Building product accreditation
ATTENTION HOLDERS OF BUILDING PRODUCT ACCREDITATIONS GRANTED BY THE BUILDING REGULATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE BUILDING ACT 1993 (VIC) AND THE BUILDING REGULATIONS PRIOR TO 1 JANUARY 2019
ACTION REQUIRED: IF YOUR BUILDING PRODUCT ACCREDITATION WAS ISSUED PRIOR TO 1 JANUARY 2019, THIS NOTICE APPLIES TO YOU
If you are the holder of a building product accreditation issued prior to 1 January 2019 and you still require that accreditation, you must, within 60 days of the date of publication of this notice, provide confirmation to the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) that your building product accreditation is still required.
Confirmation that your building product accreditation issued prior to 1 January 2019 is still required can be provided by emailing the Secretariat, Building Regulations Advisory Committee at BRAC@vba.vic.gov.au.
If you do not provide confirmation to BRAC within 60 days of the date of publication of this notice that your building product accreditation is still required, your accreditation will be revoked at the end of 6 months after the date of publication of this notice.
Date of publication: 12 January 2021.
This notice is given pursuant to clause 4(3) of Schedule 11 to the Building Act 1993 (Vic) as amended by the Building and Environment Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2020 (Vic).
The Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) assesses product accreditation applications against the performance requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) or the Building Regulations 2018 (the Regulations).
The BRAC will consider the accreditation of building products, including construction methods, design components or systems connected with building work. The BRAC cannot consider applications for building products if the product complies with the deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the BCA.
The product accreditation process applies to innovative solutions that are difficult to assess by individual building surveyors. Central assessment by the BRAC helps ensure consistency and greater efficiency.
A certificate of building product accreditation is proof that a product meets the performance requirements of the Regulations or the BCA. Once a product is accredited, there is no need to prove its suitability each time building work requires a building permit. A building surveyor must accept the product, method, design, component or system if the use complies with the accreditation.
Victorian accreditation or national certification
The BRAC’s Victorian product accreditation system operates alongside a national product certification system, CodeMark. The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) manages CodeMark.
For products that will only be used only in Victoria, or if the initial marketing strategy is limited to Victoria, then Victorian accreditation may be appropriate.
If the product is to be used beyond Victoria, then national certification may be more suitable. You can find out more about the national certification system on the Australian Building Codes Board website or by calling 1300 134 631.
The Victorian product accreditation process
To apply for accreditation in Victoria, the product owner (or agent of the owner) needs to submit an application to the BRAC.
The BRAC meets each month and decides on an accreditation application after assessing all relevant test reports, appraisals or opinions submitted with the application.
If the BRAC is satisfied that the product meets the performance requirements of the Regulations or BCA and is suitable for accreditation, then a Certificate of Accreditation is issued.
How to lodge an application
You need to provide a written application with supporting documentation to the BRAC.
The supporting documentation needs to identify the building product material, the method of construction and design of the components for the work. Evidence that the product is fit for the purpose for which it is intended is also required.
- Refer to the BRAC Accreditation Application Lodgement Check Sheet (PDF, 119.71 KB) for the mandatory documentation that must be submitted with the application.
- Fill in the BRAC Product Accreditation Application Form (PDF, 352.58 KB) and the Supplementary Form (PDF, 167.62 KB).
- Fill in the Payment Authorisation Form (PDF, 235.83 KB).
- Submit the application with the relevant fee and supporting documentation via email to BRAC@vba.vic.gov.au.
You will be notified when the BRAC intends to consider your application. The BRAC may ask you to supply further test reports, appraisals or opinions to help them make a determination.
You are responsible for arranging and paying for any reports, appraisals or opinions requested by the BRAC.
The BRAC treats all information contained in any application as strictly confidential.