The National Building Products Coalition (NBPC) has released the Building Product Information – Good Practice Conformity Guide, bringing together leading bodies from across Australia’s building supply chain to strengthen product safety, productivity and affordability.

Set against a worsening national housing shortage, the Guide aims to lift confidence in building product information and support a sector that accounted for 7% of Australia’s GDP in 2023–24 and employs around 1.3 million people. Advice provided to the Building Ministers’ Meeting in June 2024 indicated that improving the safety and reliability of building products could deliver economic benefits of up to $2.4 billion annually.

The initiative responds to high-profile compliance failures, including the Lacrosse Apartment fire in Melbourne and the national electrical cable recall, which exposed gaps in product conformity and oversight.

“The industry wants to show leadership, effect change and promote good practice. That’s why the NBPC has developed this important resource,” International Code Council Oceania managing director Neil Savery says.

“It is important to have confidence and trust in the products that go into our buildings. When a product claims to perform a function, everyone should be confident it meets the minimum requirements.”

Master Builders Australia also backed the initiative, with Queensland general manager – policy and advocacy Dyan Johnson highlighting the role of industry leadership in lifting standards: “From manufacturers and suppliers through to specifiers, designers, builders and building surveyors, the Guide provides practical advice to help lift the standard of building product information.”

“For manufacturers and suppliers, the Guide sets out how to provide product information that has been developed through a robust, transparent process and presented in a way that is easily traceable. For specifiers, designers and building surveyors, it highlights what to look for — information that can be verified, trusted and used to make confident, well-informed decisions. There are simple steps we can all take to ensure this information is both available, including through accredited product testing, inspection and certification, and used in our buildings.”