PRODUCT TESTINGS
EVIDENCE OF SUITABILITY
What is Codemark? The CodeMark Certification Scheme is a voluntary third-party building product certification scheme that authorises the use of new and innovative products in specified circumstances in order to facilitate compliance with Volumes One and Two of the NCC, also known as the Building Code of Australia or BCA.
FAQ: Is Codemark necessary for all building products? A Certificate of Conformity issued under the CodeMark Australia scheme is only one of several options available for meeting the evidence of suitability requirements of the BCA.
New or innovative components, as well as components where the consequences of failure have been assessed as high, typically require assessment using more rigorous options to prove compliance. Certification schemes, such as CodeMark, CodeMark Australia and WaterMark, provide users with a source of recognition for components that comply with the NCC. Such schemes aim to achieve conformity in certification practices and establish market confidence.
Components that require less extensive forms of assessment to prove NCC compliance may include elements of buildings that present little risk, have been used in Australia for many years and have a strong history of successful performance in the built environment, i.e. they have a low probability of failure. They may also include components where the consequences of failure, should it occur, have been assessed as low.
A5.2 Evidence of suitability – Volumes One and Two 1. Subject to A5.4, A5.5 and A5.6, evidence to support that the use of the material, product, form of construction or design meets a Performance Requirement or a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision may be in the form of any one, or any combination of the following:
(a) A current CodeMark Australia or CodeMark Certificate of Conformity
Other methods of assesment acceptable to NCC and BCA:
(b) A current Certificate of Accreditation
(c) A current certificate, other than a certificate described in (a) and (b), issued by a certification body stating that the properties and performance of a material, product, form of construction or design fulfil specific requirements of the BCA.
(d) A report issued by an Accredited Testing Laboratory that— (i) demonstrates that a material, product or form of construction fulfils specific requirements of the BCA; and (ii) sets out the tests the material, product or form of construction has been subjected to and the results of those tests and any other relevant information that has been relied upon to demonstrate it fulfils specific requirements of the BCA.
(e) A certificate or report from a professional engineer or other appropriately qualified person that— (i) certifies that a material, product, form of construction or design fulfils specific requirements of the BCA; and (ii) sets out the basis on which it is given and the extent to which relevant standards, specifications, rules, codes of practice or other publications have been relied upon to demonstrate it fulfils specific requirements of the BCA.
To download a copy of the NCC handbook visit the following link:
https://www.abcb.gov.au/Resources/Publications/Education-Training/Evidence-of-Suitability
FIRE TESTING
There are Two Methods in meeting the non-combustibility requirement in the BCA.
One is by testing to AS 1530.1 and the other is meeting the Deemed to Satisfy C1.9 (e)(v) both are acceptable in proving the material is non-combustible.
See the following from Fire Engineer:
“I hope the following explanation clears up any confusion regarding non-combustibility requirements of the BCA.
The BCA requires “non-combustible” materials for use in certain applications. The term non-combustible is a defined term:
Non-combustible means:
(a) applied to a material - not deemed combustible as determined by AS 1530.1 - Combustibility Tests for Materials; and
(b) applied to construction or part of a building - constructed wholly of materials that are not deemed combustible.
The above definition means that for a material to be deemed “non-combustible” it must be tested to AS1530.1, however, in accordance with BCA Provision C1.9 some materials may be used where non-combustible materials are required if the material meets certain criteria:
C.9 Non-combustible materials
The following materials, though combustible or containing combustible fibres, may be used whenever a non-combustible material is required:
(a) Plasterboard
(b) Perforated gypsum lath with a normal paper finish
(c) Fibrous-plaster sheet
(d) Fibre-reinfourced cement sheeting
(e) Pre-finished metal sheeting having a combustible surface finish not exceeding 1mm thickness and where the Spread-of-Flame of the product is not greater than 0.
(f) Bonded laminated materials where:
(i) each laminate is non-combustible; and
(ii) each adhesive layer does not exceed 1mm in thickness; and
(iii) the total thickness of the adhesive layers does not exceed 2mm; and
(iv) the Spread-of-Flame Index and the Smoke-Developed Index of the laminated material as a whole does not exceed 0 and 3 respectively.
In other words, when the BCA requires a material to be non-combustible there are 2 options for compliance. Option 1 is to use a material which has been tested to AS1530.1. Option 2 is to use one of the materials listed in C1.12. Both options are equally compliant where non-combustible materials are required.”
“Your product is an aluminium sheet with an external coating of a combustible polymer, which you have confirmed to be less than 1 mm thick. It falls into the same category as other prefinished metal sheeting such as Colorbond steel or any painted metal sheet and is assessed as such under Clause C1.9(e.)(v.) of the BCA 2019.
All Archclad materials have been tested to AS 1530.3 and show a Zero “Spread of Flame Index.”
Test certificates are available upon request.
To download a copy of the NCC Weatherproofing (FV1.1) FP1.4- visit the following link:
https://www.abcb.gov.au/Resources/Publications/Education-Training/Weatherproofing
WEATHERPROOF TESTING
The NCC and BCA state: “ A roof and external walls ( including openings around windows and doors) must prevent the penetration of water that could cause-
Unhealthy or dangerous conditions, or loss of amenities for occupants; and
Undue dampness or deterioration of building element”
Prior to the release of the 2022 NCC there was no provision for a “Deemed to Satisfy” (DTS) solution with regards to Weatherproofing.
This has changed with the release of the NCC 2022.
For Non-Residential applications NCC Vol 1 Classes 2-9:
The 2022 NCC outlines a “Deemed to Satisfy’ provision (DTS) for F3P1 and F3D1 as;
“Where a “Deemed to Satisfy” Solution is proposed, Performance Requirement F3P1 is satisfied by complying with F3D2 to F3D5.”
F3D2 Roof covering- A roof must be covered with (b.) metal sheet roofing complying with AS 1562.1
F3D3 Sarking- Sarking Type material used for weatherproofing of roof and walls must comply with AS 4200.1 and AS 4200.2
F3D5 Wall Cladding- 10 External walls must comply with (c.) Metal wall Cladding: AS 1562.1
For Residential applications NCC Vol 2:
Performance requirements section- H2P2 weatherproofing:
A roof and external wall (including openings around windows and doors) must prevent the penetration of water that could cause:
Unhealthy or dangerous conditions, or loss of amenity for occupants; and
Undue dampness or deterioration of building elements
Verification method for performance based solutions are set out at H2V1.
NCC 2022 outlines Deemed- to- Satisfy Provision (DTS) for metal cladding at H2D1 “where a Deemed to Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirement H2P2 are satisfied for damp and weatherproofing for roof and wall cladding if it is in accordance with H1D7 (1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7) as appropriate.”
H1D7 Clauses relevant to Metal roofing and Cladding are:
(2) Performance requirement H1P1 is satisfied if it complies with one or a combination of the following:
(a) Metal Roofing:
(i) AS 1562.1; and
(ii) In wind regions C and D in accordance with figure 2.2.3 in Section 2 (cyclonic areas), metal roof assemblies, connections and immediate supporting members must be capable of remaining in position without permanent distortion….
(8) Performance Requirement H1P is satisfied for a metal wall cladding if it is designed and constructed in accordance with AS 1562.1
In summary- this means that it is now acceptable that metal wall cladding tested to AS 1562.1 and with a Weatherproofing Membrane complying with AS 4200.1 and AS 4200.2 - will meet the weatherproofing requirement of the 2022 NCC.
Archclad™’s belief is that this relaxation of the standards will have serious consequences for the future performance of metal cladding.
The Australia Standard, AS 1562.1 Design and Installation of Metal Roofing and Wall Cladding - remains unaltered to when there was NO “Deemed to Satisfy” provision and we fail to understand how this standard with only Uplift testing suddenly satisfies the weatherproofing requirement.
Archclad™ will stand by our tested methods of Weatherproofing for wall cladding, tested by VIPAC Engineers, a NATA Approved Testing Facility- and continue to provide this expertise to our customers.
Assessment Methods are listed in A2.2(2) of Part A2. A2.2(2) states that any Assessment Method, or a combination of them, may be used to determine that a Performance Solution complies with the Performance Requirements.
Verification Method FV1.1 is used as the Assessment Method.
Archclad™ have tested the following profiles to meet the FV1.1 Assessment method by a NATA Approved Testing Facility:
Archclad Cliptray 48mm™
Archclad Cliptray 25mm™
Archclad Standing Seam 25mm™
Archclad Express™ panel
This weatherproofing is only achieved by using a series of sub-flashings with specific tested proprietary waterproof vapour membrane. Methods of installation differ with each profile.
Installation must be carried out by an experienced installer who is familiar with the methods prescribed.
A quality assurance declaration will be required to be completed by the installer.
Please contact us for further information and test report.
STRUCTURAL TESTING
AS/NZS 4284:1995 "Testing of Building Facades":
The cladding system is capable of withstanding the Design Lord of 1300Pa (both positive and negative load) as indicated by the Minimum Acceptable Span/Deflection Ratio required by the test standard AS/NZS 4284:1995 "Testing of Building Facades".
The listed products have been tested to this standard:
Interlocking Express Panel
AS/NZS 1170.2:2002 "Structural Design Actions":
Debris Impact tests were conducted on a sample of the cladding system, which includes a plyboard backing with spans of 560mm (centre-centre) between top-hat studs. Results have met the requirements of AS/NZS 1170.2:2002 "Structural Design Actions" - Part 2: Wind actions, Clause 5.3.2.
The listed products have been tested to this standard:
Standing Seam 25mm
Other Plywood backed products
UPLIFT TESTING
AS/NZS 1562.1:2018:
This standard provides the framework for testing products to AS/NZS 4040.
AS/NZS 4040.2:2018 "Resistance to Wind Pressures":
Methods of testing sheet proof and wall cladding, Method 2: Resistance to Wind Pressures for Non-Cyclone Regions.
The listed products have been tested to this standard:
Archclad Cliptray 25mm™
Archclad Cliptray 48mm™
Archclad Standing Seam 25mm
Archclad Express™ panel
AS/NZS 4040.3:2018 "Resistance to Wind Pressures":
Methods of testing sheet proof and wall cladding, Method 2: Resistance to Wind Pressures for Cyclone Regions.
The listed products have been tested to this standard:
Standing Seam 25mm