MBIE seeks feedback on wider range of building product standards 

Builders and other industry participants have until 11 September to have their say on proposals to expand the range of product standards available through the Building Product Specifications

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is consulting on the second amendment to the Building Product Specifications – a compliance pathway intended to make a wider range of building products easier to use in New Zealand. 

The proposed amendment adds standards and specifications covering reinforcement for concrete, steel, timber, wall bracing, flashings and metal sheet products used for roof and wall claddings. 

MBIE is seeking feedback on whether the proposed standards and other references are appropriate for use in New Zealand. It is also asking industry to identify additional standards that could be considered for inclusion in future amendments. 

Submissions close at 5pm on 11 September 2026. 

What are the Building Product Specifications?

The Building Product Specifications were introduced in July 2025 following changes to the Building Act aimed at reducing barriers to the use of building products, including products imported from overseas. 

They are one of three pathways introduced for overseas building products – alongside Approved Products Certified Overseas and Endorsed Standards. 

The Building Product Specifications contain standards and specifications relating to matters including the manufacture, fabrication, testing, quality control, physical properties, performance, installation and maintenance of building products. 

The first edition contained product standards and generic specifications, including requirements relating to concrete, steel, timber, cladding, windows, doors, insulation and HVAC systems. MBIE said those standards had been assessed as providing an equivalent or better level of performance than requirements already contained within Building Code documents. 

What does it mean for building consent applicants?

The Building Product Specifications do not provide a standalone means of demonstrating Building Code compliance. 

Instead, a product complying with a standard cited in the specifications must also be used within the scope and limitations of the relevant Acceptable Solution or Verification Method. 

Where those requirements are met, the building work must be accepted by the Building Consent Authority (BCA) as complying with the Building Code. 

In practice, the system is intended to provide additional product options within established compliance pathways. Builders and designers can reference standards and specifications included in the Building Product Specifications when preparing building consent applications. 

MBIE has previously said the approach is intended to provide greater product choice, incorporate a wider range of New Zealand and international standards into Building Code compliance pathways and make standards easier to add or update. 

What is proposed this time?

Amendment 2 would continue that expansion by adding standards and specifications across five areas – reinforcement of concrete, steel, timber including wall bracing, flashings, and metal sheet products used for roof and wall claddings and flashings.  

Click here to read the consultation document in full. 

The consultation does not mean designers will be required to specify products complying with the additional standards. Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods are themselves optional compliance pathways – although where they are followed, BCAs must accept them as evidence of Building Code compliance. 

MBIE is asking submitters whether the standards and references proposed for Amendment 2 should be included and whether there are other standards that should be considered in future. 

Feedback can be submitted through MBIE’s consultation process until 5pm on 11 September 2026. Click this link to submit your feedback.