New Zealand has 16 specified systems, numbered SS 1 to SS 16, from automatic fire suppression (SS 1) to cable cars (SS 16). SS 1-15 come from Schedule 1 of the Building (Specified Systems, Change the Use, and Earthquake-prone Buildings) Regulations 2005; cable cars come from the Building Act. Each building's compliance schedule sets its own inspection procedures.
All 16 specified systems
| System | What it covers |
|---|---|
| SS 1 | Fire suppression (sprinklers) |
| SS 2 | Emergency warning (fire alarms) |
| SS 3 | Electromagnetic or automatic doors or windows |
| SS 4 | Emergency lighting |
| SS 5 | Escape route pressurisation |
| SS 6 | Riser mains |
| SS 7 | Backflow preventers |
| SS 8 | Lifts and escalators |
| SS 9 | Mechanical ventilation and air conditioning |
| SS 10 | Building maintenance units |
| SS 11 | Laboratory fume cupboards |
| SS 12 | Audio loops and assistive listening |
| SS 13 | Smoke control |
| SS 14 | Emergency power and signs |
| SS 15 | Other fire safety features (means of escape) |
| SS 16 | Cable cars |
How often each system is inspected
| System | Daily | Weekly | Monthly | 3-monthly | 6-monthly | Annual | 2–5 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS 1 Fire suppression (sprinklers) | no | ||||||
| SS 2 Emergency warning (fire alarms) | no | no | no | no | no | ||
| SS 3 Automatic doors and windows | no | no | no | ||||
| SS 4 Emergency lighting | no | no | no | no | no | ||
| SS 5 Escape route pressurisation | no | no | no | no | no | ||
| SS 6 Riser mains | no | no | no | no | no | ||
| SS 7 Backflow preventers | no | no | no | no | no | no | |
| SS 8 Lifts and escalators | no | no | no | no | no | no | |
| SS 9 Mechanical ventilation and air conditioning | no | no | |||||
| SS 10 Building maintenance units | no | no | no | no | |||
| SS 11 Laboratory fume cupboards | no | no | no | no | |||
| SS 12 Audio loops and assistive listening | no | no | no | no | no | ||
| SS 13 Smoke control | no | no | no | no | no | ||
| SS 14 Emergency power and signs | no | no | no | no | |||
| SS 15 Other fire safety features (means of escape) | no | no | no | ||||
| SS 16 Cable cars | no | no | no | no | no |
Where the list comes from
- A specified system is a system or feature contained in or attached to a building, that contributes to its proper functioning, and is declared by Order in Council to be specified; the definition also includes a cable car (Building Act s 7, version as at 8 October 2026).[1]
- Regulation 4 of the Building (Specified Systems, Change the Use, and Earthquake-prone Buildings) Regulations 2005 (SR 2005/32) declares the systems in Schedule 1 to be specified systems. Latest amendment shown: 16 December 2019 (LI 2019/267).[2]
- MBIE's Compliance Schedule Handbook (Amendment 3, effective 14 February 2014) states the systems are listed in Schedule 1 of those Regulations and uses SS 1 to SS 16 numbering.[3]
- MBIE guidance cites s 100 of the Building Act for cable cars and Schedule 1 of the 2005 Regulations for the other systems.[4]
SS 15: only in escape routes with other systems
- SS 15 sub-items: SS 15/1 systems for communicating spoken information to facilitate evacuation; SS 15/2 final exits; SS 15/3 fire separations; SS 15/4 signs for communicating evacuation information; SS 15/5 smoke separations.[3]
- SS 15 features are specified systems only where the means of escape also contains certain systems from items 1-6, 9 or 13.[5]
Houses
- Household-only fire warning systems are excluded from emergency warning systems; single residential buildings need a compliance schedule only if they have a cable car.[5]
Procedures are building-specific
- The compliance schedule must be completed for the actual installed system, and the building consent authority decides which procedures are appropriate when it issues the schedule.[3]
Questions
How many specified systems are there?
Sixteen, numbered SS 1 to SS 16, several with sub-categories such as SS 3/1-3/3 and SS 15/1-15/5.
Which law lists the specified systems?
Schedule 1 of the Building (Specified Systems, Change the Use, and Earthquake-prone Buildings) Regulations 2005, via regulation 4. Cable cars come from the Building Act.
Does a house with a smoke alarm need a compliance schedule?
No. Household-only fire warnings are excluded; a single residential building needs one only if it has a cable car.
Are inspection procedures the same for every building?
No. Each building's compliance schedule sets procedures for the actual installed system, decided by the consent authority.
Sources
- Building Act 2004 (s 7 definitions) — Parliamentary Counsel Office (legislation.govt.nz), as at 2026-10-08
- Building (Specified Systems, Change the Use, and Earthquake-prone Buildings) Regulations 2005 (SR 2005/32) — Parliamentary Counsel Office (legislation.govt.nz), latest amendment 2019-12-16
- Compliance Schedule Handbook (Amendment 3) — MBIE (building.govt.nz), 2014-02-14
- Owners' responsibilities to ensure their buildings are safe to use (BWOF and compliance schedule guidance) — Department of Building and Housing (now MBIE), November 2010
- Specified systems and compliance schedules — MBIE, 2024-11-26
General information only, not legal or engineering advice. Last reviewed 30 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
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