Resources
Technical Details and Downloads
Stone Cladding Solutions
The use of natural stone on a structure requires individually engineered designs to be included on consented plans. Our NZSMA members often provide design and systems advice to builders and architects. You can find our preferred solutions in PDF format below.
Best Practice Guide
This document has been compiled and written by NZSMA members and endorsed by the NZSMA membership. It is intended to provide guidance only. The advice provided in this document must always be considered in the context of independent engineering and architectural advice on a project-specific basis.
Silicosis
Silicosis is a long-term lung disease. This happens when someone is exposed to large amounts of silica dust over a shorter time. Accelerated silicosis is when the disease comes on more quickly.
More information is available here
Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) Scheme
About the LBP scheme
The Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) scheme was launched in November 2007 following an amendment to the Building Act 2004. Its purpose is to encourage competent building practitioners to build homes right the first time. The scheme also gives consumers the necessary information to make informed decisions about the competence of building practitioners they may engage.
The LBP scheme is structured into seven licensing classes, each based on a specific role or occupation that is crucial to a building's performance.
Licensing classes has more information.
Also, in this section is information about other licensing schemes in the building and construction sector.
Since the LBP scheme was launched, a number of trade groups and individuals have proposed changes to the LBP licensing classes. If you would like more information about how proposals for change are assessed, you can read the assessment criteria and template for proposals on this page.
Stonemasonry LBP
The New Zealand Stone Masons Association (NZSMA) has been lobbying MBIE, The LBP Board and various Members of Parliament and Ministers of Building and Housing for the inclusion of an area of practice (Stonemasonry) since the Schemes inception.
While various Ministers and MBIE have acknowledged the need for Stonemasonry’s inclusion it has yet to be introduced as an area of Practice and as such is not LBP work. This means Stonemasonry does not have to be signed off with an LBP number, it should just be recorded with a Producer Statement/PS3 from the Stonemason who completes the work to the Project Specific Design (PS1).
The current situation is that Stonemasonry is not LBP work, with MBIE officials confirming this in writing to NZSMA.
Proposing changes to LBP licensing classes
Since the LBP scheme was established in 2007, a number of trade groups and individuals have proposed changes to the LBP licensing classes and areas of practice. You can read more about the LBP licensing classes and areas of practice here.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (the Ministry) has published a set of assessment criteria to provide building practitioners with more clarity about how the Ministry assesses these proposals. If you think that the LBP licensing classes might need to be changed, we encourage you to review the criteria and consider whether your proposal might meet them.
Included in the below document is a template outlining the types of supporting information that help us assess whether a proposal meets the criteria. If you have reviewed the criteria and consider that a change to the LBP licensing classes is necessary, you can complete this template and send it to the Ministry for consideration.
Proposing changes to LBP licensing classes [PDF, 711 KB]
