Civil Engineering Association

BUILDING SEISMIC PERFORMANCE

This submission has been prepared by the Structural Engineering Society of New Zealand
(SESOC), in response to the Consultation document prepared by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The submission firstly discusses a number of issues raised in the consultation document and then provides specific responses to the proposals and questions
raised. SESOC has been working collaboratively with IPENZ, the New Zealand Society for Earthquake
Engineering and the New Zealand Geotechnical Society to deliver a comprehensive and considered response. These groups have made separate submissions which may vary in detail, but which are in general agreement of the key points, as articulated in the summary of this submission.
Furthermore, although there was relatively little time to do so, SESOC has consulted with membership. Those who were able to respond were generally supportive of the draft submission, with a number of further suggestions, many of which have been adopted.
A discussion document is attached to this submission, providing further background to some of the issues discussed.
The Consultation document notes that the Building Act covers other structures such as bridges statues and memorials. These are not addressed specifically in this document, noting that
bridges are generally publically owned and considered in lifelines studies, and that other structures generally pose a low risk to life. However, many of the principals expressed in this
submission would be equally applicable across all structural forms.