Second set of WaterMark recognition notices takes effect

A second tranche of Australian WaterMark certified plumbing and drainage products can now be used in New Zealand building consent applications, following the publication of new recognition notices under The Ministry of Building, Innovation and Employment’s Approved Products Certified Overseas pathway

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has published a second set of recognition notices covering plumbing and drainage products certified under Australia’s WaterMark scheme.

The notices confirm that selected products meet specific clauses of the New Zealand Building Code and can be relied on as evidence of compliance when used within their approved scope.

MBIE states that the second release covers approximately 38,000 products from 18 WaterMark Schedule of Products categories that have been certified to Australian standards and WaterMark Technical Specifications.

These recognitions add to approximately 92,000 WaterMark products that were recognised in late 2025.

What is the Australian WaterMark scheme?

The Australian WaterMark Certification Scheme is a mandatory program for plumbing and drainage products administered by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).

It ensures products meet defined safety and performance standards, confirming they are fit for purpose and authorised for use in plumbing and drainage installations across Australia.

Find out more about Watermark here: https://watermark.abcb.gov.au/consumers/what-watermark.

Effective date and consent use

The second set of recognition notices is effective from 9 February 2026 and can immediately be used in building consent applications.

MBIE said recognition notices provide “formal recognition of overseas products”, with MBIE stating they are intended to streamline the building consent process “by reducing duplication and improving clarity and certainty for designers, specifiers and suppliers”.

Building Consent Authorities are required to accept products covered by a recognition notice “when used in accordance with the terms of the notice”.

How to use the newly approved products

Step 1. Decide on what recognition notice you are going to use in your building consent application.

Make sure the recognition notice lists the product certificate you are specifying in your building consent application.

Recognition notices and product details are under the heading ‘current recognition notices’.

Step 2. Add the recognition notice and supporting information into your building consent application.

This includes:

• A copy of the recognition notice.
• The product certificate for that recognised product.
• Relevant supporting technical information such as installation manuals.

Product certificates should be accessible either on the product certification scheme’s website or on the product certification body’s website.

The recognition notice shows certain product certificate details, including the responsible product certification body, the certificate number, and the conditions and limitations of how you must use the notice.

Step 3. Submit your building consent application.

The BCA processes your building consent application with the recognition notice as evidence of compliance with the Building Code. If specified as laid out in the recognition notice, BCAs must accept the recognised building product.

Approved Products Certified Overseas is a ‘deemed-to-comply’ pathway under the Building Act. When the BCA receives a building consent application, it will follow this process to establish compliance:

• Check that the recognition notice is current. Each recognition notice has a unique ID to make it easy to find the right one on this page.
• Check that the product certificate is the same one stated on the recognition notice, and the product certificate is current. Product certificates should be accessible either on the product certification scheme’s website, or on the product certification body’s website. If the product certificate is not available online, BCAs will email the relevant product certification body.
• Check that the product is specified in accordance with its intended use. The intended use should be specified on the product certificate, but it also may be in other supporting technical information. For recognised WaterMark-certified products, the certified intended use and scope, and application of the product, can be found on the recognition notice itself or on the WaterMark Schedule of Products.

If these checks are met, then the BCA must accept the recognised product as complying with the Building Code.

If the product is used outside the scope of the recognition notice, a BCA is not required to accept it as complying with the Building Code. It may ask for further evidence in order to assess compliance with the Building Code.

View the current recognition notices here.