About Compliance Documents

Compliance Documents (previously known as Approved Documents) provide one means of complying with the clauses of the Building Code.

Buildings built to the method (Acceptable Solution or Verification Method) described in a Compliance Document are automatically deemed to comply with the Code. They’re sometimes referred to as ‘cookbook’ solutions because they prescribe a recipe for ensuring compliance.

The Compliance Documents are not mandatory, but they are important because they are published and endorsed by the Department of Building and Housing, as authorised by the Building Act. Designs based on them must be accepted by building consent authorities as demonstrating compliance with the Building Code.

You can use other alternative ways of building, provided these can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the building consent authority as meeting the required performance standards stipulated in the Building Code. These other methods are known as alternative solutions.

How are the Compliance Documents structured?

The New Zealand Building Code consists of 35 technical clauses. Each clause sets out performance standards that buildings must meet in respect to structural stability, durability, fire safety, access, moisture, safety of users, services and facilities, and energy efficiency.

There are 35 Compliance Documents - one for each Building Code clause. For example, Clause B2 Durability of the Building Code has a corresponding Compliance Document.

Each Compliance Document contains at least an Acceptable Solution (AS) or a Verification Method (VM) and generally both. However, some Compliance Documents have more than one Aceeptable Solution or Verification Method.

• Acceptable Solutions (AS) - step-by-step building methods (for example, what insulation is needed to comply with energy efficiency requirements of the Building Code).
• Verification Methods (VM) - calculations or test (for example, the calculations necessary to show a building design complies with the structural requirements of the Building Code).

Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods are often referred to by their Building Code clauses and unique identification numbers, for example:

• the Acceptable Solution for Clause E2 External Moisture is known as E2/AS1
• the Verification Method for Clause G4 Ventilation is known as G4/VM1.

Compliance Documents may also reference, in whole or in part - and subject to any modification the Department considers appropriate - other publications, such as New Zealand Standards.

Find out more about how the Building Code and Compliance Documents work together as controls on building.