Executive summary
Executive summary for the Building Code fire safety review 2024 discussion document.
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Purpose of the discussion document
The discussion document provides background material on the fire safety issues in the Building Code regulations. Its purpose is to give information on the issues which you can provide feedback on.
The document seeks to build a shared understanding within New Zealand of issues as a basis for considering future change. The issues identified in this document draw on industry feedback, lessons learned from fire events in New Zealand and overseas, and how other countries are regulating for fire safety.
It contains findings from phase one of MBIE’s review into fire safety issues in the Building Code. The review was started in the wake of several emerging fire safety concerns in New Zealand including the Loafers Lodge fire which happened in Wellington on 16 May 2023, and in which 5 people lost their lives.
With its phase one review, MBIE’s wants to:
- identify issues relating to fire safety in the Building Code
- understand the challenges facing the owners of modern buildings in relation to fire safety provisions.
As part of the review MBIE looked at:
- discussion and feedback from over a hundred industry bodies and organisations from April to July 2024
- lessons learned from historical fire events in New Zealand and overseas
- 30 different reports on the New Zealand Building Code and the fire safety provisions prepared over the last 3 decades
- comparisons to other international building codes with similar frameworks and buildings as New Zealand.
There is a separate background paper that contains supporting technical information with additional evidence on the issues described in the discussion document.
Issues MBIE identified in its phase one review
MBIE’s phase 1 fire regulatory review identified several key issues in the Building Code, including the:
- effectiveness of fire safety measures
- need to keep up with new technologies and new fire challenges such as mass timber buildings and greater housing density
- lack of certainty, clarity, and consistency.
These issues are summarised in the discussion document. For further information on the areas of concern MBIE identified read the background document.
Background paper for the Building Code fire safety review 2024 [PDF, 3.5 MB]
The issues impact people using buildings and the building regulatory system and may mean:
- failing to protect those who are most at risk in our country from the effects of fire
- leaving people and buildings in New Zealand at greater risk to a wide variety of fire hazards
- exposing firefighters and emergency responders to potentially avoidable risks
- making it harder for people to build in New Zealand and introduce unnecessary delays and costs in designing, consenting, and constructing buildings
- creating barriers to using products from overseas or using new technologies as part of a design
- causing frustrations for designers, engineers, and building consent officers who each are left to work out requirements which can lead to inconsistent decision making on what is required to comply with the Building Code
- creating inconsistencies with other relevant legislation and regulations, which can create challenges when trying to comply with multiple requirements at once.
Now is the time to provide feedback on these issues
To support this ongoing fire safety review, MBIE is keen to hear your feedback on the issues identified so far. Also let them know if you think they have missed any.
There are questions in the submission form on the fire safety review and the issues identified.
Your feedback will be used to develop further options for change and any further fire safety consultations.
Please take the time to let MBIE know your thoughts. They will carefully consider and weigh all submissions. Instructions on providing your feedback are on MBIE’s website: