What Is the Difference Between PS1, PS2, PS3 and PS4 Producer Statements in New Zealand?
Andrei is building foundations and has been told the contractor will provide a PS3, while the engineer must provide a PS4. Here is the simple difference between each producer statement and why both may be needed.
Andrei is asking:
“What is the difference between a PS3 and a PS4? The foundation contractor is telling me that the engineer must provide a PS4 and they will give me a PS3 and I'm confused. Thanks.”
Location: New Zealand
This confusion is very common during foundations, retaining walls, structural beams and other specialist building work. The terms sound similar, but they are not interchangeable.
A producer statement is generally used as professional evidence for council. It helps council decide whether there are reasonable grounds to grant building consent or issue a Code Compliance Certificate, but it is not an automatic approval or a product warranty.
Quick Answer
For Andrei's foundation example, the contractor is probably correct: the foundation contractor usually provides the PS3, and the engineer provides the PS4, if the engineer was engaged to carry out construction monitoring or construction review.
A PS3 does not replace a PS4. A PS4 does not replace the contractor's responsibility to build the work correctly. They answer different questions for council.
The Simple Difference Between PS1, PS2, PS3 and PS4
The easiest way to understand producer statements is to follow the project from design to completion.
| Producer Statement | What it means | Who usually provides it |
|---|---|---|
| PS1 — Design | A professional opinion that the proposed design complies with the relevant Building Code clauses. | Engineer, architect, specialist designer or other competent professional within their scope. |
| PS2 — Design Review | A peer review of someone else's design, commonly used for more complex or higher-risk specialist design. | Independent engineer or reviewer with suitable competence. |
| PS3 — Construction | Confirmation from the contractor, supplier or installer that their part of the work was constructed or installed as required. | Contractor, installer, supplier, foundation contractor, waterproofer, plumber or other trade. |
| PS4 — Construction Review | A professional opinion that construction has been reviewed or monitored and, within the reviewer's scope, matches the approved design and consent documents. | Engineer or other suitably qualified professional engaged for construction monitoring/review. |
Different councils and professionals may use slightly different templates, but the basic roles are the same.
How This Works for a Foundation
For foundations, the producer statements normally follow the responsibilities of each person involved.
- The engineer designs the foundation and may provide a PS1 for the consent application.
- Council may require engineering construction monitoring as a condition of consent or as part of the approved documents.
- The foundation contractor builds the foundations and may provide a PS3 for excavation, reinforcement, concrete placement or related foundation works.
- The engineer reviews key construction stages and may provide a PS4 at the end, based on the inspections, photos, test records and evidence they actually reviewed.
Do not pour concrete before confirming the PS4 requirements
If the engineer needs to inspect excavation, ground conditions or reinforcing before the pour, missing that inspection can make it difficult or impossible for them to issue a full PS4 later.
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Producer Statement CoordinationWhat Council Is Usually Looking For
Council does not simply collect producer statements as paperwork. Council decides how much weight to give them based on the author, scope, competence and supporting evidence.
A good producer statement should clearly show:
- The exact work it covers, and whether it covers all work or part only
- The Building Code clauses or approved consent documents it relates to
- The name, registration and competence of the person signing it
- The inspections, tests, photos, calculations or records relied upon
- Any limitations, exclusions or assumptions
If the scope is vague, the wrong person signs it, or the supporting evidence is weak, council may ask for more information before issuing the Code Compliance Certificate.
What Can Go Wrong If You Mix Them Up?
The biggest mistake is assuming the contractor's PS3 is enough when the consent or engineer requires a PS4.
- Council may issue an RFI before Code Compliance Certificate
- The engineer may refuse to issue a PS4 if they were not engaged before the critical work was covered
- The contractor may say they only allowed for a PS3, not engineering monitoring
- Parts of the foundation may need to be exposed, tested or justified after construction
- Settlement, CCC, insurance or future resale can be delayed if key documents are missing
This is why PS3 and PS4 requirements should be confirmed before the foundation work starts, not at the end of the project.
Professionals Typically Involved
For foundations and other structural work, each person has a different role.
Architect / Designer
Coordinates the consent documentation, checks council conditions, and helps confirm what evidence is needed for CCC.
Structural Engineer
Provides structural design, PS1 where applicable, site observations and PS4 if engaged for construction review.
Geotechnical Engineer
May review ground conditions, soil bearing, earthworks or specific geotechnical requirements when required by the design.
Foundation Contractor
Builds the foundations and may provide a PS3 for the construction work they completed.
Council Inspector
Carries out council inspections and confirms whether council requires further evidence before CCC.
Concrete Supplier / Tester
May provide delivery dockets, strength records or test results where required by the specification.
Typical Costs for Producer Statement Support
Costs vary depending on complexity, location, council requirements and how early the professionals are engaged. These are broad residential planning allowances only.
| Item | Typical Allowance |
|---|---|
| Engineering design and PS1 for simple residential foundations | $1,500 – $5,000+ |
| Independent design review / PS2, if required | $1,000 – $5,000+ |
| Contractor PS3 and quality records | Often included, or $300 – $1,500+ |
| Engineer construction monitoring and PS4 | $800 – $4,000+ |
| Extra inspections, testing or remedial evidence if missed | $1,000 – $10,000+ |
It is usually much cheaper to arrange the correct inspections before the pour than to prove compliance after the work is covered.
Typical Timeline
A smooth process usually looks like this.
The engineer designs the foundation and provides supporting design documentation where required.
Council grants the building consent and may list required producer statements or inspections.
The builder, contractor and engineer confirm who must inspect what, and when.
The engineer reviews critical stages such as excavations, reinforcement, ground conditions and concrete records.
The contractor provides PS3 and the engineer provides PS4, each within their own scope.
The producer statements and supporting evidence are submitted to council for CCC assessment.
Professional Insight
Andrei's situation is a good example of why construction documentation should be agreed early. The contractor is responsible for what they build. The engineer is responsible for the professional review they were engaged to carry out. Council relies on both types of evidence differently.
The PS4 must be possible to verify
An engineer should not be expected to sign a full construction review statement for work they did not inspect, could not see, or cannot reasonably verify from reliable evidence.
The safest approach is to ask for a written list of required producer statements before the foundation pour, then make sure each inspection is booked at the right stage.
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Request Council SupportWhat to Ask Before Foundations Are Poured
Before the work starts, ask your designer, engineer and contractor these questions.
Getting this clear in writing helps avoid the classic last-minute problem: the contractor says they are finished, council asks for a PS4, and the engineer says they were never booked to inspect the work.
Official Guidance This Article Is Based On
This article is based on New Zealand building consent guidance and industry producer statement resources, including: