Standardised, multi-use designs
If you are including standardised designs in your building consent application, you must provide all applicable approval identifiers as part of completing your application, such as a certificate number.
A standardised, multi-use design is one where a building consent authority has already confirmed that the set of plans and specifications for the design comply with the Building Code. These are commonly used by builders who replicate the same or substantially similar buildings several times to benefit from a streamlined building consent process.
The building consent authority compares the plans and specifications included in your application against the standardised plans and specifications held on record by the authorising body, such as the MBIE.
The design does not have to be assessed in full by the building consent authority each time it is proposed to be built on a different site. However, the builder must still apply for and obtain a building consent each time they want to build, and the application must still contain plans and specifications for any site-specific work, such as foundations and site services.
An approved standardised design reduces the processing time for building consents, as the building consent authority must process the application within 10 working days, not the standard 20 working days.
The MultiProof® scheme from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is an example of schemes under which a multiple use, standardised design can be authorised. Designs approved under this scheme are given a MultiProof certificate or approval statement and are recorded in a MultiProof register.