Acceptable solution - a prescriptive design solution comprising step-by-step instructions which, if followed, is deemed to comply with the Building Code. Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods are contained in the Department of Building and Housing's Compliance Documents, and often quote other documents such as New Zealand Standards. Designers and builders are not obliged to use Acceptable Solutions, and may put forward their own alternative solution proposal.

Access for people with disabilities - the Building Act 2004 (section 118) requires access and facilities to be made available for people with disabilities in new buildings or buildings that are to be altered, to which the public are to be admitted. Schedule 2 of the Act lists 26 types of building that must meet these provisions. Generally these are public buildings. The Building Code clause relating to access is D1 Access.

Alteration - the rebuilding, re-erecting, repairing, enlarging and extending of a building.

Alternative solution -a design solution that differs totally or partially from Acceptable Solutions or Verification Methods in the Compliance Documents, yet complies with the performance requirements of the Building Code. These are ‘standalone’ solutions put forward and substantiated by the building consent applicant and considered and approved on their individual merits by a building consent authority.

Amendment - changes to the plans and/or specifications on which the building consent was granted require an amendment to the original consent. Certain requirements must be met before amended plan applications can be lodged.

Apartment -a self-contained housing unit that occupies part of a multi-unit dwelling, which may be known as an apartment building, block of flats or tenement. It may also be a self-contained housing unit in a building with other occupancies. Apartments may be owned (by an owner-occupier) or rented (by tenants).

Appraisal - an independent assessment of building products, materials, systems or methods of design or construction for Building Code compliance.
Architect -a person qualified and trained to design, document, coordinate and administer aspects of building design and construction, and who is registered under the Registered Architects Act 2005.

Balcony - an outside platform projecting from, or recessed into, the wall of a floor of a building, surrounded by a balustrade, railing or parapet, and accessed by an entrance from the building interior. May also be known as a deck.
Bans - prohibition of the use of building methods or products. The Department of Building and Housing can issue warnings about, or ban the use of, building methods or products under section 26 of the Building Act 2004 where the use of a building method or product has resulted in, or is likely to result in a failure to comply with the Building Code

Bathrooms - a bathroom may contain a washbasin, shower, bath and toilet. Bathrooms are covered by Building Code clauses such as E3 Internal Moisture and G5 Interior Environment.

BRANZ Ltd - an organisation providing independent services to the building and construction industry in New Zealand, Australia and Asia. BRANZ opinions or advice have no status in law but are generally held in high regard by the industry. Services include testing and research, education, product appraisal, and technical advice.
Builder -a person who constructs or renovates houses or buildings.

Building - any temporary or permanent, movable or immovable structure including a structure intended for occupation by people, animals, machinery or chattels. For a fuller description of ‘building’, as well as what a building does and does not include, see sections 8 and 9 of the Building Act 2004.

Building Act 2004 - an Act providing for the regulation of building work, the establishment of a licensing regime for building practitioners, and the setting of performance standards for buildings, to ensure that:

• people who use buildings can do so safely and without endangering their health; and,
• buildings have attributes that contribute appropriately to the health, physical independence, and well-being of the people who use them; and
• people who use a building can escape from the building if it is on fire; and,
• buildings are designed, constructed, and able to be used in ways that promote sustainable development.

Building Code - the First Schedule to the Building Regulations 1992 that sets national, mandatory standards for building work. All building work in New Zealand must comply with the Building Code. The Code is performance-based and specifies how a building and its components must perform, as opposed to how the building must be designed and constructed. Details on design and construction are found in the non-mandatory Compliance Documents that the Department of Building and Housing produces to help people by describing one way of meeting the requirements of the Building Code. You can also comply with the Code using alternative solutions.

Building consent - consent issued by a building consent authority for building work to begin in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.

Building consent authority (BCA) - building consent authorities issue building consents, undertake inspections during construction and issue code compliance certificates, notices to fix and compliance schedules. A BCA is a territorial authority, regional authority or private body that has been registered by the Department of Building and Housing after having been assessed and accredited by the Building Consent Accreditation Body. The BCA must have demonstrated that the necessary processes and systems are in place to meet the accreditation regulations/standards.

Building controls - regulation of the construction and use of buildings with the primary objective of safeguarding the health and safety of occupants. In New Zealand, these controls are largely set out in a two-part framework: the Building Act 2004 setting out the law on the construction, alteration, demolition and maintenance of buildings, and the Building Regulations containing the New Zealand Building Code and the rules about building consents and building inspections.

Building controls process - the system of consents, inspection and certification of building work aimed at safeguarding the health and safety of people using any building.

Building costs - the Department of Building and Housing publishes estimated building costs for various building types and regions in New Zealand. The figures are intended to assist territorial authorities arrive at realistic estimated values when questioning the job value provided with a building consent application. View the latest figures on the Department of Housing and Building website.

Building envelope - the entire exterior surface of a building, including foundations, walls, doors and windows that encloses or envelops the space within. Building Code clauses relevant to the building envelope include E2 External Moisture.

Building official - an official employed by a building consent authority who is responsible for enforcement and interpretation of the Building Code.

Building Regulations - regulations that have been made under the Building Act 2004, as well as the Building Regulations 1992 which contain the Building Code. The various Building Regulations and the Building Code are available online on the Department of Housing and Building website.

Building Research Association - an independent association owned and directed by the building and construction industry in New Zealand. It collects the Building Research Levy and uses it to fund high-level scientific research and disseminate knowledge to the building industry.

Building warrant of fitness -a statement signed by the building owner (or manager) stating that the requirements of the building’s compliance schedule have been fully met in the previous 12 months. The compliance schedule lists the specified systems operating in a particular building, and the building warrant of fitness is an assurance that the specified systems have been inspected and maintained, and are continuing to operate effectively.

Building work - the construction, alteration, demolition or removal of a building. Building work also includes work on an allotment that is likely to affect the extent to which an existing building on the land complies with the Building Code, and includes sitework and some design work. It is a requirement of section 40 of the Building Act 2004 that a person must not carry out any building work except in accordance with a building consent. There are limited circumstances where some building work does not need to obtain consent - see exempt building work.