Avoiding requests for information (RFIs)

Frequently asked Vetting RFIs

Quality of application

Essential documents are missing from the application.

MBIE provides guidance for ensuring all items have been considered when lodging an application for building consent.

Evidence of ownership/owner's permission

Please provide a current Certificate of Title in its entirety i.e. relevant consent notices and plan drawings no older than 90 days.

Provide all sales and purchase agreement to show ownership relationships if you are the lessee or purchaser of land and this does not match the CT.

Use LINZ

Carefully check documents for companies.
Review companies register for shareholders.

Application form

Value of works must reflect the full retail cost of works.

Accurate and current details are required for the owners and agent if applicable, including:
a) postal address
b) email address
c) phone number(s).

All lodged plans and documents must show the correct owner(s) and location of project.

Carefully check the owner’s details and project address are correct.

Ground condition/geotechnical report

Has a ground condition report been provided? This should be provided by a chartered engineer or qualified geotechnical engineer if conditions other than 'good ground' exist.

Provide a site-specific investigation report to verify suitability of ground bearing.

Provide Geotechnical Completion Report (GCR), which should be available for all major subdivisions.

Check Mapi

Review the following filter layers
Natural hazards - liquefaction
Land features - specific design foundations
Compressible soils, specific stormwater design
Provide GCR – review for specific site requirements e.g. foundation, stormwater etc.

Resource management information

Ensure plans provide site and land information with calculations of the site coverage, floor areas for each level of each building, and with elevations depicting the distance between the proposed structures and those to be constructed alongside.

Finished ground level and finished floor levels must be shown.

Provide elevations depicting recession/daylight planes.

If noted on the Certificate of Title that there is a consent notice pertaining to this new lot, provide the relevant consent notice.

Site plans

Site plans must provide the following details:

• legal and notional boundaries
• location of new and existing structures and their relationship to each other with dimensions
• ground and floor levels
• location of site barriers to demonstrate compliance with NZ Building Code Clause F5
• an overall site plan showing the location of the proposed building highlighted and the other dwellings on site to be shown (location of new and existing structures including swimming pools)
• location of vehicle access/crossing locations/manoeuvring/parking spaces
• hard stand areas with overland flowpaths, drainage details.

MBIE on how to lodge a building consent

Section 45 - LBP details/certificate of work/statutory notice

• If the proposal includes restricted building work then the application must include:
  (a) names of each LBP involved AND
  (b) Certificate of Work OR
  (c) statutory declaration.
• Provide form 2A - Certificate of design work
• Ensure that form 6A (Record of Building Work) is not submitted in error.
• Complete the designers form 2A in full, including the LBP number from the back page, date etc.
• Provide a certificate of design work to cover the restricted building work.
• Ensure that items are covered by the engineer’s certificate of design work.
• Provide correct project address for the certificate of design work.
• Provide all pages of the certificate of design work.

MBIE guidance

Floor plans

Floor plans do not provide sufficient information to enable a compliance decision.

Please label the different areas of the house (e.g. bedrooms/bathrooms) and show the smoke detector locations to F7.

For additions and alterations, the existing shall be shown separately to the proposed and to the same scale for comparison. Framing layout must be fully dimensioned.

Lintels/beam sizes and grade must be specified. Lintel fixing types must be on the plan.

Show and dimension all doors and windows.

F7 always needs to be detailed for smoke detection.

Waterproofing details

Upload the manufacturer’s specifications for the waterproofing membrane.

Provide project-specific membrane manufacturer information that includes reference to product durability and installation requirements. Supporting documentation must be current.

Elevations

Elevations must provide sufficient information to enable a compliance decision. Provide further information that shows:

• All areas affected by building work
• The location of window and door openings/sashes etc. including the location of safety glass
• Weather tight Matrix if E2/AS1 is used.

Please provide further information that shows:

• All areas affected by building work - N, S, E & W elevations in their entirety. Roof pitches, down locations, Gas bottles if applicable.

Detail the risk matrix on the elevations page, which helps keep things consistent in the industry.

Energy efficiency

Provide H1 calculations.

Provide further information identifying how energy efficiency provisions have been met.

Specifications

Provide a project specific set of specifications.

Amend page # of the specifications to show the correct address.

Provide a project-specific set of specifications that identify the:

• project location
• scope of work for each trade
• materials, finishes, workmanship and
• appropriate Standards. Include wall linings and finishes, floor coverings, and specification for new fittings.

Engineer verification

Ensure that Specific Engineer Design (SED) is accompanied by sufficient information to enable a compliance decision.

Amend the address on all engineering documents including the PS1, Form 2A, etc. to show the correct street number and or address.

Provide a current PS1 from a CPEng registered in New Zealand to support the engineering.

Provide engineering verification in support of Specific Engineering Design components. PS1 required for engineer’s design.

Roof frame detail

Sufficient roof frame information must be provided to enable a compliance decision. Provide:

• a roof truss or roof frame layout
• lintel details
• detail of proposed fixings and
• truss fabrication certification that identifies wind and snow loading etc.

Correct lot numbers and addresses must be provided for roof framing details.

Understand the property

Planning issues have not been identified early in the process.

Investigate planning issues before submitting an application by reviewing the City Plan rules, applying for a PIM or speaking with the Duty Planner.

Check Mapi

Record of Title

Provide copies of consent notices registered on the Record of Title.

Consent notices can include restrictions on development, including specific setbacks, acoustic or landscaping requirements.

Include copy of all consent notices with application.

Quality of application

Demonstrate overshadowing envelopes on all boundaries.

It is unclear if the building will be constructed within the permitted building envelope.

Show building envelope boundary in accordance with Appendix 14C. Each overshadowing point should be referenced on the site plan with the existing ground levels.

Show setback distances to all boundaries, including permitted intrusions.

It is unclear if the building will be constructed within the setbacks.

Show the setback dimension from the boundary to the cladding and from the boundary to the eave/gutter of the building.

Demonstrate that the combined height of any fencing and retaining supporting fill above existing ground level is not considered a ‘building’ within the setback.

Show the existing ground level line on the elevation plans and dimension the height of the retaining and fencing to confirm the combined height is less than 2m above existing ground level.

Demonstrate compliance with minimum parking requirements.

For applications that include multiple units or large scale commercial buildings, a breakdown of the parking ratio based on the gross floor area needs to be provided.

Provide carparking calculation in accordance with Appendix 4A and dimension all spaces in accordance with Appendix 4B.

Demonstrate compliance with on-site manoeuvring where the site accesses the strategic road network.

Vehicles accessing the strategic road network must exit the site in a forward facing direction in no more than a 3 point turn

Show the turning circle for all cars in accordance with Appendix 4D and show the manoeuvring aisle width in accordance with Appendix 4B.

RMA National Environmental Standard

Comply with the Resource Management (National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health) Regulations 2011

Hazardous Activities may have occurred on the site. The NESCS ensures that the disturbance of potentially contaminated soils is minimised and/or removed appropriately.

Where a site has had an activity that is listed in the Hazardous Activities and Industries List (HAIL), the NESCS requires an assessment against Regulation 8(3) of the NESCS for soil disturbance. A detailed site investigation can be provided to demonstrate that it is not considered a piece of land.

Structural and geotechnical engineering

The foundation design is not coordinated with the recommendations from the geotechnical investigation report.

The geotechnical engineer needs to confirm in writing that the foundation design complies with his or her recommendations.

No confirmation of whether a producer statement for construction monitoring (PS4) will be supplied, and no schedule provided of the construction monitoring to be undertaken.

Where significant specific engineering design (SED) elements are included in the building work, ensure the application documentation includes a schedule of construction monitoring, and confirmation that a PS4 will be supplied with a letter of engagement.

Consent notices

The certificate of title included in the building consent application refers to a consent notice which cannot be located in the building consent application. Provide a copy of the consent notices related to the subject allotment.

Review the consent notice requirements, as the consent notices may contain special requirements for building work.

CT for individual lots

The Certificate of Title included in the building consent application is for the parent title and not for the allotment subject to this building consent. Provide a copy of the certificate of title for the allotment being developed.

The use of AC7 (Engineering Information Sheet) form has been abandoned. Current certificate of title is required even if s224 has been issued.

Berm features

Please provide a site plan detailing the locations of all the berm features (trees, power poles, streetlights, signs, stormwater catchpits, pedestrian crossings, etc.) and detail the clearances from those features to the vehicle crossing.

This information is required to demonstrate compliance with the offset requirements as detailed in the vehicle crossing compliance information in the services connection application.

OSET Schedule 5

The property is in an area designated on-site effluent treatment. Please complete and submit a Bay of Plenty Regional Council Schedule 5 from an approved system designer.

Approved OSET effluent systems and designers can be found on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website. The specification of proposed OSET effluent system is also required in a building consent.

Nearest filling point

Please provide a site plan detailing the location of the nearest filling point of the proposed swimming pool and confirm that a back flow prevention device is provided.

A vacuum breaker is required to prevents water from being siphoned backward into the drinking water system.

Geotech assessments

Please provide the geotechnical completion report for the site.

If the report has not been approved/or registered in TCC technical library then processor has no access to the report and its conclusions/recommendations.

Updated firth codemarks

The Firth Ribraft documentation was updated in 2018. Please provide the latest documents.

Self-explanatory.

Flood reports

The property is located in an area subject to a flood hazard. Please provide an assessment from a chartered professional engineer of the impact of constructing within the floodable area the impact on adjoining properties and whether an s72 should be registered on the certificate of title for the property.

The property is in an area subject to a flood hazard. Top water level is xx.xxxmRL. Please demonstrate that the finished floor level complies with E1 and, where appropriate, Council's Infrastructure Development Code.

The hazard needs to be addressed by a suitably qualified engineer.

Overland flowpaths

Please show the routes of overland flowpaths for excess stormwater runoff not captured by the stormwater disposal system. Where possible these should be directed to the road reserve or landscaped areas.

Overland flowpaths are often not addressed and some designers do not appreciate that stormwater drains are generally designed for 10% rainfall events. E1 requires runoff from 2% events to be considered also.

PS1s filled out correctly

The PS1 has not been signed by a CPEng. Please provide an amended PS1.

The PS1 has not been signed by a CPEng with the appropriate engineering practice field. Please provide an amended PS1.

The address/Lot No./DP No. on the PS1 does not match that shown on the application/drawings. Please provide an amended PS1.

Self-explanatory.

Standard driveways

The site plan details a vehicle crossing design which does not comply with the dimensional requirements of Council’s standard drawing number T431. Provide an amended site plan detailing a vehicle crossing, which complies with the dimensional requirements of Council’s standard drawing T431. Alternatively provide an amended services connection application detailing the dimensions of the vehicle crossing for a non-complying vehicle crossing. 

Any driveways that are wider than the standard vehicle crossing may affect other parties and so an application must be made for council to assess the suitability of the proposed vehicle crossing.

Kerb connections SCA

Please submit a Service Connection Application (SCA) for the proposal of disposing of the lot’s stormwater by a kerb connection.

The road that the lot is proposed to discharge the water to may not be suitable for this as there may be flooding issues related to that street. An SCA helps our stormwater engineers assess the suitability of the proposed kerb connection.

SCA backflow protection – pools

Council requires that its potable water supply is provided with backflow protection on the property boundary side of the water meter. Application for service connection

Backflow protection on water meters helps stop pool-water tainting potable water supplies when there is low pressure in the network.

Backwash disposal

Council requires that backwash disposal for the pool is disposed into the nearest gulley trap.

There needs to be a disposal point for water that leaves the pool. It is not suitable to discharge to the stormwater network, as contaminants in pool water could compromise our stormwater system.

Close proximity rules

The foundations are close to a council service. Please demonstrate compliance with Council's close proximity rules and standard drawings T553/554/653/654.

Council needs the ability to access its infrastructure for maintenance/repair renewal purposes.

Ret walls on boundaries

Retaining walls are shown on boundaries. All construction must be in the lot or a party wall easement is required.

Works should not impact on neighbouring properties.

Walls on adjoining properties

The design will remove the ground supporting an existing retaining wall supporting neighbouring property. Please provide additional information as to how the existing structure will be protected with any contractor requirements shown on the drawing.

Works should not impact on neighbouring properties.

Walls surcharge etc.

Tauranga City Council requires retaining walls supporting neighbouring property to be designed for surcharge loads. Please provide specific design from a Chartered Professional Engineer for the proposed retaining walls.

Self-explanatory

Levels to MD

Levels on the drawings are not to Moturiki datum. Please amend the plans, elevations and sections to show existing and finished ground levels, finished floor levels and finished hardstanding levels; all to Moturiki datum.

Required where the property is subject to minimum floor level/building platform requirements or subject to flooding. Compliance with E1 needs to be demonstrated.

Fire fighting

The property is located more than 135m (or 90m in the case of commercial) away from the nearest fire hydrant. Please provide details of on-site firefighting provisions and demonstrate that tanks and connections for firefighting equipment meet the requirements of SNZPAS4509:2008.

Fire and Emergency has minimum requirements for firefighting in non- reticulated areas. Compliance with these requirements needs to be demonstrated. F&E may be contacted on 07 578 7099.

Easements

The certificate of title included in the building consent application refer to an Easement in favour of Council. Please show the location of the easement on the plans and confirm that no works are to encroach into the easement. For any works within the easement, please obtain the written approval of Council's utilities asset manager.

The survey plan records a right of way being located on the subject property and the easement boundaries have not been plotted on the site plan. It would appear that the proposed building is to be constructed over the existing right of way easement. Please obtain your neighbour's approval to building within the easement.

Council does not permit works within the easement unless unrestricted access is maintained to Council’s assets for the purposes of maintenance/repair/renewal.

Resource Consents

RCxxxx is applicable to the property. The building consent application does not comply with Conditionxxx of the conditions of consent. Please review.

Self-explanatory.

Building restriction line

The certificate of title included in the building consent application refers to a building restriction line. The survey plan provided does not detail the location of the building restriction line. Provide a copy of the survey plan detailing the location of the building restriction line and plot the location of the building restriction line on the site plan.

Self-explanatory.

Designated building platform

There is a designated building platform on the property. Please confirm that the building does not extend beyond the platform.

Self-explanatory.

Surface water

The soakage trenches are not in accordance with the engineer's specific design. Please review.

Soakholes are not in accordance with the requirements of the geotechnical completion/soakage report. Please review.

The soakage trenches/proprietary system are not in accordance with the engineer's specific design. Please review.

Council's stormwater connection is generally 100mm diameter. On-site drains of 150mm diameter are proposed. Downsizing increases the risk of blockage and is not recommended. Please review or submit a services connection application for an upgrade of the connection.

Please confirm that testing and design of on-site stormwater disposal has been carried out in accordance with Design Standard DS5 of Council’s Infrastructure Development Code.

Self-explanatory.

Top processing RFI’s

Retaining walls

Your retaining walls are located adjacent to an area where groups of people can gather or where individuals can approach the main access for the building. Please supply a safety barrier detail to prevent safety from falling.

Detail a suitable barrier complying with F4 where a fall of 1m or greater can occur.

Clarify the means of disposing the retaining wall drainage to a suitable outfall, if draining to the council storm water system this must discharge via a sump for silt removal.

The site plans detail the retaining wall on the boundary. Please demonstrate that all construction of the retaining wall including the excavation is within the boundary

Show cross section for site cut and retaining wall installation with location of boundary line to show all works contained in the site’s boundary including the cut.

Plans detail the drains running across the front of the retaining wall, the integrity of the retaining wall could be compromised.

Review the drainage plan. Does it need to run across the front of the retaining wall? Can the drainage be run a different way? If not, let the engineer know and the retaining wall design can take the location of the drains in to account.

Surface water

Please describe how other property will be protected from waterborne silt runoff or transfer of sediment from the site by vehicles. To demonstrate compliance with NZBC E1.2

Supply sediment control plan.

Please show overland flow direction to an approved outfall for the storm water surface water, to demonstrate compliance with NZBC E1.

Clearly detail overland flow paths.

Outdoor shower

The building consent application requires the inclusion of; Construction details with a cross section of the outdoor shower to confirm the shower will not let other surface water surrounding the catchment area enter the council sanitary sewer system.

Plans and specifications do not demonstrate compliance with performances of building code clause E2 - external moisture. Where E2/AS1 is being used.

E2 - MBIE guidance has useful guidance material on weathertightness. Wind zones and other environmental land features can be checked on the BRANZ MAP website.

Roof

Provide project-specific flashing detail for the gutter to wall junction detail.

Provide project-specific flashing detail for the Barge to wall junction detail.

Provide chimney cap flashing detail showing overlap/upstand dimensions to comply NZBC E2.

Provide product appraisal and manufacturer's specification for the proposed sky-light.

Clarify roof fixings required for the long run roof that exceeds 12m to comply with table 16 of E2/AS1.

Detail the roof cladding profile to confirm the profile is suitable for proposed roof pitch.

Detail the roof flashing overlaps required for the roof cladding type and wind zone to confirm compliance with NZBC E2/AS1 table 7.

Detail the location of the roof penetration on the roof plan to demonstrate compliance with NZBC E2. For catchment areas above the penetration.

Detail the required valley tray width for the wind zone specified.

See E2/AS1 or roofing code of practice for guidance.

Detail the spreader for the down pipe discharging to the lower roof to demonstrate compliance with NZBC E2/AS1 8.1.6.

Show the location of the spreader on the roof plan, see E2/AS1 8.1.6 k), l) and m).

Spreader discharging on to a lower roof, catchment area over 25m².

Clearly detail catchment area on roof plan for the area servicing the downpipe to spreader.

Provide adequate detailing and evidence to demonstrate that unorthodox details and junctions comply with E2.

Detail the project specific flashing with dimensions and building mythology/ layering of the flashings to demonstrate compliance with E2. 3 dimensional drawings help with this.

Risk Matrix

Cladding risk matrix over 20

If the E2 score exceeds 20 it will require:

1. a review of the design to reduce risk to a suitable number, or
2. a peer review from a qualified building surveyor to assess that risk and provide Council with the details that are covered for that risk,
3. verification for consideration of ULS (ultimate limit state),
4. wind zone,
5. testing of products under Façade AS/NZS4284, NZS 4211 performance of Windows,
6. VM engineered design frames,
7. materials used to construct the building Envelope B2,
8. establishing risk, definitions of risk, the risk score as acceptable solution or alternative solution.

Confirm why the building requires a re-clad. Is there any evidence of moisture ingress? 

Supply photos of existing build of areas being re-clad and building report.

Various cladding systems have been specified that are outside scope and limitation of respective appraisals. Verify/confirm from product manufactures they have reviewed all relevant architectural details and confirm application.

Provide deck to wall cladding/joinery clearance detail.

The proposed garage opening is 5m wide and the steel lintel specified to support brick cladding is outside scope of table 18E, E2/AS1. Provide specific engineered design (or) redesign.

No flashing detail supplied for apron flashing for wall to roof junction with an apron kick out flashing.

Supply project-specific details appropriate to cladding type.

Clarify insulation support preventing protrusion into drainage cavity.

See E2/AS1 for means of compliance.

Provide weatherproofing details for penetrations through cladding e.g. meter box etc. that show compliance with E2/AS1.

Detail the horizontal inter-storey cladding junction to demonstrate compliance with E2.

Detail the soffit to cladding junction for the soffit greater than 90° to demonstrate compliance with NZBC E2.

See E2/AS1 for means of compliance.

For windows and doors that are oversized:

Supply the engineered window design for the large sliding door detailed as 2.2m high by 8.6m wide as this is outside the scope or E2/AS1 9.1.10.1 and requires specific engineers design.

This will need to cover the engineer’s calculations structural fixings required and drainage and flow paths for the unit to demonstrate compliance with the performance criteria of E2, B1 and B2

Tanking

Detail means of sealing the control joint in the masonry retaining wall.

Supply tanking membrane appraisal and testing to confirm suitability for substrate and ground conditions.

Detail the location of the subsoil drain discharge point to approved outlet.

Detail the means of protecting the tanking membrane from the back fill to the wall.

Detail the tanking membrane to footing DPC junction.

Detail the tanking to finished ground level junction.

Asbestos: building built pre 2000

Please supply the asbestos management plan to comply with the Asbestos Regulations 2017

If asbestos is noted, or expected, to be present as a part of the building work. An investigation and/or a procedure plan has to be submitted showing provisions for how the asbestos will be managed as a part of the construction process.

Helpful links:
WorkSafe Approved Code of Practice Guidance
Asbestos guidance
Notification of Licensed Asbestos Removal
Guide to removal
Working with asbestos
Asbestos Aware
Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016
Building Act 2004
Code Clause F1
Code Clause F2

Balustrade glazing type not specified for type of glass balustrade to be installed

Glass balustrades have glazing specified that is compliant with the provisions of NZS 4223.3 and F4.3.4(c) and (d).

Supply manufacturer’s information.

Fall protection

Supporting documentation is not provided to explain where barriers to upper floors or balconies require specific engineering design (SED).

Where the barrier design is SED, provide full project specific construction details along with a supporting producer statement for design (PS1).

Your retaining walls are located adjacent to an area where groups of people can gather or where individuals can approach the main access for the building.  Please supply a safety barrier detail to prevent safety from falling 1m or greater.

Glass balustrade insufficient information supplied

supply the glass balustrade information and engineers PS1 and supporting calculations to demonstrate that the glass balustrade will comply with NZBC F4.3.4 Barriers shall be: (a) continuous and extend for the full extent of the hazard, (b) of appropriate height, (c) constructed with adequate rigidity, (d) of adequate strength to withstand the foreseeable impact of people and, where appropriate, the static pressure of people pressing against them, (e) be constructed to prevent people from falling through them.

Specify the sanitary drainage system the design has been designed to.

Sanitary plumbing and drainage design cannot combine principles from G13/AS1 & G13/AS2 with principles from AS/NZ3500.2 in the same system. Clarify which design principles you are using.

Clarify means of accessing the sanitary drainage for inspection and maintenance.

Detail clearly on the site drainage plan access points.

Clarify the ventilation to the sanitary plumbing/drainage system to demonstrate compliance with specified system.

Take into account locations of braces and vent pipe sizes to wall framing size. Detail clearly on the plans.

Supply the specific design for the effluent disposal by an approved OSET designer, as per the requirements of the Bay of Plenty Regional council. Including the Schedule 5 form.

Regarding the gully traps specified for overflow relief, verify that there is adequate height difference to the lowest sanitary fixture.

Detailed means of access to the sanitary drain where it exits from under the foundation slab to demonstrate compliance with AS3500.

See AS3500 for means of compliance.

Smoke alarms

Detail the locations of the required smoke alarms to the residential dwelling to demonstrate compliance with NZBC F7.

Ensure Domestic alarms are detailed.
Alarms should be located on each level of the household unit, within 3m of each sleeping space; and be audible to sleeping occupants.
- section 3.0 F7/AS1
Smoke alarms detailed within 3m of the bedrooms and at the change of level in the building, as per the requirement of NZBC F7.