What is a Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF)?


The Building Act 2004 – which covers the safety and integrity of buildings – states that building owners with buildings that contain “specified systems” related to health and safety, then those buildings must maintain a Compliance Schedule and they must produce Building Warrant of Fitness documents annually. These documents verify that those specified systems have been adequately maintained and looked after.
The Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) documents that the systems specified in the Compliance Schedule have all been properly inspected maintained, and reported on during the past 12 months. The BWoF and any supporting documents are supplied to the local council annually, and a copy of them should be displayed within the building itself where everyone can see it.
The Building Warrant of Fitness should be renewed each year before it expires. Failing to have the documents renewed is considered a breach of the Building Act 2004 and you will face consequences. This renewal process involves hiring Independent Qualified Persons (IQPs) who will inspect and maintain specified systems as outlined in the Compliance Schedule.

What are Specified Systems?

The “specified systems” are the parts of a building infrastructure that are fundamental in ensuring the health and safety of the occupants of said building. These specified systems require, by their very nature, constant maintenance. It is important that they remain fully operational and running at peak performance levels.
Here are some examples of specified systems;
  • SS1 Automatic systems for fire suppression
  • SS2 Automatic or manual emergency warning systems for fire or other dangers
  • SS3 Electromagnetic or automatic doors or windows
  • SS4 Emergency lighting systems
  • SS5 Escape route pressurisation systems
  • SS6 Riser mains for use by fire services
A full list of specified systems can be found in the Compliance Schedule Handbook.

What is a Compliance Schedule?

The Compliance Schedule is issued by the local council. The schedule contains a record of the specified systems of a building, including the inspection, testing, and maintenance they require. It also covers who should carry out the work and when it should be conducted. They have been amended to include information about the building, the owner, and the purpose of the building in recent years.
The information on the schedule is collected when applying for building consent. You will have to supply the specific location and proposed maintenance and testing procedures for the building. Upon confirmation, the Compliance Schedule is issued alongside the Code of Compliance Certificate.
The Compliance Schedule Statement is to be displayed publicly in a building for the 12 months before an official Building WOF is issued, at which point the WOF is displayed instead.

What is an IQP?

Given the complex mechanical nature of these specified systems, they should be inspected and maintained by qualified professional specialists. An IQP is a person or entity that has no financial interested in the building who has been approved by the local council to conduct the work as necessary.
The requirements for the BWoF state that you need to obtain a 12A certificate from the IQP. This 12A form certifies that the inspection, maintenance, and reporting requirements for the Compliance Schedule have been met for the past 12 month period for the specified systems in a building.
You can find an IQP register at your local council. They keep a list of all the approved people and companies that you can use as an IQP for your specified systems.
Did you know that you are legally required to keep records of all maintenance, inspections and repairs for a minimum of two years? If you need any help managing building compliance requirements, meeting your legal obligations, and notifying the local council about the maintenance of your specified systems, then don’t hesitate to get in touch today.

Article from https://buildingcompliance.blogspot.com/2019/12/what-is-building-warrant-of-fitness-bwof.html

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

All About Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers

Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers are the most common fire extinguishers in New Zealand. Often referred to as Dry Powder, Dry Chemical or ABE Fire Extinguishers, they contain a dry chemical powder as the extinguishing agent. How to Identify A Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers are a red cylinder with a white band running all around the top. Older, outdated models were an entire white cylinder. You can often see the words Dry Chemical printed on the front. Where To Use A Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher Due to their versatility, dry chemical fire extinguishers can be used in many different settings. They are suited for around the home, in the office, large factories and many other types of businesses. There are two kinds of dry chemical fire extinguishers on the market. ABE Fire Extinguishers As the name suggests, ABE fire extinguishers can be used to fight fires of class A, B, and E. This covers a wide range of hazards, including...
Read more

What Are The Different Classes Of Fire?

Image
Classes Of Fire The fuel burning dictates the type of extinguisher you use to fight the fire. To help you understand this concept you need to know how fires are classified and which fire extinguishers are suitable for each class. Class A Fires Class A fires start when materials such as paper, rubbish, wood, or other carbon-based materials ignite. Dry powder, foam and water extinguishers are suitable for this class of fire. Your best plan of attack would is to locate the nearest fire hose. This will give you a constant stream of water. The temperature at the base of the fire will cool to a point below that needed for combustion to take place. Class B Fires Class B fires involve flammable liquids such as paints, oil, and petrol. With these materials, its the vapours of fumes that burn rather than the liquid. Because the vapours a lighter than air, they can drift away from the seat of the fire, and then ignite, causing what’s called a flash-off. This class of fire...
Read more

NZ Fire Extinguisher Types And Fire Class

Image
Fire is a constant danger when you're using flammable materials in any workshop. Your safety depends on whether you can Identify the cause of the fire. Identify the correct extinguisher to use on different fires. Correctly operate the fire extinguisher. Elements of fire Fuel, heat and oxygen must be present before there can be a fire: Fuel is anything combustible: any solid, liquid or gas that can burn, for example, wood, paper, oil, solvents and so on. Heat can come from flames, sparks, friction, electrical sources, hot pipes and equipment. Oxygen comes mainly from the air but also from some chemicals. To put out a fire, remove one of the three elements by: Removing fuel to starve the fire. Removing oxygen to smother the fire. Cooling the heat by using water. Types of fire The fuel that is burning dictates the kind of extinguisher you use to fight the fire. To help you understand this concept, you need to know how fires are classified and which fire ...
Read more