Guide: MultiProof approval in the building consent process

MultiProof – or national multiple-use approval under the Building Act – is a statement by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) that a set of plans and specifications for a building complies with the New Zealand Building Code.

A MultiProof is not, and does not replace, a building consent. The holder of a MultiProof must obtain a building consent each time they wish to build the approved design. Building consent authorities must process a consent with a MultiProof approval in 10 working days – this is different from the usual statutory timeframe of 20 working days.

This step-by-step guide shows how using a MultiProof approval works within the building consent process.

Applying for a building consent

Step 1. A MultiProof approval is included in a building consent application. The building consent applicant who chooses to use a MultiProof approval also includes the plans and specifications for the project, as well as a signed statement that confirms: 

• the design complies with the MultiProof number issued by MBIE 
• no changes have been made outside those permitted in approved design 
• the consent application meets all the conditions of the MultiProof for the proposed site.

Step 2. The building consent application and design is submitted to the building consent authority with the MultiProof approval as supporting information.

The building consent applicant will also need to provide:

• plans and specifications for any site-specific building work (for example, foundations and site services) not covered by the MultiProof
• certificates of design work from any design LBPs involved in the design of any site specific restricted building work (such as for the foundations) and for any parameter based variations.

Step 3. The building consent applicant does not need to provide:

• structural calculations
• bracing schedules
• CodeMark certificates
• BRANZ appraisals
• certificates of work.

This is assessed and approved by MBIE before a MultiProof approval is issued.

Processing the building consent

Step 4. The building consent authority checks to see if the MultiProof approval is uploaded to MBIE’s MultiProof register.

Step 5. The building consent authority logs onto MBIE's MultiProof Shared Workspace to view whether the plans and specifications provided in the building consent application matches the MBIE-approved plans and specifications.

Step 6. The building consent authority must accept a MultiProof approval as evidence of compliance with the Building Code, provided the approval is current and valid, as well as matches the approved plans and specifications in MBIE’s MultiProof shared workspace.

Step 7. The building consent authority does not need to sight or assess any of the approval’s supporting evidence, such as certificates of work, calculations and assessments, and must rely on the information in MBIE’s MultiProof Shared Workspace as proof of compliance with the Building Code.

Step 8. If the MultiProof approval is using plans and specifications not assessed or approved by MBIE, the building consent authority is unable to rely solely on the MultiProof approval as it is not a deemed to comply pathway and therefore needs to see further evidence of compliance with the Building Code.

Issuing the building consent

Step 9. The building consent authority issues the building consent.

Building works and inspections

Step 10. The approved building work covered by the building consent begins.

Step 11. The building consent authority undertakes relevant inspections as per the building consent. The building consent authority checks that the building work complies with the building consent.

Code compliance certificate (CCC)

Step 12. The building works are completed. Standard documentation is provided to the building consent authority for building work, such as producer statements, energy work certificates, and plumbing test certificates, alongside the application for CCC.

Step 13. The building consent authority issues the code compliance certificate.