The four statements.
- PS1 — Design. Issued by the design engineer at lodgement, stating the design complies with the Building Code. Council relies on this to grant the building consent.
- PS2 — Design review. Optional peer review. Most councils don't insist, but for complex or high-importance structures it can shortcut RFIs.
- PS3 — Construction. Issued by the contractor (or supplier), confirming that what was built matches the documented design and specifications.
- PS4 — Construction review. Issued by the design engineer at completion, after on-site inspections, confirming the built outcome aligns with the design intent.
Where the sign-offs hinge.
Two critical handoff points:
- Consent issue. No PS1 → no consent. Councils will not progress the application without one for any element falling outside Acceptable Solutions (which is almost everything custom-engineered).
- Code Compliance Certificate (CCC). No PS3 + PS4 → no CCC. And no CCC means the building legally cannot be occupied or insured.
When statements get withheld.
The most common reasons we see PS4s withheld:
- Design changes never re-issued. The contractor improvised on site and nobody updated the drawings. The engineer can't sign off on something they didn't design.
- Inspection windows missed. If critical work was covered up before review, there's no way to confirm it. Re-opening becomes the cheapest path.
- Substituted products. A cheaper specified alternative slipped in without engineer approval — common with bracing, fixings, and reinforcement.
"The PS4 isn't a formality at the end. It's a record that the building was actually built the way the consent said it would be — and councils know it."
How to make this painless.
- Tell your engineer when you're about to cover up structural work. A 30-minute site visit prevents a 3-week re-opening.
- If your contractor wants to swap a specified product, get it approved in writing before the swap, not after.
- Keep the marked-up drawings up to date through construction. The PS4 effectively certifies the as-built drawings — they have to actually exist.
The bottom line
Producer Statements are the spine of NZ's risk-shifting building consent system. Knowing where they fit changes the way you brief, build, and close a project — and it removes most of the friction with council at consent and CCC.