Three-and-a-half years after the CTV building pancaked in the Christchurch earthquakes, killing 115 people, the Government has outlined its plans to get tougher on structural engineers.
The building's designers Alan Reay and David Harding, have not faced any penalty from the Institution of Professional Engineers or the Chartered Professional Engineers' Council. The Government said today it is proposing tighter regulation of the profession to raise standards and hold them accountable when things go wrong.
Rescue workers at the ruins of the CTV building. Photo: AFP / USAR
The proposed reforms of the Building Act and Chartered Professional Engineers legislation follow recommendations from the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission, which looked into the collapse of the CTV building in the February 2011 earthquake.
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Earlier this year, Alan Reay and David Harding escaped being sanctioned by their professional body over the collapse by resigning their membership.
Under the new rules, this would not be allowed, and cases of serious misconduct would be handled by an independent body. Maximum fines would increase from $5000 to $20,000 and it would be mandatory for those designing multi-storey buildings to be an appropriately skilled Chartered Professional Engineer.
Andrew Cleland, the outgoing chief executive of the Institution of Professional Engineers, told Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme today that his organisation is very much in favour of that.
"These cases often involve judicial and legal matters, so having a body with those specialist skills to deal with the really difficult cases we see as an advantage."
Dr Cleland believes the proposed power to immediately suspend an engineer in the interim is sensible.
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Building Minister Nick Smith said today that, under the changes, it would be compulsory for structural, geotechnical and fire engineers to be registered with a professional body, and only they will be able to design and sign off complex or multi-storey buildings.
Dr Smith said new disciplinary measures will prevent engineers from dodging scrutiny and accountability by resigning, and they will be legally obliged to blow the whistle on clients who try to cut corners on safety.
The Building Act and Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Act would be updated to include the recommendations of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission, he said.
Submissions close at the end of October.