Understanding your needs
The right option depends on your product, its level of risk and what you’re trying to achieve. We start by talking with you to understand your situation and recommend the most appropriate pathway.
We’ll talk with you about:
- your objective and intended evidence
- target markets and regulatory needs
- product risk, innovation and complexity
- timeframes and deadlines
- sample availability or on-site testing needs.
This helps us recommend the right pathway for certification or bespoke testing.
Comparing the products
| Option | Level of assurance | Target market | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CodeMark certification | High | New Zealand/Australia | A formal product certification, based on desk research, proving compliance with the Building Code, accepted by building consent authorities (BCAs). | For when you want to show a building product or building method meets the requirements of the Building Code. Particularly beneficial for products that are innovative, new to the market or when there would be serious consequences if they failed. |
| BRANZ Appraisal | High | New Zealand/Australia | An independent, trusted appraisal providing evidence of product performance in the real-life conditions of your target market. | When you want robust evidence of performance - including bespoke real-world testing conducted in our state-of-the-art labs, a BRANZ Appraisal supports Building Code compliance, faster consenting, and high assurance for specifiers and BCAs. The trusted BRANZ mark gives you a prestigious marketing edge. While CodeMark provides a pathway to compliance, it does not typically include the same depth of applied, real-world testing as a BRANZ Appraisal. |
| Environmental Product Declaration | Medium | International (restrictions may apply) | An independently verified report quantifying the environmental impacts of a product across its lifecycle using standardised methods. | Ideal when wanting to promote the environmental credentials of a product, e.g. for sustainable construction projects, Green Star ratings, product comparison and market differentiation. |
| Bespoke testing | Targeted | International (restrictions may apply) | A customised testing programme and detailed technical reports providing evidence to support product development, validation and market claims. | Ideal for manufacturers needing customised testing to demonstrate product performance, resolve specific technical questions or support product development and market entry. |
Why choose a BRANZ Appraisal?
Get a competitive market advantage
Stand out in a crowded marketplace with the BRANZ Appraisal logo. Our appraisals are the most well known in New Zealand. Because they’re trusted, they can speed up consenting, reduce requests for information and provide confidence for BCAs, builders and all New Zealanders.
Most useful for innovative or non-standard products/systems
A BRANZ Appraisal is a good option when stakeholders need higher assurance before specifying/approving.
Faster pathway to market
The riskier the product, the more valuable an Appraisal becomes. We help reduce risk, support compliance and build trust with specifiers and regulators to get your product on the shelf and worksites sooner.
Discover product strengths and weaknesses
Partnering with BRANZ helps you identify vulnerabilities and unique selling features. We often include real-world testing to show how a product performs under pressure, over time and against the Building Code, helping identify risks and areas for improvement. We do the hard yards in providing the evidence so you don’t have to.
Why choose CodeMark certification?
Provide confidence and certainty
A CodeMark certificate must be accepted by building consent authorities in New Zealand and unrestricted building certifiers in Australia as fulfilling the requirements of the respective Building Codes, provided it is applied within the scope detailed by the certificate.
Useful for innovative products and solutions
CodeMark certification is particularly valuable for innovative products or systems entering the market or those where failure could have serious consequences.
Get the marketing advantage
CodeMark certification provides marketing advantage through public register listing and use of the CodeMark brand.
Why choose an Environmental Product Declaration?
Credible environmental performance
Showcase your products and services in a credible, science-based manner.
Bring transparency
Transparency builds trust with your clients and partners and helps them make informed, sustainable choices.
Open doors to sustainable initiatives
Enhance your product’s reputation and open doors to new markets where sustainability is valued.
Make your product stand out
Make it easier for customers to compare products and for your business to stand out with credible environmental credentials.
Bring preference of your product for projects aiming for high sustainability standards, for example, those striving for an environmental rating such as Green Star in New Zealand.
Environmental Product Declaration
Why choose bespoke testing?
Focus on a specific issue
It's a good option when you don’t need a full certification but still need trusted, independent evidence. It lets you focus on a specific question, performance aspect or application – without committing to a longer certification pathway.
Customise to your needs
It can support product development, investigate an issue, demonstrate performance for a particular project or provide evidence for design, consenting, insurance or legal purposes.
Build stakeholder confidence
BRANZ works with you to scope what matters, apply appropriate methods or standards and deliver clear results you can confidently share with stakeholders.
Types of testing we provide
- Fire testing.
- Structural testing.
- Materials testing
- Thermal performance and insulation testing.
- Weathertightness testing.
Why trust BRANZ?
BRANZ provides independent testing and reporting, with methods aligned to recognised New Zealand and Australian pathways and standards. We can test to a range of standards. Many are accredited by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ).
Our accreditations
BRANZ holds a wide range of accreditations covering the products and systems we test.
Learn more