Normal Maintenance

Maintenance work and workers must comply with Walking On Roofs. Normal maintenance is the work necessary to achieve the claimed or expected product durability. The extent and nature of the maintenance will depend on the material, its position on the building, geographical location and the macro- and micro-environment of the building site.

Section B2—Durability of the NZBC defines 'normal maintenance' as: "work that is generally recognised as being necessary to achieve durability for a given roofing element…."

It is the responsibility of the person specifying the building element to determine normal maintenance requirements.  The specifier should select materials taking into account the accessibility of the building element and the practicality of conducting regular maintenance for areas with restricted access.

Normal Maintenance tasks include:

• following manufacturers maintenance recommendations;
• washing down surfaces, particularly exterior building elements, subject to wind driven salt spray;
• re-coating interior and exterior protective finishes; and
• replacing sealant in joints.

Compliance with the durability requirements of the COP should not include replacing protective surfaces on roof and wall cladding, and accessories if the products are selected, installed and maintained in accordance with good practice.

It is the responsibility of the person specifying the building product to determine the normal maintenance requirements for the material.