Provides early warning systems to alert people to an emergency.
This clause ensures buildings are provided with appropriate means of warning people to escape to a safe place in an emergency.
It requires warning systems that provide adequate time for people to reach a safe place; for fire detection in all household units; and other appropriate warning for fire and other emergencies.
Record of amendments is a record of changes to the acceptable solutions, verification methods and handbooks.
The Building Code is published in Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations 1992.
The Building Code clauses include objectives, functional requirements and performance criteria. These are mandatory provisions that all new building work must comply with.
The acceptable solutions and verification methods provided on this page are deemed to comply with Building Code clause F7.
MBIE has historical versions of the code clause documents which can be located under 'Previous Versions' and 'Version History'. Alternatively if you cannot find the document you are looking for, you can send an email with the year and code clause you are after to info@building.govt.nz.
Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods (AS and VMs) were called compliance documents. Some still have the “compliance document” title but the AS or VMs they contain are valid and unaffected by the name change.
Standards are frequently referred to in Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods. They provide practical information and guidelines for building solutions.
Over 120 building standards used for Building Code compliance are now available for free download.
See the free standards relating to Code Clause F7.
All standards, including the funded ones, can be accessed through the Standards New Zealand website.
This Standard provides important information about the placement and audibility of smoke alarms. When read in conjunction with Acceptable Solution F7/AS1 it provides a way of complying with the New Zealand Building Code requirements for warning systems in household units.
Determinations are made by MBIE on matters of doubt or dispute to do with building work. Rulings are legally binding in relation to each case. Circumstances in one case may differ to others.
All building products and building methods that have current CodeMark certification will be listed with their most up to date certificate in the Product Certificate Register on Te Pae.
This information is published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Chief Executive. It is a general guide only and, if used, does not relieve any person of the obligation to consider any matter to which the information relates according to the circumstances of the particular case. Expert advice may be required in specific circumstances. Where this information relates to assisting people:
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