Independent qualified persons (IQPs) – a person (or firm) approved by a territorial authority as qualified to inspect, maintain and report on certain specified systems. ‘Independent’ means that the person has no financial interest in the building.
Insanitary buildings - in terms of the Building Act 2004 (section 123), a building is insanitary if it is offensive or likely to be injurious to health because of its situation, construction, state of disrepair (including dampness), or lack of drinkable water or sanitary facilities.
Inspection
1. Section 90 of the Building Act 2004 provides for inspections of building work by an authorised agent of a building consent authority (BCA) to ensure the work complies with the building consent. A code compliance certificate (CCC) is issued after the final inspection of the finished building project confirming that the BCA is satisfied the completed project has been carried out in accordance with the building consent.
2. Section 222 of the Building Act 2004 provides for inspections of land, buildings and building work by an authorised officer of a territorial authority. These inspections could be carried out to determine whether building work is being carried out without, or in accordance with, a building consent, whether a notice to fix has been complied with, and to ensure the inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures stated in a building compliance schedule are being complied with.
Insulation – a material that resists the transfer of heat, rated in terms of resistance to heat flow called R-value. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness.
Land information memorandum (LIM) - a report issued by a territorial authority, usually to a potential purchaser. It lists information the authority has about the property, including what building consents and code compliance certificates have been issued.
Leaky buildings - housing or other buildings that are leaking and causing decay to the cladding, structure and interior.
Legionella/legionellosis - legionella is a genus of bacteria, some species of which may cause two diseases, legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever. Legionellosis is the infection caused by inhalation of the Legionella bacteria. Legionella has the ability to colonise in all types of water supplies, including cooling towers, and can also be found in moist soil and air. To prevent the growth of the organism, cooling towers must be treated and tested regularly.
Legislation - laws enacted by Parliament. In New Zealand, the laws relating to building include the Building Act 2004 and associated amendments, and the Building Regulations which include the Building Code. Other legislation may also apply to building proposals and the ongoing use of a building.
Levy - an amount of money paid by applicants applying for building consent to a national or provincial organisation to support their operations and research.
Licensing – a licensing system for the building industry was introduced by the Building Act 2004 to improve control of and encourage better practices in building design and construction. Also, from 30 November 2009 some work currently undertaken by DIY home renovators will need to be carried out or supervised by a licensed building practitioner.
LIM - see land information memorandum
Lodge - refers to lodging a building consent application. The processing clock (counting towards the 20 working day statutory timeframe) is started the day after the building consent application is lodged (accepted for processing).
LOSP (light organic solvent preservatives) – a white spirits-based wood preservative involving the impregnation of preservative into wood using controlled vacuum processes.
Manager (building) – a person who manages buildings to comply with the Building Act 2004, on behalf of the owner(s). Duties include ensuring that inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures are carried out where required by any compliance schedule, and maintaining the building in a safe and sanitary condition.
Matrix - see risk matrix
Medium/high density housing - the concentration of housing units in a specific area or on a specific property. See apartment.
Moderate earthquake - an earthquake of the same duration but only one-third as strong as an earthquake that must be provided for in the design of a new building (clause 7 of the Building (Specified Systems, Change the Use, and Earthquake-prone Buildings) Regulations 2005). Earthquake shaking is determined by normal measures of acceleration, velocity and displacement.
Moisture - water in the liquid or vapour phase. Controlling the amount of moisture entering or circulating in buildings is an issue for the weathertightness of buildings, and health and safety of occupants.
Monolithic cladding – a cladding of sheet material forming a continuous mass, with an applied coating to give the appearance of a seamless cladding.
Moulds and fungi - moulds are fungi. Fungi are simple, microscopic organisms that grow in damp conditions, and reproduce and release countless tiny, lightweight spores, which travel through the air and can be inhaled and cause health problems for some people. Excessive internal moisture due to lack of ventilation or leaking of the building can create the right environment for moulds and fungi to grow.
Moving a house - transportation of a house or building from one site to another. There are a number of matters to consider including choosing a suitable site, obtaining building consents, having the building transported and placed on new foundations, and carrying out any renovations.
New Zealand Building Code - see Building Code.
New Zealand Standard - see Standards New Zealand.
Notice to fix – a notice issued under section 164 of the Building Act 2004 by a building consent authority, a territorial authority, or regional authority to remedy breaches of the Building Act or Building Regulations (for example, where building work does not comply with the Building Code; to correct the building warrant of fitness; or properly comply with the inspection maintenance; or reporting procedures in the compliance schedule.) It specifies what remedial work must be done, and by when. It is an offence to fail to comply with a notice to fix.
NZS 3602 - New Zealand Standard NZS 3602: 2003 Timber and Wood-based Products for Use in Building. This is a key New Zealand Standard used by the building industry. It gives the requirements for timber and wood-based products for particular uses in building to give acceptable performance during the life of the building. NZS 3602 covers the materials, and aspects of design and construction.
NZS 3604 - New Zealand Standard NZS 3604: 1999 Timber Framed Buildings is a key New Zealand Standard used by the building industry. It provides suitable methods and details for the design and construction of timber-framed buildings up to three storeys high. It applies to domestic dwellings, most residential and some commercial and other buildings.