ER92 Regulatory barriers for innovative materials and products (2024)

Increasing the adoption of new building materials and products is key to achieving Aotearoa New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions targets as well as improving productivity. However, using tried and tested materials and products is seen as a quicker and easier approach to gaining building consent. Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Issues Discussion Document – Review of the Building Consent System (July 2022) noted that, in some cases, stakeholders felt there was an unreasonable level of scrutiny for new designs and methods. For larger designers and builders, this pattern is often repeated as they work with different building consent authorities (BCAs).

This project was led by Third Bearing, working with Simpli BCA members. With the aim of increasing the speed of consent, the project investigated ways to improve the acceptability of new materials and ultimately improve their viability for the building and construction industry. It sought to understand how to move new materials into common knowledge to reach a point of regulatory acceptance without needing additional requests for information.

With participation from nearly 30 BCAs, the project engaged with industry players who are developing new materials, products and systems. It also analysed consenting data and conduct a series of interviews with BCA officers and industry innovators.

Using these insights, researchers created guidance for BCAs, industry innovators and regulatory bodies to help improve the consenting process for new materials. By reducing barriers, it aims to increase the speed and volume of lower-carbon materials and methods being adopted by the industry to help support Aotearoa New Zealand’s climate change targets.