Fire performance of external wall cladding systems
Significant high-rise fire events globally have increased our understanding of how fire spreads externally and within modern facade construction. In 2019 MBIE reviewed the existing methods used to demonstrate compliance of external wall cladding systems with building regulations' fire safety objectives. Guidance was provided on how New Zealand Building Code requirements should be interpreted and whether international alternative fire tests and evaluation methods are suitable for use here.
Based on the feedback received on the 2019 guidance and subsequent engagement with the industry stakeholders, MBIE has released this revision of guidance on fire performance of external wall cladding systems.
This guide discusses how external wall cladding systems can be tested to determine their fire performance. This information will help industry to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the New Zealand Building Code.
This guide was revised to reflect amendments made to the Acceptable Solution C/AS2 and Verification Method C/VM2 in November 2020.
It was also revised in January 2026 with minor changes to reflect the publication of the second editions of C/AS2 and C/VM2 and the introduction of the Building Product Specifications.