CodeMark is a voluntary third-party product certification scheme administered by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB). It confirms that a building product meets certain NCC Performance Requirements - and it is one of several accepted forms of evidence of suitability under the National Construction Code. But it is not the only one, and understanding what it actually covers matters more than whether a product carries the mark.
What Is CodeMark Certification?
CodeMark provides independent verification that a product has been tested and assessed against specific NCC Performance Requirements. The assessment is carried out by certification bodies accredited by JAS-ANZ (the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand), and the resulting certificate lists exactly which Performance Requirements the product has been evaluated against.
The scheme sits under NCC A5G2 - the clause that defines what constitutes acceptable evidence of suitability. A CodeMark certificate is one of several pathways listed there. Others include test reports from accredited laboratories, certificates from professional engineers or recognised experts, and product technical data published by the manufacturer.
All of these are valid. CodeMark is one route, not the only route.
What Does CodeMark Actually Certify?
This is where it pays to read the detail. A CodeMark certificate confirms compliance with the specific Performance Requirements listed on the certificate - not universal compliance across all applications.
A product might hold CodeMark certification for fire performance but not for weatherproofing or structural adequacy. The certificate scope matters. If a certifier sees a CodeMark certificate, they should check that the Performance Requirements covered on the certificate match the requirements relevant to the specific project application.
CodeMark does not mean a product is suitable for every situation. It means an accredited body has verified compliance with defined requirements under defined conditions.
How Do Certifiers Use It?
For certifiers, a CodeMark certificate simplifies part of the evidence review. Because an accredited certification body has already assessed the test data and confirmed compliance, the certifier does not need to independently verify that testing data themselves. The certificate carries that assurance.
This can speed up the approval process, particularly on projects where multiple products need to demonstrate compliance across overlapping Performance Requirements. It reduces the documentation burden - but it does not eliminate the need for project-specific review.
The certifier still needs to confirm that the certified product matches what is actually being installed, and that the certificate scope covers the relevant Performance Requirements for that particular application.
Is CodeMark Mandatory?
No. CodeMark is entirely voluntary, and many fully compliant building products do not hold CodeMark certification. They demonstrate compliance through other evidence of suitability pathways accepted under NCC A5G2 - typically through direct test reports from accredited laboratories, supported by manufacturer documentation.
The absence of CodeMark does not indicate non-compliance. It simply means the manufacturer has chosen a different - and equally valid - evidence pathway.
What Matters Most for Facade Products?
For facade systems, the NCC Performance Requirements that matter most are fire safety (CP1 through CP9), weatherproofing (FP1.4), and structural adequacy (BP1.1). Whether a product demonstrates compliance via CodeMark or via direct test evidence, these are the requirements that certifiers need to see addressed.
At Valmond & Gibson, our facade products - including interloQ rainscreen cladding and element13 solid aluminium panels - are tested by CSIRO to AS 1530.1 for non-combustibility, weather tested to AS/NZS 4284, and supplied with comprehensive compliance documentation packs. These test reports from accredited laboratories are accepted forms of evidence of suitability under the NCC, and they address the Performance Requirements that certifiers need to verify.
The Market Trend
Since the post-cladding-crisis reforms, certifiers across Australia have become more rigorous in their evidence requirements. More manufacturers are pursuing CodeMark certification as a way to pre-package their compliance evidence into a single, recognisable document. That trend is understandable and, broadly, positive for the industry.
But CodeMark certification alone does not replace good project-specific documentation. A product’s compliance evidence - whether it comes via CodeMark or direct test reports - still needs to be matched to the specific project conditions, NCC classifications, and design intent.
Practical Advice for Specifiers
Whether a facade product carries CodeMark certification or not, the fundamentals remain the same:
- Request the specific test reports. Confirm that the testing covers the Performance Requirements relevant to your project - fire, weather, structure.
- Check what the certificate actually covers. If the product has CodeMark, read the scope. It may not cover every requirement you need.
- Confirm product consistency. Verify that the product being supplied matches the product that was tested and certified. This is particularly important for products with multiple configurations or finish options.
- Ask for the compliance pack. A well-organised compliance pack - test certificates, product data sheets, installation guidelines - is more useful day-to-day than a single certification mark.
CodeMark is a useful tool in the compliance framework. It is not a shortcut past due diligence. The products that make certification easiest are the ones backed by clear, complete, and project-ready documentation - regardless of which evidence pathway they use.
Related Reading
- Evidence of Suitability Under NCC 2022: What Certifiers Actually Need
- How to Build a Compliant Facade Documentation Pack
- Performance Solutions vs Deemed-to-Satisfy
- Non-Combustible Cladding in Australia: NCC Compliance Guide
Last updated: 4 April 2026