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Regulations for product certification become law

October 30 2008 saw the regulations for product certification come into force. These regulations set out the criteria against which various decisions under the scheme will be made.

The regulations prescribe:

  • (i) the criteria and standards that a product certification body must meet to be accredited and the fees to pay to the product certification accreditation body
  • (ii) the criteria and standards that a building method or product must meet for certification under the Building Act 2004
  • (iii) the contents of product certificates, which include conditions that require a certificate holder to notify the product certification body of changes to the certified building method or product, and to disclose any non-compliance of the certified building method or product with the Building Code.

About the scheme

Product certification is a voluntary scheme designed to provide an effective way to demonstrate a building product or method of construction meets the requirements of the New Zealand Building Code. The scheme is likely to be most effective for new and innovative products or those with high consequences of failure.

The Department has developed the scheme with the Australian Building Codes Board and it will operate under the brand name 'CodeMark' in both Australia and New Zealand.

The Joint Accreditation System - Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) will have the responsibility, as the product certification accreditation body (PCAB), of accrediting organisations to assess products and methods for certification. These organisations will be called product certification bodies (PCBs).

While there are other methods of demonstrating Building Code compliance, for example, independent appraisal, a product certificate has legal status in that it is deemed to comply with the Building Code.

All building consent authorities must accept product certification as evidence of Building Code compliance, if the product is being used in accordance with the certificate and its instructions.

Next steps

The Department will shortly Gazette some administrative matters in relation to:

  • the PCAB ensuring that product certification activities are conducted in a manner consistent with the CodeMark Scheme Rules
  • the minimum frequency of audits that the PCAB must conduct on accredited PCBs
  • notice of materials to be incorporated by reference in the Building (Product Certification) Regulations 2008.

With the regulations now in effect, the Department and JAS-ANZ are working with a number of organisations who are interested in becoming PCBs.

When the first PCBs are accredited, the Department and JAS-ANZ will advise who they are and provide more detail on how to apply for certification.

To find out more about the scheme, call 0800 242 243 or visit www.dbh.govt.nz/blc-product-certification