Earthquake strengthening

The Buildings (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act came into force in 2017. It changed the system for identifying and remediating EPBs.

Earthquake strengthening is any work done to a building to improve its ability to withstand the effects of earthquakes, and to keep people in and around the building safe.

An earthquake-prone building (EPB) is one that is less than 34% of the current national building standard.

The Buildings (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act introduced:

• a country-wide approach to the assessment and management of EPBs
• a standardised notice system; and
• a national public register of EPBs.

Under the Buildings (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act:

• territorial authorities (councils) are no longer required to have individual policies for EPBs
• there is a centralised national register for all EPBs in New Zealand.
• the country is divided into three seismic risk areas – high, medium and low. Lower Hutt is in the high seismic risk area
• a category of priority buildings is identified which require urgent strengthening. Examples of priority buildings include:

1. unreinforced masonry buildings (URM buildings) in high vehicle and pedestrian areas.
2. buildings that have the potential to impede strategic routes in an emergency.
3. hospitals and other buildings used by emergency services
4. buildings likely to be needed in an emergency as an emergency shelter/centre
5. education buildings occupied by at least 20 people (including early childhood centres, schools, private training and tertiary institutes)

• profile categories to identify potentially earthquake-prone buildings. These categories include:

1. unreinforced masonry buildings.
2. pre-1976 buildings that are three or more storeys, or 12 or more metres high.
3. pre-1935 buildings that are one or two storeys.

Priority buildings

The legislation requires all councils to consult the public on the identification of high-traffic/high-pedestrian priority routes.

The buildings on these routes have now been assessed to determine if they are priority buildings.

Through a public consultation process, Council identified seven streets and thoroughfares in Lower Hutt that have sufficient vehicle and pedestrian traffic to warrant prioritisation. The streets are:

• Jackson Street, Petone (That part of Jackson Street between Cuba Street and Petone Avenue)
• Cuba Street, Lower Hutt (That part of Cuba Street between Emmersons Street and Montague Street)
• High Street, Lower Hutt (That part of High Street between Daly Street and Melling Road)
• Bunny Street, Lower Hutt
• Everest Avenue, Naenae
• Hillary Court, Naenae
• Rimu Street, Eastbourne

Because Hutt City is a high seismic risk area, owners must assess priority buildings within two years and six months.

If Council issues an EPB notice, the owner has to complete remedial work within seven years and six months.

How the Council manages other earthquake-prone buildings

Identification

If Council identifies a building as being potentially earthquake-prone, the owners are notified and given 12 months to provide an engineer's assessment that satisfies the government's Earthquake-prone Building methodology document.

Assessment

On receipt of the engineer's assessment, Council will assess whether the building is earthquake-prone or not.

Notification

If Council confirms the building is earthquake-prone, Council may then issue an EPB notice, requiring the owner to strengthen the building within 15 years or demolish it. The notice is then fixed to the main entrance/s of the building informing the public the building is earthquake-prone. This is a legal requirement but also to ensure the safety of the public.

Extension of EPB notices

The Building (Earthquake-prone Building Deadlines and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2024 extended earthquake-prone building remediation deadlines for certain buildings by four years. Updated notices and letters are now being issued to these buildings.

For more detailed information about these changes, please visit the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website.

Heritage buildings

Owners of heritage buildings listed as a Category 1 historic place on the New Zealand heritage list, or included on the National Historic Landmarks, may apply in writing to their local Council for an extension of up to 10 years to complete seismic work. We'll consider these applications in the order we receive them.

Seismic work and structural review of building consent applications

Owners of EPBs must carry out seismic work to ensure their building is no longer earthquake-prone. This usually requires building consent approval.

The structural design aspects of some building consent applications will be peer reviewed by a structural Engineer on behalf of Council.

The cost of this review will be passed on to the building consent applicant.

Building consent applications that will be subject to a structural review include:

• applications for strengthening buildings that are less than 34% NBS (New Building Standard)
• applications that include a change of use as defined by the Building (Specified Systems, Change the Use, and Earthquake-prone Buildings) Regulations 2005
• other projects that may qualify for review on a case by case basis.
• Removal of the earthquake-prone building notice

Once the seismic work is completed and a code compliance certificate issued, the owners must notify the Council. This is so Council can remove the notice from the building as it is no longer considered earthquake-prone. Council will then also update the national register.