A Certificate of Conformity issued under the CodeMark Australia scheme is one of several options for meeting the evidence of suitability requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC). It can be used to demonstrate that a product complies with specified parts of the NCC, provided the product is used to described in the certificate and in accordance with any stated limitations or conditions. 

A Certificate of Conformity is valid for three years, unless it is withdrawn or suspended earlier. The expiry date is clearly identified on the certificate. 

To have a product certified under the CodeMark Australia scheme, you'll need to contact an accredited CodeMark Certification Body. A list of recognised Certification Bodies is available on the JASANZ website. 

Certification Bodies are responsible for assessing applications for Certificates of Conformity in accordance with the CodeMark Australia Scheme Rules. You'll need to speak directly with a Certification Body to understand: 

• What information you need to provide
• What fees will apply
• How long the certification process is likely to take

The cost of certification can vary depending on several factors, including the quality of supporting evidence and the complexity of the product evaluation. Fees are part of a commercial arrangement between the applicant and the Certification Body. 

Information you may need to supply includes:

• A clear scope of use for the product
• The relevant NCC provisions the certification is intended to cover
• Product technical information and specifications
• Product test results
• Any independent assessments or appraisals

Yes, a Certificate of Conformity issued under the previous CodeMark Scheme remains valid unless it has expired, been withdrawn, or suspended. To confirm the validity of a certificate, users can search the register of Certificates of Conformity available on the JASANZ website. 

A Certificate of Conformity is one of several options available to demonstrate evidence of suitability under the National Construction Code (NCC). 

However, whether a Certificate of Conformity is accepted for a specific product or project may depend on state or territory legislation, as well as local policies or directives. You should check with your building control authority or certifier to confirm whether the certificate is considered appropriate for your particular circumstances. 

You can check if a product has CodeMark certification by searching the register of Certificates of Conformity on the JASANZ website. The register is searchable by product name or certificate number.

Certificates of Conformity issued under the CodeMark Australia scheme are available via the register of Certificates of Conformity on the JASANZ website. 

Certificates issued under the previous CodeMark scheme can be obtained directly from the Certification Body that issued them. Contact details for Certification Bodies are also available through the JASANZ website. 

Occasionally, there may be a short delay between a product receiving CodeMark certification and its Certificate of Conformity appearing on the official register. 

If you are unsure about the authenticity of a Certificate of Conformity that does not appear on the register, contact the Certification Body listed on the certificate for confirmation. 

The continued acceptance of a Certificate of Conformity issued under a previous edition of the NCC is at the discretion of the appropriate authority. This decision may depend on whether any relevant provisions have changed in the current NCC edition.

You should consult the appropriate authority to confirm whether the Certificate of Conformity is considered a suitable form of evidence for your specific product and project. 

Note: Certification Bodies have an obligation under the CodeMark Australia Scheme Rules to review Certificates of Conformity following the release of a new BCA edition.

A building solution that relies on a Certificate of Conformity certifying a product against the Performance Requirements is considered a Performance Solution. 

Under the NCC, a Performance Solution is one that meets the Performance Requirements by means other than a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution. In contrast, a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution complies with the specific Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions. Therefore, a building solution based on a Certificate of Conformity that certifies a product against the Performance Requirements cannot be considered a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution.

It's important to note that a Certificate of Conformity may only address part of a Performance Solution. In such cases, additional evidence of suitability is required to demonstrate compliance with all relevant Performance Requirements. The applicable provisions of the Governing Requirements in Section 1 of the NCC must also be satisfied.

For technical information about a Certificate of Conformity, contact the Certification Body listed on the certificate. They are responsible for assessing the product and can provide detailed information about its certification.

If you have a compliant about the CodeMark Australia scheme or its implementation, please refer to Section 6 of the CodeMark Australia Scheme Rules, which outlines the formal complaints process. 

Provision A2G2(4) of the NCC outlines the formal process and documentation requirements for developing Performance Solutions, including the preparation of a Performance-Based Design Brief (PBDB).

When a CodeMark Certificate is used to demonstrate that a product complies with relevant Performance Requirements, the process undertaken by the Conformity Body is considered equivalent to that outlined in A2G2(4). Therefore, construction practitioners do not need to repeat the A2G2(4) process when relying on a CodeMark Certificate that fully addresses the relevant Performance Requirements.

However, a CodeMark Certificate may only certify that a product or system meets some of the relevant Performance Requirements for a specific project. In such cases, the Certificate alone may not be sufficient to satisfy A2G2(4).

When using a CodeMark Certificate to demonstrate compliance with Performance Requirements, construction practitioners should:

1. Verify the validity of the CodeMark Certificate for the proposed building product or system. A register of valid certificates is available on the JASANZ website.
2. Confirm coverage: Ensure the Certificate addresses all relevant Performance Requirements for the intended use in the site-specific project.
3. Address gaps: If any Performance Requirements are not covered by the Certificate, undertake the A2G2(4) process, referencing the Certificate and considering the product or system holistically.
4. Review limitations: Check any limitations or exclusions stated in the Certificate against the proposed use to ensure they are appropriately managed. 

If you believe the CodeMark certification trade mark is being used without authorisation, misrepresented, or misleadingly associated with a product or organisation, it’s important to report it to help protect the integrity of the CodeMark Certification Scheme.

Examples of potential misuse include:

• Use of the CodeMark trade mark by a company or product not certified under the scheme,
• False claims of CodeMark Certification,
• Use of the trade mark in a way that implies endorsement by the ABCB or the CodeMark Certification Body when none exists.

How to report suspected misuse:

• Please contact the ABCB with the following details:
  • A description of the suspected misuse,
  • Where you saw it (e.g. website, product packaging, advertisement),
  • Any supporting evidence (e.g. screenshots, links, documents).

You can report misuse via the ABCB Help and Support page.

The ABCB will assess the report and may refer the matter to the relevant CodeMark Certification Body, regulatory authority, or take further action as appropriate.

Reminder: the CodeMark trade mark is a registered certification trade mark and is protected under Australian law. Unauthorised use may result in legal action.