SS 16 covers cable cars attached to or servicing a building. Unlike SS 1 to 15, cable cars come from the Building Act rather than Schedule 1, so even a house with a cable car needs a compliance schedule for it. Council templates typically cite NZS 5270 with annual IQP inspection.
At a glance
| Specified system | SS 16 |
| Official name | Cable cars |
| Typical intervals | 6-monthly and annual (varies by task; see below) |
| Standards often cited | NZS 5270 |
| Annual certificate | Form 12A from an IQP, attached to the building warrant of fitness |
What SS 16 covers
- Cable cars are brought in by Building Act s100, not Schedule 1: a building with a cable car attached to it or servicing it needs a compliance schedule.[1]
- A building used wholly as a single household unit needs a schedule only for the cable car.[1]
- This requirement applies from 31 March 2008.[1]
- Where one cable car serves several buildings, one building holding the schedule for it is enough.[1]
- Each building's compliance schedule sets the actual inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures; frequencies below are typical examples from the cited documents.[2]
Which buildings have it
- Houses and other buildings on steep sites with a cable car attached or servicing them, including single household units.[1]
- PNCC form also lists a ski chair lift with an enclosed vehicle operating wholly or partly inside a building.[3]
How often it is inspected
| System | Daily | Weekly | Monthly | 3-monthly | 6-monthly | Annual | 2–5 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS 16 Cable cars | no | no | no | no | no |
| Task | Typical frequency | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection | Six-monthly / annual | IQP[3] |
| Inspection (NZS 5270) | Annual | IQP[4] |
| Log book | Records for previous 24 months kept on site | Owner[3] |
| Form 12A certificate | Annually | IQP[3] |
What an inspection typically covers
- Machinery space: supports, enclosure and access, lighting, circuit diagrams and manual present.[3]
- Machinery: drum/sheave, brake and lining, gearboxes, motors and bearings.[3]
- Runway: safety gear, rope terminations and condition, guide rails, buffers, drainage.[3]
- Car: lighting, controls, load rating plate, alarm and emergency phone, exits.[3]
- Operation: door interlocks, limit, slack-rope, stop and overload switches; landing stopping accuracy.[3]
- General: incorrect repairs or modifications, maintenance records.[3]
Standards commonly cited
| Standard | Title |
|---|---|
| NZS 5270:2005 | Cable cars for private residences - Design, construction, installation and maintenance (Section 18 inspections; Sections 16-17 maintenance)[3] |
Titles as listed in council and MBIE documents. Inspections follow the standard and edition named in the building's compliance schedule, usually the edition the system was installed to. Changing to a different edition needs an amendment to the compliance schedule.
Questions
How often is SS 16 inspected?
MBIE and council guidance shows tasks at these intervals: 6-monthly and annual, with an IQP certifying the system each year. The building's compliance schedule sets the actual frequency.
Which standards apply to SS 16?
Commonly cited: NZS 5270. The compliance schedule names the standard and edition for each building.
Who can certify SS 16?
An independently qualified person (IQP) registered with the council for this system. They issue a Form 12A each year, which the owner attaches to the building warrant of fitness.
Sources
- Building Act 2004 s100 Requirement for compliance schedule — NZLII (mirror of legislation)
- Compliance Schedule Handbook, Amendment 3 — MBIE, 14 February 2014 (first published 25 May 2007)
- SS 16 compliance schedule form — Palmerston North City Council
- Specified Systems Guidance for Customers, WBCA 003 v1.0.1 — Westland District Council BCA, 16 September 2025
General information only, not legal or engineering advice. Last reviewed 30 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
certify.nz includes a starting checklist for SS 16. Edit it to match the building's compliance schedule, inspect offline and issue a signed report.
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