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The licensed building practitioners (LBP) scheme is one of the changes in the Building Act 2004 to encourage better building design and construction. The LBP scheme promotes, recognises and supports professional skills and behaviour in the building construction industry.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) administers the scheme.
From 1 March 2012, critical building work that is known as restricted building work, must be supervised or carried out by a licensed building practitioner (LBP). If you are building, this will affect you.
For more information, see:
The LBP Scheme affects the building industry in the following ways:
Restricted building work is design or construction work that is critical to the integrity of a building.
From 1 March 2012, only licensed building practitioners will be allowed to carry out or supervise restricted building work. Therefore, a consent application that involves restricted building work will need to include the names of LBPs carrying out or supervising that work.
See section 45(1)(e) of the Building Act: Section 45(1)(e) - Building Act 2004 - NZ Legislation website
The Government defines restricted building work as that which includes the design and construction of a house or small- to medium-sized apartment, and which covers:
Appropriately-licensed LBPs will be responsible for plans and specifications used in a consent application for restricted building work. See section 45(2)-(4) of the Building Act: Section 45(2)-(4) - Building Act 2004 - NZ Legislation website
For homeowners who would like more information about licensed building practitioners, see: What are Licensed Building Practitioners? - Homeowners - MBIE Building Performance website
For those in the building industry who would like more information about restricted building work, see: Build It Right - MBIE Building Performance website
A licensed building practitioner is someone who is recorded in the register of LBPs because they have satisfied the Registrar that they meet the standards for their licence class. See section 286 of the Building Act: Section 286 - Building Act 2004 - NZ Legislation website
There are seven license classes in the LBP scheme:
You can apply to be licensed in more than one licence class but you must be able to demonstrate that you are competent in each class you apply for.
For more information on licensing and restricted building work, see: MBIE Building Performance website
The competencies for the licence classes were developed by industry working groups. They represent the skills and knowledge that a competent person with sound experience in the building construction industry should be able to demonstrate.
The LBP scheme is for competent individuals. Companies and commercial entities cannot be licensed, but the people they employ or subcontract can apply to be licensed.
If your work is covered by one of the licence classes, this is your opportunity to have your skills and experience formally recognised.
If you are looking for a trade professional, you can search the public registers to find the right person for the job in your area. These registers are updated regularly by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment and the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board.
For more information please contact the Wairoa District Council.
+64 6 838 7309
customerservices@wairoadc.govt.nz
97-103 Queen Street, Wairoa 4108
PO Box 54, Wairoa 4160
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