ARK Workmanship & Defect Assessment Standard

This Standard defines the assessment method. The applicable Warranty Policy and New Zealand law separately determine coverage and remedy.

1. Purpose and scope
This Standard provides a consistent technical method for assessing reported cabinetry, benchtop, hardware, lighting and installation workmanship. It may be used during pre-dispatch checks, on-site work, Handover, Service Requests and remedy verification.
It supports assessment but does not by itself decide legal warranty coverage, statutory rights or the remedy required by law.

2. Applicable records and versions
Before assessment, ARK should identify:
the ARKCode assigned to the relevant Project Record;
Accepted Quotation and Scope;
approved drawing and schedule revisions;
material, hardware and appliance records;
applicable Policy, Standard and Care Guide versions;
relevant Variation, exception and Handover records.
The ARKCode identifies the independent record. The same owner or property may have other ARKCodes for separate projects, which must not be mixed into the assessment.

3. Assessment sequence
ARK should:
identify the exact component, location, reported condition and first-discovered date;
identify the effect on safety, structure, essential function and ordinary use;
review pre-dispatch, delivery, installation and Handover evidence;
inspect under the appropriate viewing and operating conditions;
record measurements, photographs, tests and relevant environmental evidence;
distinguish original defect, accepted variation, ordinary adjustment, maintenance, use-related damage, other-trade cause and building or site cause;
classify the outcome and identify whether further assessment is required.

4. Safety, structure and function
Safety and structural stability take priority over appearance. A condition affecting fixing stability, support, electrical safety, falling risk, water entry or essential operation must be assessed regardless of ordinary viewing distance.
Functional assessment may include:
door and drawer operation;
soft-close, push-to-open and lift-up function;
cabinet fixing and support;
shelf and drawer loading evidence;
benchtop support, joins and openings;
sink integration and visible sealing;
cabinet lighting operation;
appliance clearances and interfaces;
evidence of moisture, heat, impact or another trade.

5. Normal viewing conditions
Cosmetic assessment should normally occur from the ordinary standing or use position, under normal interior lighting, without magnification or extreme raking light, unless the product specification or accepted project document requires another method.
Close-up photographs may assist evidence collection but do not automatically establish how a condition appears during ordinary use.

6. Measurement and tolerances
ARK must not invent an undisclosed numerical tolerance after a dispute arises.
A numerical or descriptive tolerance should be derived from an identified source, such as:
the Accepted Project Documents;
a versioned ARK Standard;
manufacturer or supplier technical information;
an applicable New Zealand standard or recognised industry reference;
reasonable workmanship expectations for the material, product and site condition.
The measurement tool, reference points, method and result should be recorded. Existing wall, floor and ceiling geometry must be distinguished from the installed cabinetry result.

7. Material and visual variation
A visible difference is not automatically a defect. Assessment should consider:
selected material and finish;
natural or manufactured variation;
batch, grain, pattern, veining, gloss and texture;
sample limitations;
surrounding light and colour;
ageing, sunlight and use;
whether a specific matching or pattern requirement was recorded.
ARK must not describe a clearly abnormal material condition as normal variation without reasonable evidence.

8. Cause assessment
The likely cause may be classified as:
original material or product concern;
ARK manufacturing, fabrication or installation workmanship concern;
adjustment or maintenance;
within accepted tolerance;
no defect identified;
use-related or environmental cause;
appliance, plumbing, electrical, other-trade or building cause;
unauthorised alteration;
Requires Further Assessment.
The fact that a condition arose during a warranty period does not by itself establish cause or coverage.

9. Minor Defects and Practical Completion
A Minor Defect is a limited condition that does not materially affect safety, structural integrity, essential function or reasonable use.
A Minor Defect may be recorded in an Outstanding Items List and addressed after Handover. This Standard does not permit Handover where critical work, safety, structural stability or essential kitchen function remains materially incomplete.

10. Remedy verification
After corrective work, ARK should record:
before evidence;
action completed;
replacement component or material, where applicable;
relevant measurement or functional test;
after evidence;
remaining limitation or matching difference;
completion date;
closure status.
A proportionate local remedy may be technically sufficient where it corrects the confirmed condition without replacing unaffected work.

11. Closure and reopening
Technical closure may be recorded as:
Remedied and Closed;
Within Accepted Tolerance;
No Defect Identified;
Settled by Agreement;
Requires Further Assessment;
Paid Service Completed.
Customer signature is not required for technical closure. A closed issue may be reconsidered where there is recurrence, failed remedy, material change or new relevant evidence. Repeated preference-based requests without new defect evidence do not automatically reopen an issue.

12. Project Record and myARK
ARK may preserve the assessment request, evidence, method, measurements, findings, remedy and closure in the Project Record. Released information may be made available to authorised users through myARK.
A checklist or Handover photograph is evidence of condition at the recorded time. It does not permanently exclude a later valid issue.

13. Legal boundary
This Standard does not determine whether an issue is covered by an ARK warranty, whether a statutory guarantee applies or which remedy the law requires. Those matters are determined under the applicable Contract Documents, Warranty Policy and New Zealand law.
Nothing in this Standard removes or reduces a right that cannot lawfully be excluded.