Compliant building solutions are what all building professionals strive for, but recently there have been too many buildings using non-conforming and non-compliant building systems. This trend has garnered the type of negative public attention that can damage the industry.
Ensuring that the buildings you design will stand up to scrutiny and meet safety standards is paramount, and fortunately there are existing methods to help meet these obligations. One method of ensuring compliance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) is through CodeMark certification.
CodeMark certification
CodeMark is a voluntary national compliance certification scheme involving third-party reviews of building products and construction systems. It’s one of the most robust and widely accepted certification schemes designed to provide architects, engineers, designers, certifiers and other building professionals with greater confidence of compliance with appropriate BCA provisions.
Recent changes to the BCA have clarified how to demonstrate compliance, which can be achieved through either Performance Solutions or Deemed to Satisfy (DtS) Solutions, or a combination of both.
Both Volumes 1 & 2 of the BCA have standardised Parts A1 to A6, with parts A2 and A5 providing the framework for compliance pathways and assessing evidence for building products or systems.
Rather than just assessing products during manufacturing, CodeMark states that if products are installed incorrectly or installation documentation is inadequate, they may be deemed non-compliant or non-conforming.
Numerous audits are conducted during a CodeMark review to satisfy the Certification Authority that suitable processes are in place, ensuring consistency of the product or system from manufacturing through to installation.
CodeMark considers the product, manufacturing processes, the intended uses, conditions of use and installation to ensure the product or construction system satisfies relevant performance requirements of the BCA.
CodeMark Certificates of Conformity provide evidence that a product has been assessed by an independent certifier, the supply chain processes maintain compliance with the BCA, and provides confidence in the quality and performance of the product.
After installation, annual audits ensure the product or construction system continues to meet the performance provisions of the BCA and remains fit for purpose.
The review and audit process provides comfort to building surveyors and allows them to approve products and construction systems for different building classes and applications.
Permanent Formwork wall solutions and CodeMark
AFS Permanent Formwork walling solutions Logicwall® fibre cement and Rediwall® PVC formwork systems meets the provisions of the BCA and have CodeMark Certificates of Conformity. Both Logicwall® and Rediwall® meet the BCA requirements of Volumes 1 & 2, allowing the systems to be used in all building types and for all wall applications; including external walls, internal walls, basement perimeter walls, shafts (lift, stair, service) and columns.
The CodeMark Certificates of Conformity confirms Logicwall® and Rediwall® complies with the following pillars of the BCA:
- Structural
- Fire
- Weathertightness
- Acoustic
- Thermal
The methods of assessment and evidence presented for Logicwall® & Rediwall® has been certified by the independent CodeMark Certification Authority to be compliant with Parts A2 and A5 of the BCA Volumes 1 & 2.
When considering specification of any construction system, ensure you cover yourself and request evidence that the product compliance documentation meets both Parts A2 and A5 of the BCA.