Print this chapterPrint this chapter

Legislation related to Plumbing, Drainlaying and Gas fitting

Building Codes continued

E3 Internal Moisture

Objective of E3:

  • to safeguard people against illness, injury and loss of amenity (a feature which provides comfort or convenience) resulting from the accumulation of internal moisture
  • to protect other household units in the same building from overflow or spillage. When installing sanitary fixtures the following must be considered:
  • adequate ventilation to remove moisture
  • overflow provisions (see floor drains)
  • impervious (waterproof) and easily cleaned floor and wall surfaces
  • impervious and easily cleaned fixture surfaces
  • fixtures sealed in position to prevent water becoming trapped or penetrating into concealed spaces

It is therefore important to ensure that:

  • fixtures such as toilet pans are well secured and sealed to the floor or wall.
  • concealed spaces such as behind basins, urinals, showers and around baths and so on, must also be well sealed.

G2 Laundering

This code clause covers the requirements for providing laundry facilities in buildings.

G3 Food Preparation and Prevention of Contamination

This code sets out the requirements for hygienic space and facilities for storage, preparation and cooking of food in domestic, commercial and industrial facilities.

G4 Ventilation

This code ensures that buildings have adequate fresh air.

  • It requires that cooking fumes and odours, moisture from laundering, washing and bathing, and odours from sanitary rooms are removed to outside the building. This can be achieved by natural ventilation (opening windows or trickle ventilators) or mechanical ventilation.

F2 Hazardous Building Materials

Safety glazing is required in sanitary rooms to fixtures such as shower doors.

Windows must be outside a ‘fall zone’ (where people will cut themselves if they come into contact with glass). This may be by using safety glass or some type of barrier.

F8 Signs

Signs shall be provided to identify accessible routes and the availability of facilities for disabled people.

D1 Access Routes

Siting of accessible sanitary fixtures must take into account access to allow people with disabilities to be able to use the facilities.

C1, C2, C3, C4 Fire Safety (The C Docs)

These codes are relevant when pipework serving sanitary fixtures penetrates a fire separation. Collars or fire wraps must be used as required by the fire protection engineer to ensure the integrity of the fire wall.

G14 Industrial Liquid Waste and G15 Solid Waste

These codes are particularly relevant in commercial and industrial installations.

F7 Warning systems

To achieve Code Compliance for all household building work smoke alarms must be located to wake sleeping occupants. They must be positioned within three metres of a bedroom door.

Schedule 2 of the New Zealand Building Code

This schedule lists buildings which require facilities for disabled persons.

Generally any building to which the public are admitted requires accessible facilities to be provided.

H1 — Energy efficiency

Clause H1 — Energy efficiency covers all aspects of a building structure in terms of energy efficiency. With regard to water heating systems, it sets out the requirements in terms of insulation of hot water storage vessels and pipes. This clause also refers to NZS 4305 which deals with domestic type electrical and gas systems having a storage water heater capacity up to 700 litres. Larger systems and the associated piping and controls are not controlled by the NZBC. Clause H1 includes a means of minimising pipe runs to conserve water and energy.