Tolerances guidance published

The Guide to tolerances, materials and workmanship in new residential construction is now available for download from www.building.govt.nz/guide-to-tolerances.

The guidance was written with advice from the industry and supports the new consumer protection measures in Part 4A of the Building Act, which came into law on 1 January 2015. The guide represents current acceptable standards from a cross-section of the construction industry.

Under the new consumer protection measures, a 12-month defect repair period starts when residential building work has been completed. During this time, it is the main contractors’ responsibility to fix any defects, or prove that any defective building work is through no fault of their own, the subcontractors under their control, or the products supplied if there is a dispute.

The Guide to tolerances covers mainly aesthetic issues (eg, what is considered a reasonable slope in a floor, or what is an acceptable appearance for a newly painted wall) in new builds and additions at any price, whether or not the consumer protection measures and $30,000 threshold apply.

The guide does not cover tolerances for repairs, renovations, or alterations within existing buildings. Tolerances for existing buildings are likely to be below those achievable with new buildings. There are a number of reasons for this, including the nature of the materials used in existing buildings and the effects of both time and natural events.

The Guide to tolerances covers mainly aesthetic issues in new builds and additions at any price, whether or not the consumer protection measures and $30,000 threshold apply

The guide is also a great tool to make sure clients understand and agree what acceptable levels of tolerances, materials and workmanship are for new residential building work. It can be used before contracts are signed to help align expectations of quality with choice of design, materials, finishes and costs.

The Guide to tolerances, materials and workmanship in new residential construction is not a mandatory set of standards. Contractors and clients can mutually agree to their own expectations, preferably within their written contract.

Find out more about the consumer protection measures at doyourhomework.co.nz, and download your copy of Guide to tolerances, materials and workmanship in new residential construction at www.building.govt.nz/guide-to-tolerances.