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Engage Premier Design for Building Warrant of Fitness services
You can contract Premier Design to become your representative in terms of the building act 2004 for your building’s warrant of fitness. By doing this Premier Design undertakes to collate all the required 12A forms and to sign your annual building warrant of fitness on or before the expiry date each year.
Premier Design will also file the required documentation with the relevant building consent authority and send you two copies (one to display, one to file). This includes an annual report and any recommendations made by an IQP/LBP as is required by the Act.
Owner’s checks are to be updated using our web-based user interface, it is easy to use and monthly email reminders will be sent. If the web page is not updated within one week of the email reminder then a representative from Premier Design will undertake these checks on your behalf (this will incur an additional fee).
All inspections that are necessary will be undertaken by representatives from the following approved companies.
- Premier Design
- Firewatch
- Fire Security Services
- SGS
- Francetemp
    
Premier Design ensures that all work is undertaken to the required standards by auditing a random selection (minimum 5%) of the buildings on an annual basis. At least one week’s written notice will be given of an audit and the report can be made available (if requested) to the building owner affected.
Does my building require a warrant of fitness?
If a building has a compliance schedule it will require a building warrant of fitness. A compliance schedule should be issued if any of the following systems are present:
- Automatic systems for the suppression of fire
- Automatic of manual emergency warning systems for fire or any other dangers
- Electromagnetic or automatic doors or windows
- Emergency lighting systems
- Riser mains for use by fire services
- Automatic back flow prevention devices connected to potable water supply.
- Lifts, escalators, travelators etc
- Mechanical ventilation or air conditioning systems
- Emergency power systems
Please note these are the most common and this is not an exhaustive list.
Your building consent authority (council) issues and monitors compliance schedules so if you are in any doubt as to whether a building should have a compliance schedule you should consult with your building consent authority.
Who is responsible for obtaining a building warrant of fitness?
Either the owner or the owner’s representative. The owner’s representative could be an employee (if this is included in the employment contract) or a tenant (if included in the lease agreement), or another party under a suitable contract.
What happens if a building warrant of fitness is not issued ?
There are a range of penalties for failing to comply with the provisions of the Building Act 2004.
Penalties
- Failure to obtain a compliance schedule if one is required – up to $20,000 plus up to $2,000 per day if the offence continues.
- Failure to display warrant of fitness (otherwise false or mis-leading) – up to $20,000
- Using or permitting others to use a building that is not safe or sanitary or has inadequate means of escape from fire – up to $100,000
Should there be a problem that cannot be resolved with one (or more) of the specified systems within your building an IQP/LBP report will be filed in lieu of a 12A form. In this instance the warrant of fitness cannot be signed and the building consent authority will review the breach and may impose fines as noted above.
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