Text description for Approved Products Certified Overseas figure 1

This graphic is a pyramid diagram that visually represents the structured hierarchy of legislation, compliance pathways, and guidance related to building products in New Zealand. It is organised from top to bottom, indicating the level of authority and specificity of each component.

Top Layer: Legislation (Mandatory)

• Building Act: Represented by a black triangle at the apex of the pyramid. This is the foundational legal framework governing building work in New Zealand.
• Building Code: Positioned directly below the Building Act. This black section outlines the objectives, functional requirements, and performance criteria that building work must meet.

Middle Layer: Compliance Pathways

This layer is divided into five adjacent sections, each representing a different pathway for demonstrating compliance with the Building Code:

• Alternative Solutions (grey): Custom approaches that differ from acceptable solutions or verification methods but still meet the Building Code.
• CodeMark (grey): New Zealand product certification scheme. Products certified under CodeMark are deemed to comply with the Building Code.
• Recognition of products certified overseas (orange): Recognition of products certified overseas by MBIE that are deemed to comply with the Building Code.
• Verification Methods (grey): Standardised tests or calculations used to demonstrate compliance.
• Acceptable Solutions (grey): Prescribed methods that, if followed, are deemed to comply with the Building Code.

Beneath these five sections is a grey horizontal rectangle labelled:

• Building Product Specifications: This must be used with the relevant Acceptable Solution or Verification Method, and refers to the detailed product specifications of building products used in construction.

Lower Layers: Supporting Guidance

These layers provide additional context and support for compliance:

• Guidance issued under the Building Act (light grey): Official documents that help interpret and apply the Building Act.
• Overseas standards and standards certification schemes endorsed by the Minister for Building and Construction (light grey): International benchmarks that are formally recognised within New Zealand’s regulatory framework.
• Information (light grey): General resources and data that support understanding and application of building regulations.

Side Elements

To the right of the pyramid:

• A red dashed orange box labelled “Deemed to comply” highlights that certain pathways or certifications automatically satisfy compliance requirements.
• Another orange box labelled “Recognition of products certified overseas” emphasises the acceptance of internationally certified building products within New Zealand’s compliance framework.