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Lead-free regulation: everything you need to know
Current regulations require copper alloy plumbing products intended for contact with drinking water to comply with maximum lead content limits.
Lead-free plumbing product regulations came into force on 2 May 2026.
Key points about the regulations
In line with many other countries, including Australia, there have been regulatory changes to reduce the amount of lead in drinking water, as part of the NZ 2022 Building Code update.
In this update, Acceptable Solution G12/AS1 was amended to limit the maximum allowable lead content in copper alloy plumbing products intended for use in contact with potable water for human consumption.
This amendment sets a maximum lead content of 0.25 per cent for any copper-alloy product used in contact with drinking water. This includes products such as pipe fittings, valves, taps, mixers, water heaters and water meters.
The product provision in G12/AS1 relating to lead-free requirements was introduced under Amendment 14, which has been in effect since 2 November 2024. Amendment 13 ceased to be available on 2 May 2026.
Plumbers who install such products are responsible for ensuring they meet lead-free requirements.
What to look for
The new regulations place obligations on NZ-based building product manufacturers, importers, retailers and distributors to state how their product complies with the relevant Building Code clause.
This means that building product information should clearly state how an in-scope plumbing product is expected to contribute to compliance with Building Code clause G12 Water Supplies, including G12.3.2 (c).
- Australian Lead Free WaterMark Mark of Conformity
- American National Standards Institute (ASNI) accredited third-party certification body.
- Lead Free certification marks (nepis.epa.gov)
The other option is to use a test report provided by a test facility with International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) or equivalent accreditation in accordance with NSF/ANSI/CAN 372, which verifies that a product has the required weighted average lead content of no more than 0.25 per cent.
This establishes a standardised methodology for the determination and verification of product compliance to minimise lead contaminants and serves as the basis to establish conformance with the G12/AS1 lead in plumbing product provision.
Use industry information
Most relevant industry bodies provide comprehensive information about the lead-free regulations.
Master Plumbers NZ has information on their website detailing the new regulations and the products involved and members of Master Plumbers NZ can download a fact sheet for their customers to explain the changes.
What if a building consent was already granted?
For projects consented on or before 1 May 2026, work may continue under the Acceptable Solution provisions approved within that consent
If the consent application is made on or before 1 May 2026, the application may continue to comply with the Acceptable Solution provisions in place on the date the consent application was made.
Consent applications made from 2 May 2026 onwards must comply with the updated lead-free requirements.
Wanting to choose compliant tapware?
Looking for compliant lead-free plumbing products?
Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.
Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.