Changes to BRAC building product accreditations
One function of BRAC is to accredit building products, construction methods, designs, components or systems connected with building work.
These changes will mean:
- An accreditation previously issued by the BRAC will now have an expiry date.
- An accreditation will be valid for a period of up to three years from the date of issue.
- For products, methods, designs, components or systems accredited prior to 1 January 2019, product owners will be contacted about their accreditation. If they still require their accreditation, new certificates will be issued detailing the expiry date. If a product owner does not confirm their continued need for an accreditation, their accreditation will be revoked.
- For products, methods, designs, components or systems accredited between 1 January 2019 and 30 November 2020, accreditation will expire 3 years from the date of their accreditation. Notice will be provided about the new date of expiry.
- Product owners will be required to apply for renewal of their accreditation prior to their accreditation expiring.
- New regulations will be made soon after the commencement of the new provisions, detailing new renewal processes.
Building surveyors must not refuse to approve building work if the product, method, design, component or system is accredited by the BRAC and the proposed work complies with that accreditation.
The VBA will continue to maintain the register of building products accredited by the BRAC.
These reforms are part of several being made to the Building Act 1993.
The BRAC is an independent statutory committee created under section 209 of the Building Act 1993.