Compliance Schedule Information
Compliance Schedules, Specified Systems, BWOFs and IQP's.
This page explains what the requirements are for Specified Systems, and BWOF's. If any building - usually, but not exclusively, commercial or industrial - has systems installed to ensure the saftey of the building and occupants and/or the public,then a Compliance Schedule will need to be implemented, and the Building Warrant of Fitness regime (BWOF) maintained. These are the responsibility of the building owner/operator to ensure compliance, both at construction stage and for the life of the building. Council's role is that of a regulatory body, ensuring that these records are upto date, and owners requirements fulfilled.
What is a Compliance Schedule?
This is a document issued by the Council listing the inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures for specified systems and features in a building (such as fire alarms, emergency lighting, lifts, air conditioning) to ensure their continued safety of operation. A Compliance Schedule may be required for any building other than a single household unit, however a single household unit may require a Compliance Schedule if it is serviced by a Cable Car, for example.
When applying for a building consent for a commercial building, a Compliance Schedule may well be required. As with any other part of the project, the applicant will need to supply all relevant details of proposed systems to be used within the building. This will enable a "draft" compliance schedule to be compiled.
During construction, the commissioning and installation documents will need to be compiled as the systems are installed.
For final inspection and CCC issue, these documents will be checked against the "draft" schedule, and the final Compliance Schedule compiled. If there are any differences between the draft and final system(s), these will have to be supported by all the relevant documentation.
Here, is an example of a "master" compliance schedule. A project may have all or only one of these systems fitted, and that description etc will form the Compliance Schedule.
The Compliance Schedule handbook is a book produced by the DBH to explain further these requirements
What is a Building Warrant of Fitness (Form 12)?
A Building Warrant of Fitness is a specified form which is renewed by the owner annually. The owner signs the Building Warrant of Fitness form stating that all the specified systems in their building have been inspected maintained and recorded as per the requirements of their Compliance Schedule.
What is a Certificate of Compliance (Form 12A)?
Much like the Building Warrant of Fitness Form above which is signed by the building owner, the Certificate of Compliance is signed by the IQP/LBP stating that the specified systems in the building have been inspected maintained and recorded as per the requirements of the Compliance Schedule.
Link to IQP Register - Alphabetical listing (PDF) or IQP Register - Category listing (PDF)
What is a specified system?
A building system can be a system like a lift, fire alarm, air conditioner, automatic sprinkler, emergency lighting or automatic backflow preventer connected to a drinkable water supply etc. The owner is responsible for keeping these systems in good working order and maintaining a safe and healthy building.
Specified System Categories
0 Cable Car
1 Automatic Systems for Fire Suppression
2 Automatic or Manual for Emergency Warning Systems
3 Electromagnetic or Automatic doors and windows
4 Emergency Lighting Systems
5 Escape Route Pressurisation Systems
6 Riser Mains for use by Fire Services
7 Automatic Backflow Preventers
8 Lifts, Escalators, Travelators or other systems for moving people or goods within buildings
9 Mechanical Ventilation or Air Conditioning systems
10 Building Maintenance units providing access to exterior & interior walls of building
11 Laboratory Fume Cupboards
12 Audio Loops or other assistive Listening Systems
13 Smoke Control Systems
14 Emergency Power Systems for, or signs relating to a system or feature specified above
15 Means of Escape from Fire
1) Systems for communicating spoken information intended to facilitate evacuation and,
2) Final exits (as defined by clause A2 of the Building Code) and,
3) Fire Separation (as so defined) and,
4) Signs for communicating information intended to facilitate evacuation; and,
5) Smoke separations (as so defined).
(The following systems are to be used if applicable)
01 Safety Barriers
02 Means of Access and facilities used by persons with disabilities
03 Hand held hose reels for fire fighting
04 Signs that are required by the building code or by Section 120
Who can inspect building systems?
The building owner is required to have the systems serviced, tested and maintained in accordance with their Compliance Schedule, and keep records of all work undertaken on the systems. The owner must refer to their Compliance Schedule to clarify whether they can carry out the inspection themselves or whether it must be done by an IQP/LBP. In most cases an IQP/LBP is required due to the complexity of electrical, electronic or mechanical systems. Some owners who prefer to save on costs may check passive systems like means of escape, safety barriers, disabled facilities, signs, etc.
What is Council’s involvement?
The Council’s role involves the initial processing of a Compliance Schedule when submitted with plans and specifications for new developments. Council accepts the owners annual Building Warrant of Fitness Statements and IQP/LBP Certificates of Compliance and associated documents, maintains registers of IQP/LBP (to ensure that the IQP/LBP is suitably qualified) and auditing the building owners to ensure that records are kept of the servicing, testing and maintenance of the building systems.
What is an IQP/LBP Register?
An IQP/LBP register is a list of approved Independent Qualified Persons/ Licensed Building Practitioners. The list defines on which specified systems the IQP/LBP are authorised to carry out testing and maintenance. For example, if a building owner has a fire alarm that requires testing and maintenance they would refer to the IQP/LBP register to check that not only is the person an approved IQP/LBP, but they are also approved for that particular specified system.
Link to IQP Register - Alphabetical listing (PDF) or IQP Register - Category listing (PDF)
DBH Website
You can find more information on Building Warrant of Fitness from the Department of Building and Housing website at
www.dbh.govt.nz/ - For information on Compliance Schedules and BWOFs
Public Use - For more information on Certificate of Public Use
Page created/updated: 2 October 2009 at 3:15 pm
