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New Auckland Council requirements in regard to Jointly Owned Access Lots (JOALs)

New Auckland Council requirements in regard to Jointly Owned Access Lots (JOALs)

Effect on Fire ratings to external walls within 1 m of JOAL boundaries in C/AS1 designs

Auckland Council has enforced a recent change in the treatment of a JOAL. The JOAL is now to be treated as a separate allotment, even though the land is jointly owned by the owners within the overarching subdivision. From a fire engineering perspective, this means any external wall under the C/AS1 scope and within 1 meter of the closest JOAL boundary will have to be fire rated. In that case, a minimum of 1 meter separation is required between an external wall and the closest JOAL boundary to avoid any fire rating. Another option to avoid the fire rating would be apply for a S67 fire waiver for C3.6 & 3.7 of the NZBC. In addition, an encumbrance in favour of Auckland Council will also be a requirement to ensure that no building can be/will be built in the JOAL area.

If you have any questions please contact Dallen or Michael from our Fire Engineering Team.

Dallen Chan: 022 122 4752 or dallen.chan@covekinloch.co.nz

Michael Leung: 022 677 0312 or michael.leung@covekinloch.co.nz

For more information on our Fire Engineering services click here.