EXISTING BUILDING PROJECTS
You may require an accessibility GAP Analysis Report if there is an ‘Alteration’ or ‘Change of Use’ occurring.
The services I offer for these projects have been structured around the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment “Demonstrating and assessing compliance for buildings undergoing alterations” website. By following this approach and supplying the appropriate reports documenting them the Council is much more likely to be satisfied that the minimum requirements of the NZBA have been met by your building consent application.
These types of project involve preparing a GAP Analysis Report on the existing building which benchmarks its current accessibility provisions, and provides recommendations for upgrading these to meet current NZBC requirements 'as nearly as is reasonably practicable' (ANARP)
My interpretation of ANARP is that it is intended to achieve beneficial outcomes for the buildings accessibility for persons with disabilities without requiring an unreasonable level of sacrifice (cost) to be made by the building owner.
Through detailed assessment, and clear reporting with use of sacrifice-benefit analysis, it's more often than not that both the building owner and council will come to a satisfactory agreement as to what upgrades are reasonable and practical to undertake as part of the proposed work.
