Building Owners and Placards Update

Building owners in Christchurch are being reminded of the steps they should take to have buildings checked before the removal of safety placards.

Green, yellow and red placards were placed on buildings following the February earthquake and provided a basic safety evaluation system.

General Manager Regulation and Democracy Services, Peter Mitchell, says the placards identified the worst immediate hazards, but cannot be used as a final determination of the structural safety of a building.

"We understand some people have had an extremely tough time being out of their buildings and that it has financial implications. But safety must come first at all times and people should not go back into buildings without having had more detailed safety assessments done."

"A building with a red placard is unsafe to enter and certainly shouldn’t be occupied. It means a rapid or initial assessment identified damage where entry could result in death or injury. "

A yellow placard indicates the structural safety of building is questionable and it may not be able to sustain future aftershocks. Further assessment may reveal severe damage or even the need for demolition.

A green placard does not clear a building as completely safe. It indicates no significant damage was identified during initial and rapid assessments.

Residential and commercial building owners are responsible for taking the next step beyond a basic safety evaluation by engaging a chartered professional structural engineer.

Residential building owners should contact the Earthquake Commission before engaging a structural engineer.

Commercial building owners should also consider a systems check for their Building Warrant of Fitness, undertake a fire safety and egress check and electrical systems check.