Research into the seismic performance of non-structural elements over the past decade in New Zealand has identified a number of areas in which changes should be made. Gaps have been identified in the understanding of the seismic performance of different types of non-structural elements in existing buildings, and issues have also been noted with the design, procurement and installation processes used for non-structural elements in new buildings [1]. In response to this, it is proposed that non-structural elements be rated according to their drift and acceleration capacity. The rating system promises to (i) help engineers to correctly specify and detail non-structural elements for buildings of different importance levels in line with their expected performance in earthquakes, (ii) assist in communicating the performance expectations for all categories of non-structural elements, and (iii) help facilitate inspection and compliance checks for sign-off of non structural elements. After describing the framework of the proposed rating system, the potential impact of its use is considered. The discussion suggests that a rating system for non-structural elements could lead to significant improvements in the seismic performance of buildings and thus should be considered further by the industry.