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Builders on notice

Don’t use flammable cladding on Victorian high-rises

Builders in Victoria will be put on notice that they must not use dangerous flammable cladding on the outside of medium and high-rise buildings, after the Victorian Government ordered the construction watchdog to issue product safety alert.   The State Government and local councils have been wrestling with the issue of combustible cladding since the Grenfell tower fire in London last year and the Lacrosse building fire in Melbourne’s Docklands in 2014.

“There’s nothing more important than ensuring that we have community safety,” Victoria Planning Minister Richard Wynne said.

Under the new measures, the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) will issue a product safety alert to builders and surveyors that this “dangerous cladding cannot be used” in residential buildings above three stories.  It will specify that the use of the aluminium cladding with a polyethylene core of more than 30 per cent is prohibited in certain circumstances.  Failure to comply will attract fines of up to $400,000 and, in extreme cases, imprisonment.

The changes stem from the investigations of the Victorian Cladding Taskforce, which identified 1,369 buildings which most likely have the cladding, 608 of which are not yet under construction and 188 which are half-built.  But building experts said the measures outlined were already enforced under the Australian Building Standards, which stipulate that combustible cladding should never be used in residential buildings higher than three stories.

The changes also do not address buildings that already have combustible cladding, which have left residents in Melbourne battle skyrocketing insurance and costly legal proceedings.  It said enforcing sprinkler systems for structures under 25 metres or eight stories, is high on its priority list.

In January, the VBA wrote to all Victorian councils, revealing the list of buildings within their jurisdiction that it had identified as “likely” having combustible cladding.  Negotiations are ongoing between local governments and state agencies about resourcing physical inspections, but many councils have already been able to further clarify the number of completed construction that require further inspection.  Moreland is one of the municipalities most affected, recently revealing to the ABC that it had identified 150 completed structures of concern within its boundaries, and four buildings had been issued building notices due to the combustible cladding.  Other inner city councils that responded to the ABC include Glen Eira (39), Monash (86), Melbourne (22), and Yarra (27).

Some outer city councils that have seen a boom in apartments have also been affected, with Greater Dandenong identifying 52 buildings of concern in its first pilot inspection program.  Port Phillip Council is widely expected to be one of the worst municipalities affected, but the council repeatedly refused to reveal to the ABC the numbers of buildings it had identified as potentially having the dangerous material.  The VBA has also been able to further establish buildings of concern, including Stonnington (49) and Boroondara (38).

Sourced from: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-10/victorian-government-moves-to-restrict-use-of-flammable-cladding/9534926