Need a Certificate of Acceptance, also known as a COA?
You’ve come to the right place!
What We Do
COAdify helps building owners, tenants, installers, building managers, compliance companies, and developers get a Certificate of Acceptance for any unconsented building works of a Specified System.
To get your Certificate of Acceptance we:
Get a system on to an existing Compliance Schedule
Modify the details of the Compliance Schedule
Remove a Specified System that is no longer essential
All our work complies to the New Zealand Building Act 2004 and the associated Building Codes.
Why Choose Us?
If you’re unsure of terms like Certificate of Acceptance and Specified System you’re not alone.
COAdify’s clients often report conflicting and incorrect advice that leaves them frustrated and confused.
This is why we SPECIALISE in Specified System Consents.
Our goal is to simplify the process and take all the hassle out of making sure your building’s certification is legal and compliant.
COAdify Delivers
Our single focus on Certificates of Acceptance for unconsented building works of a Specified System means we know exactly what we’re doing!
We provide:
– A detailed understanding of your obligations under the Building Act 2004.
– Assistance to understand and take control of the certification process, including secure electronic record-keeping.
– Strong relationships with councils which appreciate our proven ability to achieve regulatory compliance for our clients and resolve any issues.
How does the Certificate of Acceptance process work?
1
IDENTIFY
Together, we identify all the areas that need to be addressed
2
Apply
Coadify identifies what is required for Your systems to be made compliant and applies to the Council on your behalf
3
Liaise
COADIFY works with Council to answer questions and DELIVER ANY additional information for YOUR site
4
Certify
Your Certificate of Acceptance is issued
5
Update
Council and COAdify work together to produce a new and accurate Compliance Schedule
1
IDENTIFY
Together, we identify all the areas that need to be addressed
2
Apply
Coadify identifies what is required for Your systems to be made compliant and applies to the Council on your behalf
3
Liaise
COADIFY works with Council to answer questions and DELIVER ANY additional information for YOUR site
4
Certify
Your Certificate of Acceptance is issued
5
Update
Council and COAdify work together to produce a new and accurate Compliance Schedule
1 IDENTIFY
Together, we identify all the areas that need to be addressed
2 Apply
Coadify identifies what is required for Your systems to be made compliant and applies to the Council on your behalf
3 Liaise
COADIFY works with Council to answer questions and DELIVER ANY additional information for YOUR site
4 Certify
Your Certificate of Acceptance is issued
5 Update
Council and COAdify work together to produce a new and accurate Compliance Schedule
FAQs
What is a Certificate of Acceptance (COA) and how is it different from a Building Consent?
A Building Consent is carried out ahead of building works. To get this, you work through the required steps as prescribed by the various Codes, Clauses, Standards, Acceptable Solutions or Verification Methods that are enforced by the Council.
In contrast, a Certificate of Acceptance is required when building works of a specified system have been carried out and completed without a consent (called unconsented works). When work like this is unconsented, you are still required to show that the work done has met the various codes enforced by the Council. The Certificate of Acceptance achieves this.
When do I need a Certificate of Acceptance?
Usually you would need a Certificate of Acceptance when a building you are responsible for has had building work of specified systems carried out after the original Building Consent has been issued.
What’s a CCC or ‘Code of Compliance Certificate’? Where does that fit in?
A Code of Compliance Certificate is issued by the Council when a building consent has been finalised and the Council is satisfied that all required works have been carried out correctly and to code. It’s the final part of a building consent.
A Certificate of Acceptance doesn’t come with a CCC as the COA consenting process is, by definition, undertaken separately from a Building Consent.
What happens if I don’t know who installed the Specified System that needs a COA?
This isn’t an ideal situation but at COAdify we understand that it can happen. We will work with you to achieve compliance and final certification. It’s what we specialise in.
What is a Specified System?
Specified Systems are ‘active’ or ‘passive’ systems that are installed in a building to ensure that the occupiers of that building and the neighbouring buildings are able to leave to a place of safety in a timely and secure manner.
See a list of Specified Systems
What counts as ‘Unconsented Building Works of a Specified System’?
Any work carried out after a building’s original Building Consent is issued. This could include things like changes to a specified system by ‘adding, modifying or removing’ it. One of the most common examples is where Access Control (a swipe-card system) is added to a building without a consent for security reasons
What is an Active Fire System?
This is industry jargon for any Specified System that actively protects against fire. Examples of this would be; Sprinklers, Deluge Systems, Fire Alarms etc.
What is a Passive Fire System?
This is industry jargon for non-active Specified Systems that protect the occupiers, building and stock against fire. These would be things like Fire Rated Plaster Board, Fire Collars and Ducts, Intumescent Paint or Strips, Smoke Seals etc.
What is a Compliance Schedule?
A Compliance Schedule lists the Specified Systems in a building and the procedures required to keep them in good working order.
It includes Performance Standards for inspection, testing, maintenance and reporting.
When you have a Compliance Schedule you are also legally required to have a Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) issued, each and every year.
For general information about a BWoF visit twelvea.co.nz
What happens once a COA is completed?
The consented specified systems are then added/removed/modified on the existing Compliance Schedule (CS) for the building. If no Compliance Schedule exists then a new one is created. If all Specified Systems are removed from the building, then the Compliance Schedule is cancelled.
After the Compliance Schedule is updated, you will need to show compliance for the consented systems. This means you need to demonstrate they are regularly serviced and maintained by an Independently Qualified Person (IQP)
More information about that process from twelvea.co.nz
Who is ultimately responsible for a building that has unconsented works?
The Building Act states that the responsibility for unconsented works sits firmly with the Building’s owner. Council will always take action against the owner and not a tenant who may have caused a problem.
COAdify assists you to resolve your unconsented works in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Do you also assist clients with failed Council Audits?
Yes. This process is managed through our sister company Twelvea, unless you have unconsented specified systems installed/changed/or removed in your building. Either way, a plan can be made to assist you. Please contact us to explain your situation.
Who are we?
Tonya Wright
COAdify’s Founder Tonya Wright has 15+ years’ experience in the Compliance Industry.
In 2016 Tonya moved into Senior Management for one of New Zealand’s largest Building Warrant of Fitness companies.
Then, in 2020 she started Twelvea Limited (Building Warrant of Fitness Specialists) where she qualified as an IQP (Independent Qualified Person), and registered with various Councils throughout New Zealand.
Tonya’s strong and positive relationships with Council, Council auditors, IQPs and clients make her effective and efficient in resolving complex compliance issues.
She enables clients to feel comfortable and knowledgeable about the compliance process, allowing them to get it right the first time, and as seamlessly as possible.
Mike Gordon
Mike got his start as a Council Inspector before moving into 30 years’ in inspection and senior management roles in the compliance industry.
On-going training and development means his knowledge base is extremely broad and invaluable to COAdify’s clients.
Mike can also lay claim to more than 30 years’ continuous registration as an IQP throughout different Councils in New Zealand.
Kelly Richards
With over 12 years of Building Warrant experience, Kelly has dealt with any scenario and all building types, giving her an excellent understanding of different owners’ needs.
On top of her BWoF experience Kelly has conducted building consents, historic CCCs and COA applications, and has managed contractors through this process.
Kelly is also very skilled at Compliance Schedules, from tidying them up to comply with the Act, to splitting out unit titles into individual Schedules.
Contact Us
For assistance with a Certificate of Acceptance or help to identify next steps for your building’s certification process, get in touch.
Call us on +64 22 528 1200, or fill in the contact form.
We check messages from this form daily.