Building, even a simple structure, involves hundreds and often thousands of different building products and materials. Every day, new products come onto the market, often from overseas. And so, safety in the built environment depends largely on the ability of those involved in the selection of materials, products and methods to select the ones that conform, comply and are fit for purpose.
In Australia, building products and materials must be ‘fit for purpose’ and comply with all relevant laws, codes and standards. The appropriateness must be confirmed via ‘evidence of suitability’, which can be one, or any combination of the following:
- A current CodeMark Australia or CodeMark Certificate of Conformity.
- A current Certificate of Accreditation.
- A report issued by an Accredited Testing Laboratory.
- A certificate or report from a professional engineer or other appropriately qualified person.
- Another form of documentary evidence.
Evidence of suitability is a document that confirms that the use of a material, product, form of construction or design meets a Performance Requirement or a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision of the National Construction Code.
Selecting the wrong product or using the right product incorrectly can lead to serious consequences and result in legal claims for building defects. The most extreme consequence of incorrect product selection or installation is loss of life.
Manufacturers, retailers, architects, engineers, certifiers, developers, builders and owners all must be aware of product compliance and conformance. While not everyone is directly responsible for product selection, awareness can mean that something that was potentially overlooked or missed, can be picked up during the process.
Are you involved in the building industry? Do you understand the evidence of suitability?
Enrol in the Building Product Suitability course to educate yourself to ensure project success, reduces safety risks, and minimises legal exposure.
This course has been developed to assist building owners and construction professionals by providing information on evidence of suitability for building component selection.