Fencing
Residential pool safety in New Zealand is regulated through the Building Act 2004, as amended by the Building (Pools) Amendment Act 2016, which introduced Building Code Clause F9 – Restricting access to residential pools.
Part 4A breaches
Undertaking residential building work in New Zealand carries important legal responsibilities, particularly where the contract value is $30,000 or more (including GST).
LBPs need to read the LBP skills maintenance (Codewords) articles relevant to their licence class, and complete a short quiz for each one.
Complete your skills maintenance requirements on the LBP Portal
Building news for LBPs
Recent BPB decisions
The Building Practitioners Board has recently issued a number of disciplinary decisions involving Licensed Building Practitioners.
Recent determinations
Determinations are legally binding decisions made by MBIE. They are for matters of doubt or dispute to do with building work outlined in the Building Act and the Building Code.
Have your say on the revision of New Zealand’s leading construction standard – NZS 3604 Timber-framed buildings
Standards New Zealand is seeking feedback from building practitioners on the draft of NZS 3604 Timber-framed buildings.
Ignoring WorkSafe has consequences
WorkSafe New Zealand is reminding property owners, and those carrying out building work, that inspectors' notices are legally binding - and ignoring them puts safety at risk.
