Companies fined over $400k for making false building wrap claims

Masons Plastabrick Ltd's building wrap product did not measure up to what it was being advertised as the Commerce Commission says. File photo / Masons Plastabrick Ltd

By RNZ

Two companies, one of which is a building certification company in Australia, have been fined for making false claims about a building wrap product.

The Commerce Commission has fined Masons Plastabrick Limited $240,000 and CertMark International Pty Limited (CertMark) $210,000 for the breach.

The commission said Masons' building wrap product, marketed as FR1 or Barricade Plus, was advertised as suitable as an air barrier, and compliant with the air resistance standard, when it was not.

CertMark was charged with issuing a CodeMark certification in 2015 saying the product was suitable as an air barrier when it was not.

Building wrap is typically fixed between the framing and cladding of buildings to provide a barrier against moisture entering a building.

This is the first time the Commerce Commission has taken action against a certifier under the CodeMark scheme, which is governed by the Building Act 2004 and Building (Product Certification) Regulations 2008.

Masons pleaded guilty to six charges, and CertMark pleaded guilty to one charge relating to an assessment brief it produced and published.

Commission chair Anna Rawlings said false representations about building products were a priority area for the commission because of the serious harm they could cause homeowners.

"Suppliers and manufacturers must only make claims about their building products that are accurate. Builders and homeowners must be able to confidently rely on what they are told by suppliers and manufacturers of building products as well as proper certification under the CodeMark scheme.

"Certifiers like CertMark play a vital role in the building compliance system and have a responsibility to verify the accuracy of product claims relevant to their work."

Masons has agreed to rectify any installed product that may be affected.

In July 2019 CertMark was suspended from acting as a product certification body by JAS-ANZ for failing to meet its accreditation requirements. CertMark subsequently withdrew from the CodeMark Scheme. CertMark continues to undertake CodeMark certification in Australia and provides proprietary building product certificates in New Zealand.

- RNZ