Free online building products register to fight non-conforming building products

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An online National Construction Product Register database (NCPR) will be up and running next year to assist the construction industry find building products that conform to Australian standards.

The Board of Construction Information Systems Limited (NATSPEC) is developing the web portal in response to concerns from government and industry organisations that an increasing number of non-conforming construction materials are being used on Australian buildings.

The NCPR has been a long time coming considering things like non-conforming structural steel bolts, structural plywood products, copper pipe tubing, fire collars and glass sheets have been on the radar of regulators since 2006. NATSPEC also says more recent concerns like dodgy electrical cables, combustible cladding and products with asbestos have contributed to its decision to set up the NCPR.

The portal is expected to be launched before the end of the year and will be a voluntary system freely available to the industry. It will provide verified information on conforming construction products provided by manufacturers and suppliers.

Plumbing (Watermark) and electrical (EESS) product databases will not be duplicated and NATSPEC intends to work cooperatively with the many Australian industry associations.

This initiative is supported by industry organisations including: Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors’ Association of Australia, Australian Institute of Building, Australian Institute of Building Surveyors, Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Consult Australia, Engineers Australia, Master Builders Australia and Standards Australia.