Compliance Schedules and BWOFs
Compliance Schedules
The purpose of this guidance information is to help building owners and managers of commercial, industrial or communal (public use) buildings understand their responsibilities under the Building Act 2004 as they relate to compliance schedules (list of specified systems) and building warrants of fitness. Residential properties do not require a compliance schedule, unless it has a cable car installed. For more detailed information refer to MBIE's Compliance Schedule Handbook.
Building Warrant of Fitness
A Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF) is a certificate issued by the building owner confirming that all of the specified systems contained within the building have been inspected and maintained and are performing in accordance with the compliance schedule. A BWOF verifies that the inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures for all the specified systems within a building have been carried out in accordance with the compliance schedule for the previous 12 months.
Some building consent applications need to be referred to FENZ; this typically involves commercial, industrial or communal residential / non-residential type buildings. We will refer your application to FENZ if it involves a fire design for these types of buildings and the following measures apply:
- compliance with clauses C1-6, D1, F6 or F8 of the Code is established other than by compliance with the provisions of an applicable compliance document (e.g. through an Alternative Solution); or
- involves a waiver or modification of clauses C1-6, D1, F6 or F8 of the Code;
- an alteration, change of use or subdivision that affects fire safety systems including any building work on a specified system relating to fire safety except where the effect is minor (e.g. minor changes and fit-outs are permissible)
- shopping malls
- cinemas
- marae
- camping grounds
- garages and workshops
- funeral homes
- office / retail complexes
- rest homes
Public premises are defined as:
Any building which is open to the public whether for free or payment of a charge, include but are not limited to:
These buildings cannot be used or occupied until a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) is issued. This is because public premises will generally have systems within the building which contribute to life-safety and the wellbeing of the building users. These systems are called specified systems. If specified systems are present in the building a Compliance Schedule Statement and Compliance Schedule will need to be issued with the CCC.
A Certificate of Public Use may be required for periods of time in which a building may be required to be used before the Code Compliance Certificate is issued. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.