RESOURCES

In recent years, there have been increasing reports of non-conforming products including structural steel bolts, combustible cladding, copper pipe tubing, fire collars and products with asbestos. This has affected the safety and construction quality of Australian buildings.

The NCPR aims to gather up-to-date product conformity information from various government and industry groups to raise a greater awareness of product conformity among designers, specifiers, contractors, manufacturers and the general public.

Federal Government News

Senate Inquiry into non-conforming products

An inquiry into the effects of non-conforming building products on the Australian building and construction industry. Link here  .

On 27 November 2018, the Senate granted the committee an extension to report by 4 December 2018 (final report  ).

The Building Ministers' Forum (BMF)

The BMF   commissioned the independent experts, Professor Peter Shergold AC and Ms Bronwyn Weir to undertake the Assessment of the Effectiveness of Compliance and Enforcement Systems for Building and Construction Industry across Australia. The report   provides a basis to improve compliance and enforcement practices in building regulation across Australia.

An implementation plan  addresses this report’s recommendations and outlines a roadmap for reform.

In July 2019, the Building Confidence National Framework   has been developed by the BMF established Implementation Team.

State Government News

Queensland

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)  is a statutory body and it was established under the QBCC Act to regulate the building industry.

On 1 November 2017 The Non-Conforming Building Products – Chain of Responsibility and Other Matters Amendment Act   came into effect in Queensland.

New South Wales

The Building Products (Safety) Act 2017   commences operation on 18 December 2017. The Act’s primary purpose is to prevent the unsafe use of building products in buildings and to ensure the identification and rectification of affected buildings.

Victoria

Minister’s Guideline MG-14  : Issue of building permits where building work involves the use of certain cladding products.

South Australia

Building safety information on non-conforming and non-complying building products can be found here  .

Tasmania

Information can be found here  .

Western Australia

Recent developments in non-conforming building products can be found here  . just a test

Northern Territory

The NT supports the federal government and other states and territories addressing non-conforming and non-complying building products. Information can be found here  .

Australian Capital Territory

Information can be found here  .

Industry News

Industry submissions to the inquiry into non-conforming building products received in the 45th Parliament can be accessed here  .

Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS) Policy

The AIBS Policy on Building Regulatory Reform in Australia   seeks to identify and define the key components of an effective building regulatory system and to demonstrate that within such a system many aspects are interconnected and support each other.

Below is a list of AIBS's responses to the issue of Non-Conforming Building Products 

Australian Institute of Architects (AIA)

AIA focused on the importance of NATA/JAS-ANZ’s accreditation of conformity assessment bodies and welcomes the development of third-party product certification schemes to avoid fraudulent documentation and a lack of quality assessment. Details can be found here  .

Australian Institute of Building (AIB)

AIB made a recommendation for the federal government to establish a national building compliance office. The proposed office manages a National Register of Certified Construction Products (NRCCP). This facility aims to ensure compliance and improve standards. This is available as a PDF (Submission No. 16) here  .

Consult Australia

Consult Australia made a recommendation   to establish an independent Procurement Centre of Excellence to develop and implement best practice procurement and deliver value for money.

Engineers Australia

Engineers Australia identified issues caused by non-compliant products, in particular fire safety hazards in multistorey buildings. Engineers Australia emphasised the importance of accredited qualification of fire engineers. In the Submission  , attention was brought to the benefits of a propose National Engineering Register (NER), aiming to be developed by Engineers Australia.

Master Builders Australia (MBA)

Master Builders welcomes the opportunity to provide a Submission to the Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry into Non-Conforming Building Products in response to the additional terms of reference into the illegal importation of products containing asbestos. This is available as a PDF (Submission No. 35  ).

Department of Industry and Science

The submission focuses on the Australian standards and conformance framework and its global position. This is available as a PDF (Submission No. 43  ).

Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB)

ABCB suggested that adding mandatory product certification to the regulations is not necessarily the answer to the non-conforming building products issue, a review of the compliance and enforcement regimes that exist is more likely to yield the right answers. This is available as a PDF (Submission No. 49  ).
 

Other Information

General information   on non-conforming building products (NCBP) and relevant links on Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).