Free Building Standards

Builders’ Business is a column by builders for builders. Its objective is to provide a forum, particularly for small business operators, in which to share knowledge, experience, tips and ideas

Q: What do you think about some building-related standards being made freely available online?

Firm: Wren Building Ltd

Principal: Simon Wren

Location: Whakatane

Staff: 18

It can’t be anything but good for the industry. The documents they’ve made available emphasise best-practice building techniques and I think making them easier to access will encourage more people to sit down and read them, which should help improve compliance across the industry.

I’ve incorporated them into my training and toolbox meetings since 2016, and I make a particular point of discussing any changes or updates with my foremen.

Although it’s still reliant on people taking the time to sit down and read them, I think this is a positive initiative. I would really encourage all licensed builders, particularly new business owners, to embrace it and learn as much as they can.

The more you know about the different aspects of construction and your own obligations the better.

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Firm: John Creighton Builders Ltd

Principal: John Creighton

Location: Christchurch

Staff: 30

I think it’s a great idea. In the building industry, we want to be able to access the information we need without having to pay fees or deal with red tape. If we can make necessary information like this more readily accessible, we are on the way to eliminating ignorance as an excuse for poor practice.

At the end of the day, hopefully it will increase knowledge of the building code and best practice requirements among members of the building industries.

Every other aspect of the building industry has been increasing costs to meet compliance, so it’s good to see something costing us less. I am confident that any further release of documentation or updates would be greatly received by builders and other members of the industry.

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Firm: Court Construction

Principal: Cameron Court

Location: Auckland

Staff: 14

If cost is a barrier to getting the information, making building standards free of charge seems like a good idea. If people are accessing the standards for free online, it also means they will be working from current information rather than an outdated version from an old subscription.

The application of this will predominantly apply at the design stage, as most of the standards being offered free by MBIE are ones that need to be incorporated into the consented plans. But it could still be handy for building practitioners to better understand why certain things are specified on the plans they’ve received.

Overall, anything that leads to people following best practice and improving their knowledge helps to lift the standards in our industry.

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Email your answer with your full name, contact phone number, company name, number of full-time staff and the city or town in which you’re based to editor@pmundersconstruction.co.nz. All responses must be submitted by 25 April 2018. The answers to this question will be published in Under Construction June/July.