Dec 15 / NZ Drones Academy

Drone Building Washing: Regulatory Clarity for NZ Operators

🚁 Drone Building Washing: Regulatory Clarity for NZ Operators

There has been increased clarity in how drone-based building washing is treated under New Zealand’s aviation and hazardous substances frameworks.

Where a substance is approved by the EPA as a cleaning product (not an agrichemical) and is used for building exteriors, the NZ CAA has indicated that agrichemical-specific unmanned aircraft rating requirements may not apply. This is product- and use-specific and must be confirmed by the operator.

Many exterior building wash products are approved under EPA cleaning product group standards, such as HSR002526 – Cleaning Products (Corrosive), or other relevant EPA group standards, subject to product-specific approval and use conditions.

Operators remain responsible for:
 â€ą Confirming EPA approval or group standard classification
 â€ą Reviewing the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
 â€ą Complying fully with CAA Part 101, health and safety, and environmental requirements

Products such as pesticides, moss treatments, and other agrichemicals remain regulated and still require the appropriate certifications and approvals.

At NZ Drones Academy, training is delivered in alignment with NZ CAA rules and current regulatory interpretation, ensuring operators understand where regulatory boundaries sit and how to apply them correctly in real-world operations.

🎓 Train properly. Operate legally. Maintain compliance.
Created with