Compliance Schedules and Building Warrant of Fitness

Compliance Schedule

A compliance schedule is a document issued by the Council for buildings that contain specified systems.

Compliance Schedule Specified Systems Information - (PDF, 196 KB)

Specified systems include:

  • Automatic systems for fire suppression
  • Automatic or manual emergency warning systems for fire or other dangers
  • Electromagnetic or automatic doors
  • Emergency lighting systems
  • Escape route pressurisation systems
  • Riser mains for use by fire services
  • Automatic back-flow preventors connected to a potable water supply
  • Lifts, escalators, travelators or other systems for moving people or goods within buildings
  • Mechanical ventilation or air conditioning systems
  • Building maintenance units providing access to exterior and interior walls of buildings
  • Laboratory fume cupboards
  • Audio loops or other assistive listening systems
  • Smoke control systems
  • Emergency power systems for, or signs relating to, a system or feature specified for any of the above
  • Cable cars

A compliance schedule lists the systems and features, including the inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures needed to keep them in good working order. A compliance schedule must be kept on-site and made available to building officers, Independent Qualified Persons (IQP)*, Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) and authorised agents.

* An IQP is a person who has no financial interest in a given building and is accepted by the Council as being ‘appropriately qualified’ to inspect and maintain a given specified system. All IQPs are required to be registered with the Council.

Compliance Schedule Statement

A compliance schedule statement is issued by the Council and serves as temporary notification of compliance schedule requirements. It lists the inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures needed to keep the specified systems in good working order. It is issued at the same time as the Code Compliance Certificate (CCC). It must be replaced 12 months after issue with a Building Warrant of Fitness, which is issued by the building owner.

How to obtain a Compliance Schedule

When applying for a building consent, the building owner must identify the specified systems required as a result of the proposed work. The Compliance Schedule will be issued in tandem with the CCC when the project is finished, along with a Compliance Schedule Statement. A Compliance Schedule Statement is valid for the first 12 months in lieu of a Building Warrant of Fitness.

Information needed for the application

The owner must provide information relating to the performance standards for each specified system within the building. These performance standards will identify the inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures needed for each system.


Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF)

A Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF) (Form 05.03 WOF) is a statement issued by the building owner to the Council stating that the requirements of the compliance schedule have been fully met.

The BWOF must have attached to it all certificates of compliance issued by the IQP or LBP. These documents must be issued in the prescribed form (Form 05.03 WOF) and certify that the inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures stated in the compliance schedule, have been fully complied with during the previous 12 months.

The BWOF must be re-issued to the Council on the anniversary of the issue of the compliance schedule (every 12 months) for the life of the building.

Documents to keep regarding the BWOF

You are legally required to obtain written reports relating to the inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures of the compliance schedule. These must be signed by the IQP or LBP who has carried out any of the listed procedures (inspection, maintenance or reporting).

You need to keep all reports for two years. The compliance schedule must be kept for the life of the building.

If you have any compliance schedule or BWOF questions, please email bwof@whakatane.govt.nz or call 07 306 0500.


Owners checks

Some specified systems require 'owners checks'. These can be undertaken by the owner or someone appointed by the owner, like an employee or tenant.

If this is new to you and you need help implementing the process, get in touch, we're happy to provide guidance and can arrange to meet on site if you need.

The most important thing to remember is to develop a process, ensure those responsible for undertaking the inspections know and understand what they need to do, and that you keep adequate records including any reason why a check is missed, e.g. Jane was away sick today so was unable to complete checks.

See our template below as an example starting point for your daily checks process:

Specified Systems Daily Checks Template - (PDF, 130 KB)


There can be fines and penalties for not obtaining a Compliance Schedule or if your Building Warrant of Fitness has expired. Depending on the alleged offence, the fine ranges from $20,000 to a maximum of $200,000.

Sub-pages

A recent review of our older Compliance Schedules, those issued before 2013, has revealed that some of the changes required under the Building Amendment Act 2012 weren't made as well as they should have.