Building code change sought to avoid ghetto risk

Fears for the future health, safety and comfort of Auckland's growing number of apartment dwellers have prompted a united move by the region's councils for an improved New Zealand Building Code.

The present code was developed before the growth spurt in multi-unit building and it fails to address problems with quality of apartments, the Auckland Regional Growth Forum was told this week.

Research showed residents dissatisfied with design, construction and appearance of many developments and worried about creating ghettos of the future.

This forced some councils to change their district plans to bring in tougher checks on urban and apartment design and try to educate developers through good-solutions design guides.

But building controls are still lacking.

"Ensuring minimum standards through a review of the Building Code is critical," says a paper prepared by the Auckland Regional Council.

"It's an issue for the Building Code if everyone has the right to minimum living standards, consistent across the country and across different housing forms."

The paper points out the Regional Growth Strategy allows for 600,000 people, or 30 per cent of the region's 2 million population in 2050, living in multi-unit housing.

The Department of Building and Housing says it will start reviewing the code next year.

But on Wednesday growth forum members approved the ARC paper to be sent now to the department as a guide to how Auckland's council officers see the problems and solutions.

They call for:

* Standards to address quality and durability issues.

* Higher standards for insulation to muffle sound between units, plumbing noise and external noise.

* Minimum opening window areas and standards for air quality and circulation, extraction of moisture and odours in kitchens, laundries and bathrooms.

* Minimum total floor areas and space for living, cooking, eating, sleeping, personal hygiene and minimum floor to ceiling heights and storage. (Apartments as small as 12sq m have been permitted in the Auckland central business district but the average is 120sq m.)

* Minimum standards for daylight access such as for clear glazing and balconies.

* Balconies to have a minimum floor area, review of their safety in high rises, and requisite inspection and maintenance.

* Review of access to common areas and hygiene requirements and fire escape provisions.