Building Warrant of Fitness
Overview
Buildings with certain safety and essential systems, known as 'specified systems' need a compliance schedule. These 'specified systems' ensure a building is safe and healthy for members of the public to enter, occupy or work in. It is the building owner's responsibility to keep these features and systems working effectively and to the standards of the annual building warrant of fitness (WOF).
Standards
According to the Building Act 2004, building owners must make sure maintenance and report procedures are carried out in line with the compliance schedule. There are three key areas that require annual testing:
- Compliance schedule CS5: escape route pressurisation systems (Stairwell Pressurisation)
- Compliance schedule CS10: laboratory fume cupboards (Fume Cupboard Tests)
- Compliance schedule CS9: mechanical ventilation or air conditioning systems.
The building owner or air conditioning maintenance contractor will normally carry out all the weekly and monthly inspection, maintenance and reporting functions required by the compliance schedule for these systems.
Airlab Solution
Airlab can carry out the necessary testing on the three specified systems (listed above) required for the annual building WOF. There are also some specialised testing requirements that Airlab can perform, helping the building owner or contractor to complete the compliance schedules for the building's WOF.
Cooling tower testing
Cooling towers have a strict testing regime beginning with weekly dipslide tests. Read more about Cooling tower testing.
Fire damper testing
In order to contain a fire, correct operation of fire dampers during a building fire are essential. Annually 20% of all fire dampers in a building must be tested – i.e. every damper is tested for correct operation every five years.
Outside airflow testing
CS9 requires the outside airflow rate to be inspected in accordance with Part 2 of NZS 4302. This states that airflow rates should be measured and recorded at installation under simulated "dirty filter" conditions. This ensures that design values are equalled or exceeded. It is also prudent (but not mandatory) to measure the total outside air to the building annually. This makes sure there has been no compromise to the air supply. The correct quantity of outside air is vital to maintain healthy air quality in occupied air conditioned spaces.