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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Building Act 2004

Building - Safety of dams - Classification of dams

134B: Method of classification

You could also call this:

“This law explains how dam owners must rate their dams based on how dangerous they could be if they break.”

If you own a dam that falls under section 134, you need to classify it based on how much damage it could cause if it fails. You have to think about how it might affect people, property, and the environment.

When you’re classifying your dam, you need to do a few things. First, you must use the official safety rules for dams. These rules are set by the government. Then, you have to decide if your dam has a low, medium, or high potential impact if it fails. After you’ve done this, you need to get an expert engineer to check your classification.

The safety rules for dams might include guidelines from national or international groups that know a lot about dam safety. These guidelines can become part of the official rules through a process described in sections 405 to 413 of the Building Act.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM5769558.

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“The local government can ask dam owners to figure out how dangerous their dams are if they're in special areas.”

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“Rules for sorting canal dams into different groups based on how risky they are”

Part 2 Building
Safety of dams: Classification of dams

134BMethod of classification

  1. The owner of a dam to whom section 134 applies must classify the dam according to the potential impact of a failure of the dam on persons, property, and the environment.

  2. In classifying a dam, the owner must—

  3. apply the prescribed criteria and standards for dam safety; and
    1. give the dam one of the following classifications:
      1. low potential impact; or
        1. medium potential impact; or
          1. high potential impact; and
          2. submit the classification of the dam to a recognised engineer for audit.

            1. For the purposes of this section, the prescribed criteria and standards for dam safety may incorporate, in accordance with sections 405 to 413, the standards, requirements, or recommended practices of national or international organisations that are concerned with the operation and safety of dams.

            Notes
            • Section 134B: inserted, on , by section 39 of the Building Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 100).