Preface

This document is the result of a collaboration between the collective of Brick and Blocklayers associations within New Zealand and the manufacturing and distribution sector under the guise of the ‘Brick and Blocklayers (BBFNZ).

Since 1991, New Zealand has had a ‘performance based’ Building Code in place. What this means is that there is no set, one way that buildings within New Zealand MUST be built but instead focus is placed on how a building should perform once built.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) provides to the industry a set of ‘Acceptable solutions’ as a means of complying with the Building Code. These documents however are not compulsory and at times the Best Practice Guide for Brick Veneer makes recommendations that are not part of, or contradict the Acceptable solutions. In these areas, we have endeavored to point you towards information or independent study reports that show that these ‘alternative solution proposals’ should also meet the performance requirements of the NZ Building Code.

As an Industry, we believe that we also need to consider Workmanship Quality with our guidance. Workmanship Quality describes the brick work that is not related to building performance but the aesthetic finish that customers expect from Brick work.

An acceptable Workmanship Quality standard has been met if a brick veneer has been laid to meet the performance requirements of the Building Code and achieves no visible defects when viewed by a 6.1m with diffused light viewing distance as per manufacturer’s specifications. This may be achieved without meeting all of the tolerances contained within this Best Practice Guide.

It is recommended, when planning the design of a Brick Veneer that you engage a bricklayer early on for their knowledge of design and product.

BBFNZ asks that you consider engaging the products and services of our members who have contributed and made this document possible.

You can read the next section here:

The Brick Cavity