Designing Schools in Aotearoa New Zealand (DSNZ)#

Designing Schools in Aotearoa New Zealand (DSNZ) standards set out requirements you must follow when designing or planning to do work in a school.

It is an easily readable lead document in a suite of documents. The additional documents (SGR and DQLS requirements) are more technical, but also applicable and need to be delivered on.

The standards aim for school property that is:

• consistent
• durable and easy to maintain
• resilient
• of enduring benefit to all learners and their communities
• meeting our policies.

When the design requirements apply#

The standards are mandatory for new build projects. You should meet them where possible (practicable) when completing maintenance and refurbishments. This applies regardless of who owns the property or funds a project.

Download the DSNZ#

DSNZ is the principal document in our suite of design standard and guideline documents. It sets out the requirements in an easy-to-understand form for all audiences.

Structural and geotechnical requirements for school buildings#

When designing or assessing school buildings, you must meet our requirements and expectations with regards to:

• seismic policy
• risk management procedures
• structural and geotechnical requirements.

Find out more about structural and geotechnical requirements for school buildings.

Structural and geotechnical requirements for school buildings

Designing Quality Learning Spaces (DQLS) requirements #

Acoustics, Lighting and Indoor Air Quality#

Design teams must comply with the Designing Quality Learning Spaces (DQLS) requirements when designing schools and kura. 

The DQLS requirements are outlined in a series consisting of 3 documents:

• Acoustics
• Lighting and visual comfort
• Indoor air quality and thermal comfort.

Links to the documents, along with further information about the requirements, are available on Designing Quality Learning Spaces.

Designing Quality Learning Spaces

Weathertightness design requirement for school buildings #

In addition to following the New Zealand Building Code, contractors and suppliers must meet our weathertightness standards for new school buildings. These standards are outlined in more detail on Weathertightness design standards for school buildings.

Weathertightness design standards for school buildings

Fire and safety design requirements for schools#

Requirements for managing fire risk at schools are set out in our Fire and Safety Design Requirements for Schools document – 'the fire policy'. This tells you how to protect your school from fires.

The fire policy covers:

• building design
• fire alarm systems
• use of sprinklers
• minimum separation distances between Ministry buildings
• maximum allowable firecell size.

In some areas, we have requirements that are above the Building Code. Make sure the consultants your school use on a project, such as your project manager, architect and engineer, have a copy of our fire policy which sets out our requirements in full, as some information is technical.

Download the Ministry fire policy (dated 2008), which includes addendums from July 2017 and June 2018 at the beginning of the document.

Design standards for toilets and changing areas in schools#

We have design standards that schools must follow when building a new toilet area or upgrading existing facilities. These standards are outlined in more detail on Design standards for toilets and changing areas in schools.

Design standards for toilets and changing areas in schools

Fencing at schools#

Boards may decide to install fences for security or privacy reasons. Fences may also support ākonga | student safety, particularly younger students and those with learning support needs.

When you install new fencing, it must meet our design standards. These standards are outlined in more detail on Fencing at schools.

Fencing at schools

Download school design products guidance#

The school design products guidance document has information about products to use for school design.

Installing bilingual signs in schools#

Installing signs in both English and Māori promotes learning opportunities and encourages people to use te reo Māori. Use our list to choose the signs you think promote learning opportunities at your school.

This guidance is on pages 4 to 6.

Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated timber in schools #

Timber treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) is a potential health risk because it contains arsenic. Your board needs to manage this risk, especially in the playground.

This guidance is on page 7.

Energy efficiency design at schools#

Your school board needs to consider energy efficiency needs for new buildings and existing buildings and systems at school.

This guidance is on page 8.

Floor coverings for schools#

We do not have requirements about what kind of floor coverings schools can buy. Your board can decide which floor coverings will work best in the different areas of your school.

This guidance is on page 9.

Glass installed in schools#

Glass can be a hazard at schools if it breaks. Your board needs to manage this hazard. You also need to know what kind of glass to install and what glazing standards you need to comply with.

This guidance is on pages 10 and 11.

Joinery and hardware installed in schools#

The school environment can be tough on joinery and hardware such as door handles, window hinges and door stops. When joinery or hardware breaks it can be a hazard, which your board needs to manage. You should buy commercial grade joinery and hardware and keep it well maintained.

This guidance is on pages 12 to 15.

Roofing materials for school buildings#

When your school is getting a new building, replacing a roof, or reviewing the safety of existing roofs, your board needs to choose the most suitable type of roofing material. Roofing must also be correctly installed.

This guidance is on pages 13 to 16.