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Creating and providing a product technical statement

Last updated: 29 April 2016

Creating a product technical statement helps you to show your product complies with the Building Code.

A product technical statement (PTS) summarises the key details about your building product or system to make it easier for everyone in the building process.

A PTS does not replace your actual evidence of compliance. It is a statement by you as the manufacturer or supplier of your product. You can prepare your own PTS, or have help from other organisations.

A PTS is a tool we have developed in conjunction with the building industry.

It is useful for any product or system that has Building Code obligations. A PTS can also help:

  • designers and specifiers to assess and compare building products, and include them in project plans and specifications
  • building consent authorities (BCAs) to consent building work using products
  • builders and homeowners to receive clearer information about installation, maintenance and product support
  • you to meet your Building Act responsibilities and provide reliable technical information.

If you manufacture or supply a wide range of similar products you could group these into families of product types (for example, groups of fixings such as nails or screws) and create one PTS for each family.

The products in each family should ideally have the same properties (for example, relating to use, purpose, limitations and compliance with particular Building Code clauses). However, there may be differences in the sizes or profiles available. You can describe these in the PTS or provide a reference to this information located elsewhere.

Information for your product technical statement

Your PTS should include the following information:

  • a description of your product (including a unique identifier to make sure different users are talking about the same product) and its intended use
  • details of the manufacturer (if issued by a supplier)
  • date of issue (or revision) and relevant links so users can confirm they have the latest version
  • purpose and use:
    • a statement of where and how your product can be used, employing recognised New Zealand terms (such as high wind, seismic and corrosion zones) and types of buildings (for example, within the scope of NZS 3604)
    • any limitations on that use
  • any conditions on the use of the PTS
  • a statement of the Building Code clauses relevant to your product and clear links to evidence to support your compliance claims (such as relevant test reports, technical opinions, product certification details or other supporting information)
  • links to design, construction and installation instructions for designers to specify your product, and builders and tradespeople to install it
  • links to maintenance requirements so the building owner can maintain your product effectively
  • describe potential consequences of not carrying out specified maintenance
  • contact details for technical support; ideally for New Zealand organisations that can provide product advice and assistance.

It is not compulsory to provide a warranty for your product. However, if you do choose to provide one, your PTS could contain some details of this and a link to further information.

Write your PTS in plain English, keep it free of marketing material, and use terms and units understood by the building industry.

You also need to make sure any supporting documents you provide are uniquely identifiable by date or version number to avoid any chance of confusion. Easy access to documents will help builders to install your product correctly and building owners to carry out any necessary maintenance.

Creating a product technical statement

We have produced a tool to help you prepare a PTS for your building product or system. It suggests what to include in addition to your core information about Building Code compliance.

This is not a template, but the suggested headings and content should be relevant to most products or systems.

Product technical statement tool

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This information is published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Chief Executive. It is a general guide only and, if used, does not relieve any person of the obligation to consider any matter to which the information relates according to the circumstances of the particular case. Expert advice may be required in specific circumstances. Where this information relates to assisting people: