Rapid building assessment resources

Last updated: 9 October 2026

Cover of the Rapid Post Disaster Building Usability Assessment – Earthquake document

Resources to assist authorised Rapid Building Assessors and engineers to effectively carry out rapid building assessments.

The following methodology, field guides, rapid building assessment forms and placards are used by authorised Rapid Building Assessors (RBAs) and engineers to effectively carry out rapid building assessments following an emergency event.

These resources support a consistent and transparent approach to post-event building assessments across New Zealand.

Field guides

MBIE published two field guides. Authorised RBAs and engineers should carry out rapid building assessments in accordance with the relevant field guide:

RBA Field Guide - all event types
Rapid Post Disaster Building Usability Assessment – Geotechnical.

The Geotechnical Field Guide is currently being revised and will be re-published in 2026.

Previous versions

Previous versions of the field guides.

Rapid building assessment methodology

The rapid building assessment methodology is set by the Chief Executive of MBIE under section 133BQ(2)(a) of the Building Act 2004.

The methodology sets out the minimum requirements for carrying out and documenting rapid building assessments following an emergency. It provides a nationally consistent framework for managing assessment operations, authorising assessors, identifying and recording hazards, documenting assessment outcomes, and making placarding decisions.

The methodology brings together requirements that were previously spread across forms, placards, field guides, and guidance documents.

What the methodology covers

The methodology sets minimum requirements for:

managing rapid building assessment operations, including health and safety requirements
authorising assessors
identifying and recording hazards
documenting assessment outcomes
making placarding decisions.

The methodology focuses on the core rapid building assessment process. It does not prescribe operational matters such as mandatory training programmes or assessor identification requirements.

Find out more

Read the rapid building assessment methodology:

Building (Post-event Assessment) Methodology 2026 [PDF 156KB]

Rapid building assessment forms

Territorial authorities and authorised RBAs must use the approved forms and placards when preparing rapid building assessments.

Forms (PDF)

Building rapid assessment form (all event types) [PDF 349KB]

Geotechnical rapid building assessment form [PDF 373KB]

Rapid building assessment survey templates (digital forms)

Digital versions of the rapid building assessment and geotechnical forms are available for territorial authorities to download onto an Arc GIS platform (for example, Survey 123).

Guidance for RBAs

How to access rapid building assessment templates on Survey123

Guidance and resources for system administrators

MBIE rapid building assessment survey templates and data dictionary

Publishing the MBIE RBA survey templates

Rapid building assessment placards

The following placards are used by authorised RBAs, following a rapid building assessment, to show how a building may be used and whether there are any restrictions to occupancy. Only authorised officials can place, change or remove these placards.

Download and print:

Placards and forms quick guide to the 2023 changes

MBIE produced a quick guide detailing the changes to the placards and rapid building assessment forms, including implementation information for territorial authorities.

Rapid building assessment placards and forms quick guide [PDF 1.2MB]

Detailed assessments

In a state of emergency or transition period, or when an affected area has been designated under the Building Act for building emergency management, civil defence emergency management/territorial authority officials can direct the owner of a building, or owners of buildings of a particular type, to obtain a detailed assessment of the building. These assessments are the responsibility of a building owner.

Information about the assessment process can be found in MBIE's Guidance on managing buildings in an emergency:

Guidance for decision-makers and territorial authorities

The Civil Defence website also has further information about requiring a structural assessment:

National Emergency Management Agency — civildefence.govt.nz

Guidance is also available on the different types of detailed assessments: