The NZ Building Act requires owners of a building containing specified systems (such as sprinklers, lifts, fire alarms, HVAC, access control doors, fire or smoke stop doors) to have a Compliance Schedule and to provide the council with an annual Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF) which is a document that confirms the building’s specified systems are being maintained and are operating to the same standard it was installed to.

If you own or manage a building that has specified systems installed then you must ensure each systems respective performance standards are met through the various inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures. These procedures are also outlined in the buildings compliance schedule which was issued by the council.

To achieve this you may have to engaging multiple service contractors (IQPs) then you will be able to sign, issue and publicly display an annual building warrant of fitness once you have provided a copy to the council.

Engaging with a specialist compliance agent to act on your behalf will assist you with ensuring you meet your responsibilities outlined in the NZ Building Act so you can focus on what you do best.

High Level BWOF Process:

1.       Service contractors carry out testing, inspections and maintenance of specified systems for a 12 month period (keeping records onsite)

2.       Contractors provide certificates (Form 12A Certificates) to the owner at the end of the 12 month period

3.       Owner or the Owners Agent creates and issues a BWOF certificate (Form 12 Certificate) and sends the BWOF with the Contractor certificates (Form 12A Certificates) to Council

4.       Owner installs a copy of the newly issued BWOF on display in a public place in the building

The timing of your Building Warrant of Fitness centers around the issue date of your buildings Compliance Schedule.