Satisfied on reasonable grounds

Satisfied on reasonable grounds means having enough evidence or justification to believe something is true and valid. It implies a level of confidence based on sound reasoning or facts, rather than mere speculation or assumption.

The BCA is ultimately responsible for building consent outcomes, but owners, designers, and builders also have a role to play. Collectively, they need to ensure building projects comply with regulations and standards, uphold the safety and quality of the built environment, and maintain the integrity of the building consent process.

The BCA must make their judgement of ‘reasonable grounds’ through a range of decision-making that balances evidence with their professional expertise. This balance involves the evidence provided by the designer, the risk of non-compliance to the built environment, the competencies and experience of those in the decision-making process, and the policies, procedures, processes, and systems the BCA has in place under the accreditation scheme.

An example of a risk management is having some restriction on who can undertake and supervise certain design or building work such as occupational licensing, like the LBP scheme.

MBIE has just released a guidance document on Satisfied on reasonable grounds. This is primarily for BCAs to help improve understanding of what ‘satisfied on reasonable grounds’ means and how to apply it.

However, owners, designers and builders will also gain a better understanding of what it means to be satisfied on reasonable grounds, the roles and responsibilities of the main parties, and building consent applications.

Read the satisfied on reasonable grounds guidance(external link) — building.govt.nz