Materials & Technology
PPG researches, monitors and trials the latest building materials, methods and technology. We don’t wait for change to become standard practice. We follow it closely, test it ourselves and take an active part in it, so we can deliver buildings that are contemporary, well built and stand up over time: refined, considered spaces that people are proud to own and want to live in.
Building materials, methods and technology keep changing. Some of it genuinely improves how a building performs and what it costs to own. Some of it is over-sold. We keep across developments in the industry, test them against a consistent set of questions, and only bring them into a project when they make it better.
This page sets out how we decide, the areas we are following, and how we share what we learn.
How we evaluate new products and methods
Every product or method gets the same six questions, so a decision comes from evidence rather than from a sales pitch.
Performance
Does it do what is claimed, in Sydney conditions and on real buildings, not just in a brochure or a lab?
Compliance
Does it meet the National Construction Code and the relevant Australian Standards, and is there proper evidence of suitability for its intended use?
Durability and maintenance
How will it age, what will it need, and what happens if it fails? Long-term outcomes matter more than day-one appearance.
Whole-of-life cost
Purchase price is only part of it. We weigh installation, running costs, maintenance and replacement over the life of the building.
Buildability
Can it be installed well by the trades available, on this site, within the programme? A good product installed badly is a bad product.
Supply and support
Is it reliably available, with a warranty, technical support and a supplier who will still be around when it is needed?
How we put it into practice
Every new product or method goes through the same path before it reaches a client’s building. Not everything makes it through, and that is the point.
Step 1
Assess
We start with the problem we are trying to solve, then screen the product against our six questions.
Step 2
Verify
We look for independent evidence that it suits its intended use under the National Construction Code, and we check the certifier is comfortable with it. A brochure is not evidence.
Step 3
Trial
Before a new product goes into a whole project, we prove it in a controlled way, such as a mock-up or a first installation, with our installers and inspectors involved.
Step 4
Decide and review
We approve it, approve it with conditions, hold off or decline, and record why. After handover we keep track of how it performs.
Areas we follow
These are the topics we are reading, testing and writing about.
Waterproofing and moisture
Membranes, detailing and inspection practices that keep water out of the places it causes the most damage.
Thermal performance and energy
Insulation, glazing, air sealing and the standards behind NatHERS and BASIX ratings.
Prefabrication and modern methods
Off-site manufacturing, modular systems and where they genuinely help.
Sustainable materials
Lower-carbon materials and embodied emissions, now part of NSW BASIX assessments.
Building services and smart systems
Efficient heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water and monitoring that owners can actually use.
Fire safety and compliance
Changes to the code, product certification and what they mean for building owners and committees.
How we handle claims
- We rely on primary sources first: the ABCB and NCC, Australian Standards, government and research bodies, and manufacturers’ certified test data.
- We link our sources so you can check them.
- We say what does not work, or is not ready yet, as well as what does.
- We do not recommend a product because a supplier asks us to. If we ever have a commercial relationship with a product we discuss, we will say so.
- Our articles are general information. Your project needs advice from your certifier and designers.
Latest insights
All insights
Thinking about materials for your project?
We'll give you an honest view of what suits your building, your budget and your site.