NCC provision A2.2(4) took effect on 1 July 2021. It sets out the formal process and documentation requirements for the development of Performance Solutions, including the preparation of a Performance Based Design Brief (PBDB).
This article explains the relationship between CodeMark Australia Certificates of Conformity (CodeMark Certificates) and A2.2(4), and the steps a construction practitioner should take when relying on a CodeMark Certificate as documentation for a Performance Solution.
CodeMark Certification Scheme
The CodeMark Australia Certification Scheme is a non-mandatory certification scheme that provides a method for verifying that a building product or system meets requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) as nominated in the certificate. A certificate may attest compliance with relevant Performance Requirements based on compliance with Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Provisions or based on compliance with a Performance Solution or a combination of both.
The Conformity Body that issues a CodeMark Certificate is required to undertake an assessment of the product using a process that is equivalent to the process set out in A2.2(4). Therefore, when relying on a CodeMark Certificate to demonstrate that a Performance Solution complies with relevant Performance Requirements, a construction practitioner need not undertake the process in A2.2(4) again. However, it is important to note that a CodeMark Certificate may only certify that a product or system meets some of the Performance Requirements that are relevant to the use of that product or system for a particular project. In these cases, the CodeMark Certificate on its own may not be sufficient to comply with A2.2(4).
Steps to be followed when relying on a CodeMark Certificate
When a CodeMark Certificate is used to demonstrate compliance with a Performance Requirement, the following steps need to be undertaken by construction practitioners:
- Check that the CodeMark Certificate for the building product or system proposed to be used is valid. The JAS-ANZ website contains a register of all valid CodeMark Certificates.
- Check that the CodeMark Certificate certifies the relevant building product or system against all relevant Performance Requirements for the proposed use within the site-specific project.
- For any relevant Performance Requirements proposed to be met by a Performance Solution that are not covered by the CodeMark Certificate, undertake the process in A2.2(4) referencing the CodeMark Certificate and considering the proposed use of the product or system holistically.
- Check any limitations or exclusions set out in the CodeMark Certificate against the proposed use of the building product or system in the site-specific project to ensure they have been met.
Learn more about the CodeMark Australia Certification Scheme, including the scheme rules on its website. Further information about A2.2(4) can also be found in our news article.