03 November 2025
                        
                                                                                    
                
            The most common building inspection fails
Main reasons for individual inspection fails in the last year in Auckland (residential and commercial).
Framing (32%)
- Wall bracing connections not installed correctly or missing
 - Steel beams and fixings non-compliant
 - Timber beams and fixings non-compliant
 - Top and bottom plate sizes and fixings incorrect
 - Wall framing point load stud locations/fixings incorrect
 
Cladding (25%)
- Cladding junction details not installed correctly
 - Cladding fixings incorrect
 - Cladding integrity or damage
 - Roof flashings incomplete
 - Non-compliance cladding clearances (to ground, roofs, other materials)
 
Cavity wrap (30%)
- Flashings at junctions installed correctly
 - Head, sill, jamb flashings or support bars not installed correctly
 - Building wrap and restraint too loose, inadequate laps or holes
 - Apron flashing support, size or end detail (e.g. kickout) non-compliant
 - Pipe penetrations not installed correctly (falls and tape flashings)
 
Foundations (17%)
- Piles footing sizes incorrect
 - Piles sizes and heights incorrect
 - Set out on site not as per plan
 - Drain bridging non-compliant
 - Strip foundation width, depth or layout not as per plan
 - Strip foundations reinforcing size, grade, laps or bends non-compliant
 - Surface water control non-compliant
 - Silt and erosion control not installed
 - Insufficient concrete cover to foundation reinforcing
 - Inadequate ground or soil conditions
 
Drainage (14%)
- 
	
Drainage as-built plan not onsite
 - Storm water not as per design
 - Drain test failed
 - Rain water tank type, location and installation not as per design
 - Pipework trench width/depth or bedding incorrect
 
Pre-line (36%)
- Timber framing moisture content too high
 - Joinery not installed correctly (includes air seals)
 - Corner steel angles for tiles not installed
 - Balustrade or barrier framing not structurally adequate or too low
 - Insulation installation non-compliant
 
Slab (13%)
- Raft Slab size, layout, thickness or shape incorrect
 - Inadequate reinforcing concrete cover
 - Insufficient mesh and reinforcing size or laps
 - Inadequate under-slab hardfill, blinding or DPM
 - Hardfill or blinding not runout past slab edge enough
 
Final inspection (37%)
- Smoke alarms not installed or interconnected
 - Cladding penetrations and junctions not adequately weathertight
 - Inadequate clearances between cladding to finished ground level
 - Non-compliant entry stairs, landing, handrail or barriers
 - Drainage: ORG / gully trap installed incorrectly
 - Flashings incomplete or not weathertight
 - Window/door joinery not weathertight
 - Hot water temperature too hot
 - Hot water cylinder installation non-compliant
 - Inadequate clearances between finished floor level and ground level