Are you Searching for a Building warrant of fitness? Are you a building owner or
a manager Getting lost by words like Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF), IQP, Form 12 and Form 12A? Don’t worry we have got you covered, we from BWoF Ltd have been New Zealand’s most well-known Building Warrant of Fitness / Building Compliance inspection service provider throughout Canterbury for the past ten years. Maintaining a Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) is a highly complex affair that often becomes challenging for many building owners and managers. Luckily, we are here to take on all these stressful responsibilities for you so that you can spend your precious time somewhere more important to you. But first, let’s check out the basics so you can get a clear idea about Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF).
What is a Building Warrant of Fitness (aka BWoF or Building WoF)?
A Building Warrant of fitness (BWoF) is an annual statement from the building owner stating the systems in the compliance schedule have been checked and maintained. It is a certificate that provides proof that the specified systems in the building are in working condition and up to date, which is why a copy of the Building Warrant of fitness (BWoF) should be displayed somewhere in the building where everyone can see it. Now, to acquire a Building Warrant of fitness (BWoF) certificate, building owners need to appoint an IQP (independent Qualified person) whose job is to complete maintenance and inspect all the specified systems like Fire Sprinkler / Hydrant, Fire Alarm, Emergency Lighting, Air con, Signage, etc in compliance under the Building Act 2004, Section 108, Building Warrant of Fitness, also known as Form 12.
What is a compliance schedule? And how to get one?
A compliance schedule helps to ensure the building is safe and healthy for People to enter, occupy or work in by listing the specified systems and procedures required to keep them in good working order. A compliance schedule is required when:
- The building is not a single-household unit and contains more than one specified system.
- The building is a single household unit and has a cable car attached to it.
If you don’t have a compliance schedule yet, don’t be afraid or worried because obtaining a compliance schedule is simple. An application accompanying the building consent application should be made for new buildings where specified systems will be included. The building consent authority will issue the compliance schedule to the building owner along with the code compliance certificate. For existing buildings that have specified systems but don’t already have a compliance schedule, the owner must apply to the appropriate territorial authority for the issue of a compliance schedule
A simple email to the council should solve the issue.
buildingwof@ccc.govt.nz (Christchurch)
bwof@selwyn.govt.nz (Selwyn)
building@hurnui.govt.nz (Hurunui)
or simply request through any council’s generic e-mail and they will reply to you with a pdf copy of the compliance schedule. Typically, the compliance schedule comes with:
- A detailed description of all the specified systems installed in your building. Number of systems and possibly indicating their location (some councils do a great job keeping necessary information in the document)
- The maintenance procedures and performing standards to follow during routine maintenance and inspection to keep your specified system in good working condition.
So basically, a compliance schedule is a list containing all the specified systems in your building and the necessary inspection and maintenance needed for a Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF).
What is an IQP (independent Qualified person)?
IQPs are authorized by the local councils to carry out inspections, maintenance and reporting on a building’s specified systems. An IQP can inspect, maintain and provide technical services for specified systems if they are registered with the local Council. You may need to engage/contract multiple IQPs to get your system maintained and inspected since an IQP can have one or two specified system registration but usually no more than that. At BWoF Ltd, we can look after the entire building warrant of fitness process for you because we hold registration for all the specified systems. Hiring us to do the job for you will relieve you of the stress of interacting with multiple IQPs. Furthermore, we are also happy to work with your current IQP provider to provide additional technical services. So, it is safe to say IQPs are an integral piece for obtaining a Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF).
Legal responsibility regarding Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF).
So Who is responsible for the Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF), the property owner or the tenant?
Under Section 108 Sub-section 1 of the Building Act 2004, it is the property owner’s job to organize the BWoF certifications and all necessary paperwork in accordance with Sub-section 3. certainly, you are welcome to delegate the task to the occupant/tenant of your building, but if they fail to fulfil the task, it falls back on the property owner because, at the end of the day, by law, the councils interact with the building owner or their authorized agent to ask for more information if needed. Under this Act, a building owner is obligated to:
- Send the copy of BWoF form 12 and form 12A certificates to the local council and pay their BWoF admin.
- Display a copy of BWoF certificates (Form 12) in a visible location on the property.
What is Form 12A?
We know that Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) is also known as Form 12, but what is Form 12A? And how is it related to IQPs? Well, each specified system in the building that was inspected, tested, and maintained by the IQPs needed to be signed off on the paper that is known as Form 12A. The record for what was being maintained/inspected is in the 12A. Before issuing any Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) certificates, all these documents need to be collected.
The IQP can give recommendations to amend a compliance schedule, for example, a bathroom fan in the current schedule needs monthly inspection but after careful inspection and observation, IQP can recommend 3 monthly/yearly inspections which eventually saves the building owner’s cost.
The Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) and Form 12A will be assessed by the local council. Everything is up to standard with the Building Act and all of its regulations. The compliance schedule may be amended by the local council. The Council will keep Form 12A and Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF)s for the rest of their lives.
Now, what should you do about Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF)?
Ultimately the building owner must work with an IQP to manage all the processes that take to maintain a Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) certificate. But managing a BWoF can be quite a daunting task for an inexperienced building owner. It requires the building owner to do a lot of coordination, time & Homework by himself and most importantly you still have to bring in IQPs to complete the inspection and maintenance of the building since they are responsible for signing Form 12A.
A BWoF can be a complex procedure. If you have someone on your side who is well-experienced in this field, can review your building compliance issues, and handle a BWoF or audit from the council on your behalf, it will certainly take out a massive burden off your shoulders. Luckily for you, we are the experts in this field. if you need building compliance support or expert advice on an amendment to an existing compliance schedule, you should consult with us at BWoF Ltd right away.
We strive at pinpointing what an upcoming compliance schedule will need in order for your building to be successful on the first attempt. Leave all the complications of a BWoF to us, our experts will deal with all your problems with BWoF with relative ease. Be reassured that your Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) process is being handled correctly and sensibly with BWoF Ltd, with us your safety and security are guaranteed. For Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) and any IQP Inspection-related queries in Christchurch and throughout New Zealand, call us at 0204 296 369 or email us at: info@bwof.nz
