ABCTech Training Catalogue

Ventilation plays a major role in building life safety, from providing safe air from the outside to extracting polluted air from inside the building. It can play a vital part in fire safety design also.

This workshop will look at the various types of ventilation systems that are included under the Specified Systems. It will break down the many requirements and hone in on the requirements for inspecting them. The workshop will cover the following topics:
1. Building Act and Building Code relating mechanical ventilation
2. NZBC G4 Ventilation requirements and compliance
3. Basis HVAC design criteria
4. Smoke Control Systems
5. Fire Dampers
6. Stairwell Pressurisation
7. Fume Cupboards
8. HVAC Interface with fire safety features

Full day course

The functional relationship between a Fire Engineering Design Report (FEDR) and a building’s compliance
schedule is a fundamental and frequently overlooked contributor to an IQP’s role.
A FEDR forms an integral part of the documentation detailing a building’s consent, construction and compliance history. As an IQP, you can use information contained in the building’s FEDR to inform decisions around
how you conduct inspections, what you should expect to find and how you interpret features of the building.

FEDRs cover Clauses C1 – C6 of the Building Code, and as such have implications for IQPs in terms of intended fire design and specified systems. As both the FEDR and the building’s compliance schedule are living documents, knowledge of the fire strategy and design that have been specified in the FEDR will allow an IQP to be adequately prepared for site inspections and be equipped to recognise where deviations and/or replacements that may affect compliance have been incorporated into the building’s final construction and use.

Full day workshop

This session covers the background of the Building Act, Schedule 1, Specified Systems, the BWOF process from start to end, Annual Reports, Form 11’s, status reporting and much more.

Our compliance fundamentals professional development module is designed for individual self-study and is formatted to follow a structed approach to recommended prescribed compliance topics.
This online unit will cover key areas of the NZ Building Act, NZ Building Regulations, Building Code, and the Compliance Schedule Handbook. You will also study and review recommended best practise guides in relation to the fundamentals of the Building Warrant of Fitness and Compliance Schedule process for IQPs, Council Officers and Owners Agents.
The completion of this unit includes a scored knowledge assessment and provides information on recommended links/locations of technical resources and information to support the compliance process.

This forms the first Level of the IQP Practicing Certificate.

This workshop is practical training on the purpose and procedures required for the completion of the daily/monthly inspections (owners checks) on specified systems as required by the NZ Building Act and Building Regulations.

The course will cover key elements of the NZ Building Act, NZ Compliance Schedule Handbook, and Inspections as listed on a Building Compliance Schedule document. They include the following:

• SS14/2 signs for specified systems
• SS15/2 final exits and exitways to reach a place of safety
• SS15/3 and SS15/5 fire and smoke separations relating to means of escape
• SS15/4 signs for communicating information for evacuation (exit, directional, no exit signs), and look at the functional relationship with other specified systems in respect to means of escape such as SS3 Doors.

The course will also provide recommended best practices templates for inspection records and or, on-site logbooks.

1/2 day workshop

This workshop includes all aspects of means of escape from a building including open paths, safe paths, exitways, final exits, external exitways and reaching a place of safety. The focus is on the NZ Building Code Clause C Protection from Fire with regards to inspection, maintenance, and reporting including the certification and issue of a Form 12A and the certification and ongoing compliance of the SS15/2 specified system. It also touches on important aspects of Fire and Emergency NZ (Fire Safety, Evacuation Procedures, and Evacuation Schemes) Regulations 2018.

1/2 day workshop

This workshop includes NZ Building Code Clause F6 Visibility in Escape Routes, central supply and single point systems and illuminated exit signage. The focus is on AS/NZS 2293 inspection, maintenance and reporting including the certification and issue of a Form 12A and the certification and ongoing compliance of the SS4 specified system.

1/2 day workshop

The course is intended for those who want to register with Councils to become IQP certified in Backflow prevention and gain the following Unit Standards:
NZQA Unit Standard 23847 - Prepare to test, and inspect and test, water supply backflow prevention devices.
NZQA Unit Standard 23848 - Describe suitability, installation, and testing of water supply backflow prevention devices, and fault identification.
It is a 2-day workshop with 16 hours of self-directed learning via Google Classroom. The two days will be consecutive Fridays.

A workshop that includes, the right device right application, the differing range of backflow devices and where they should be installed. Which codes to use, NZ Building Code G12 and AS 3500 part 1 and introduction the American cross connection control manual.
Changes proposed for the Three Waters reform / how this may affect IQP’s testing boundary devices, test reports and testing requirements in accordance with the compliance schedule handbook for SS7, how backflow is tested, what must be tested and when it must be tested.
Clarification in relation to single check valves in fire systems and what is backflow under SS7 or a SS1 fire feature.

1/2 day workshop

This workshop will cover the following:

• Practical testing in accordance with NZ/AS 2845 part 3 
• RPZ
• Double checks
• Vacuum breakers/ testable 
• Spill proof vac breakers
• Test reports
• Testers welcome to bring their test kits to use 

This course is a step-by-step guide through the purpose and broad concepts of Passive fire protection providing a general understanding of the different elements that make up passive fire systems, types of construction, fire stopping systems, PU Foam and what is its defined purpose, fire dampers and fire rated ducting, fire rated structural elements and the latest trends and products. Suitable as a new introduction or refresher on passive fire protection.

1/2 day workshop

A workshop that looks at the NZ Building Code requirements relating to Means of Escape and Passive Fire, passive system inspections and reporting, what and where inspection personnel are obliged to inspect under the BWoF and compliance regime. This workshop includes the purpose and components of fire stopping systems, how to approach the process and procedures of inspections, essential areas in the building to inspect and why, a practical look at common defects and maintenance, key points regarding fire and smoke doors, what inspectors should know in relation to fire rated dampers and duct protection, key points and information recommended for Compliance Schedule documentation.

This workshop provides in depth and detailed information required by practicing IQP’s to meet the requirements of the NZ Building Act and the certification of specified systems to the performance standards listed in Compliance Schedule documents. The course will cover IQP obligations and recommend procedures under the BWOF regime in respect to inspection, supervision, maintenance, reporting and issue of Form 12A’s for specified systems.

The practicing certificate Level 2 is award on the completion of this course and the includes the following workshops:

• BWoF Fundamentals
• Monthly Inspections (Owners Checks)
• Means of Escape to a Final Exit

This one-day course is a hands-on technical practicum for IQP’s to complete their annual IQP inspection in a live environment (relevant to their specified system or a general inspection). This practicum will include the review of inspection and testing records including annual maintenance documentation, where applicable the IQP will also complete a building survey inspection and prepare an annual report and subsequent 12A certificate submitted to our training officers for assessment. On completion (subject) to an assessment, the IQP will receive an ABC practicing certificate supporting evidence of ongoing professional development for registration applications with Territorial Authorities.

Full day workshop

Interfacing and functional relationships of specified systems
A full day seminar which looks at the Building Code Requirements, New Zealand and Australian Standards, Fire Engineering Design requirements, interfaced systems, maintenance and what and where personnel have obligations to inspect under the BWOF Regime. This seminar includes the recommended best practices and functional relationship between specified systems, how to approach the process of inspections, the elements of key interfaced components, essential areas to look for during inspections, audits and why, a practical look at maintenance, when to change or update the Compliance Schedule, how to report and the process of issuing Form 12As.

1 day workshop

This workshop is under construction.

SYSTEMS, PROCESS and PROCEDUERS
Step by step guidelines and processes for the development, requirements of, and issuing of Building Compliance Schedules. The course covers the NZ Building Act and building regulations requirements, Compliance Schedule guidelines, CPU, CCC, Compliance Schedule templates and handbook, system descriptions and types, correct versions and dates for performance standards, overview understanding of fire reports, inspection frequencies, council required general provisions, and supplementary asset information and floor plans, the importance of occupancy loads, the BWOF , 12A’s , RIL Vs status and annual reporting and the functional relationship of the BWoF process and other Territorial Authority compliance requirements (Liquor and health licencing).

Structured look at specified systems in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations 2005 in relation to Compliance Schedule content and requirements. This course provides for an open technical discussion on the following:

• performance and inspection standards,
• key understanding of the systems purpose and function,
• understanding key specifications of fire engineering reports,
• key factors relating to building use and occupancy numbers/loads,
• specified system types,
• equipment and core components of the installed feature,
• alterations to specified systems, and
• what to look for during consent processing, site inspections and or audits.

1/2 day course

A practical look at onsite building inspections and audits in relation to specified system installations, Building Warrant of Fitness documentation and record keeping.
An infield visit to a council identified (nominated sites) together with one of our training officers, council staff will complete site surveys and walk through to complete the site inspections and audit, on completion of the audit inspection findings will be discussed and reviewed with subsequent recommended draft report and follow up actions if applicable.

*BCA and TA compliance training content, specific details will be discussed and confirmed with our Trainer to achieve a “fit for purpose” with individual councils prior to proposal and delivery.

Full day course