Evidence of Suitability
Under the National Construction Code (NCC), building materials, products, systems and designs must be supported by evidence of suitability to show they are fit for purpose.
Under the National Construction Code (NCC), building materials, products, systems and designs must be supported by evidence of suitability to show they are fit for purpose.
These requirements are set out in Part A5 of the NCC.
Evidence of Suitability pathways [NCC A5G3 (1)]
The provisions provide six pathways for establishing conformity assessment and they are presented as equal or interchangeable. However, they are not equal in assessment rigour.
It is essential to consider the level of risk associated with how the product will be used in the building and have this inform the type of evidence that is most appropriate to provide confidence and trust in product conformity.
Guidance on how to do this is provided in the ABCB’s Evidence of Suitability Handbook.
The current system, in providing different pathways for demonstrating evidence of suitability, without clearly explaining when each should be used or the level of assessment required, creates confusion and inconsistency. Specifically:
As a result, building surveyors (certifiers) may accept or reject different types of evidence for the same product, leaving manufacturers, suppliers and practitioners uncertain about whether their compliance information is appropriate.
The National Building Products Coalition (NBPC) has proposed changes to NCC Parts A5G1, A5G2 and A5G3 to improve clarity and consistency. The recommendations:
These changes aim to reduce uncertainty and ensure that compliance information is clear, reliable and trusted across the construction industry.
NBPC proposal for change