The decision to suspend the certificates in July followed an audit and peer review which identified there was insufficient documentation to support claims made on the certificates. Manufacturers were given until 31 October to rectify issues identified with their CodeMark certificates.

“One manufacturer made the decision to withdraw their two CodeMark certificates before the deadline, and MBIE has revoked the other four,” says Building System Assurance Manager Paul Hobbs.

“Of the four revoked certificates two were not able to be satisfactorily revised before the deadline, and two have been revised to remove fire safety claims, and new certificates have been issued under new numbers.

“The original certificates can no longer be relied on by building consent authorities when considering a building consent application.

“MBIE has been working with ACP manufacturers, and with JAS-ANZ, the body responsible for accrediting CodeMark certificate issuing organisations, to ensure any ACP product certificates that are reissued are done so with sufficient evidence-based documentation detailing how the panels should be used.

“This process has not unearthed evidence these products are dangerous, and the products were not banned. New Zealand buildings have both active and passive fire protections, and ACP products installed according to the New Zealand Building Code do not pose the same risk as panels used overseas,” Mr Hobbs says.

The current status of the certificates is as follows:

• CMA-CM40035 Alucobond Cladding Systems – certificate has been revoked, revised and issued under a new number
• CMA-CM40094 Symonite (Alubond) Cladding Systems – withdrawn by manufacturer
• CMA-CM40111-I02-R03 Symonite Cladding Systems (Reynobond FR) – withdrawn by manufacturer
• CMA-CM40193-I01-R01 Vitrabond FR Cladding System – certificate has been revoked
• CMA-CM40075-I01-R01 Alpolic FR ACM Panel Cladding – certificate has been revoked