New regulations for building products

Codewords 108: August 2022

The new regulations for building products mean that certain information is required to be provided publicly by building product manufacturers and importers. Retailers and distributors will then need to check that the required information is available for the designated building products they sell or distribute.

The regulations will make it easier for designers, builders and homeowners to decide which products are right for the job, use them as intended, and make decisions about alternative products where there are product shortages. They will also help building consent authorities with more efficient consenting, as they will have the right information readily available to check that building products included in plans and specifications meet their applicable Building Code performance requirements.

Manufacturers, importers, retailers, and distributors have 18 months to prepare to meet their obligations, before the regulations apply to designated building products manufactured in, or imported, into New Zealand, on or after, 11 December 2023.

There are 2 classes of designated building products:

• Class 1: batch or mass-produced products that are typically available for retail or wholesale purchase. For example, cladding products, mechanical fixings, insulation products, internal lining, roofing products, structural wood-based products, structural steel and reinforcing products, sanitary plumbing and drainage products, including tapware (this is not an exhaustive list).
• Class 2: custom-made lines of products that are made to order to client specifications. For example, external window joinery and doors that have been customised to the specifications of individual clients (for example, specifications on dimensions and glass type).

Information must be published and maintained on an internet site that is publicly available. Information requirements to be displayed online include:

• the name and a description of the product (or product line from which the product is customised) and its intended use
• a product identifier (in most circumstances)
• the legal and trading name of manufacturers and, if applicable, importers
• a statement specifying the relevant clauses of the Building Code and how the product is expected to contribute to compliance, as well as any limitations on the use of the product
• any design, installation and maintenance requirements
• either a statement that the product is not subject to any warnings or bans or a description of warnings or bans applicable to the product.

MBIE has further information available to help manufacturers, importers, retailers, and distributors with their responsibilities.

Find out more about the new regulations for building products(external link)

By Robyn McClymont and Conor Topp-Annan, Senior Advisors, Building System Performance, MBIE

Quiz:

1. When do the new regulations come into effect?
   On products that are manufactured in, or imported into, New Zealand on or after:
   
   1. 11 December 2022
   2. 11 December 2023
   3. 11 December 2024
2. What is some of the information the new regulations require building product manufacturers and importers to provide on designated products?
   1. The name and a description of the product (or product line from which the product is customised) and its intended use
   2. A statement specifying the relevant clauses of the Building Code and how the product is expected to contribute to compliance
   3. Any limitations on the use of the product
   4. Any design, installation, and maintenance requirements
   5. All the above
3. Who are the new regulations designed to help?
   1. Designers
   2. Builders
   3. Homeowners
   4. Building consent authorities
   5. All the above