Building and construction can be complex.

Even ‘simple’ buildings are comprised of many thousands of building products and materials. Choosing and using the right materials and products is important whether your building project is a small renovation, major alteration, maintenance of an existing building, or a completely new build. Whether you are a novice planning your dream home or an expert about to start work on a multi-storey building you need to know how to make sure you build using genuine and suitable products and materials.

All building work in Australia must meet certain performance and legal requirements. This ensures our buildings are safe, healthy and durable which means we all can have confidence in their performance.

In recent years concerns have been raised about the risks of using substandard (‘non-conforming’) products or materials, or using them incorrectly (‘non-complying’).

This document is a guide to help everyone involved in building and construction to be aware of these issues, be informed about using the right products and materials, avoid problems, and know how to get information or help when needed.

If you are involved in a building project it is important you know who is responsible for each aspect of construction. From scoping and design to consents, construction and completion, you should understand your obligations no matter which role you play in the building supply chain.

You can reduce and manage the risks associated with using non-conforming or non-complying building products by learning about the different ways you can ensure your building materials meet the National Construction Code requirements, relevant technical standards, and local laws.