Engineers, building professionals and earthquake-prone buildings
Engineers advise and assist building owners. This may consist of providing assessments or completing seismic work on earthquake-prone buildings (EPBs) within set timeframes.
There are no longer any EPBs in Auckland, the Chatham Islands and the upper North Island low seismic zone. The current EPB system stays in place everywhere else until 30 June 2027.
From 1 July 2027, a new system for managing EPBs will take effect under the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act.
Find out more about the new system:
Role of engineers and other building professionals
Suitably qualified engineers will carry out engineering assessments on buildings. The EPB methodology sets out the qualifications required for engineers assessing potentially EPBs.
A new EPB methodology is being prepared. Engineers must continue to use the 2017 methodology for assessing potential EPBs until the changes take effect on 1 July 2027.
Engineers:
- should be familiar with the EPB methodology as it outlines the engineering assessment requirements for buildings identified as potentially earthquake-prone by territorial authorities (councils)
- must carry out earthquake assessments in accordance with the EPB methodology if required
- can provide technical support to territorial authorities when required.
Territorial authorities use engineering assessments to help determine whether a building is earthquake-prone and, if so, to assign an earthquake rating. New assessments must meet the criteria in the EPB methodology to be accepted by a territorial authority.
Assessment requirements
The EPB methodology contains information about engineering assessments of potentially EPBs:
- the scope for engineering assessments
- qualification requirements; at the minimum the engineering assessment must be overseen and signed off by a Chartered Professional Engineer
- determining the appropriate form of assessment
- technical requirements for the assessment
- considering parts of buildings
- reporting requirements.
Building professionals (tradespeople and designers)
Only territorial authorities, engineers and building owners are given specific responsibilities in the current Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016. However, others in the sector who work on earthquake-prone buildings have responsibilities too.
Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016— legislation.govt.nz
This can include responsibilities for substantial alterations or earthquake strengthening. Any building work must be done in accordance with the Building Code and any health and safety regulations.
Additional resources
Earthquake Prone Buildings – Guidance and Approaches - Auckland Council Guide [PDF 2.4MB] — aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
BRANZ Bulletin issue 556 - Upgrading piled foundations to resist earthquakes [PDF 4.7MB] — cloudfront.net
More information
More information is available for engineers and other building professionals.
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