This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
AN interim report has identified up to 1,400 properties in Victoria have combustible cladding, prompting the government to budget $5 million to conduct a state-wide audit of all residential buildings – in what will be the biggest overhaul of the building sector in decades.
The Victorian Cladding Taskforce Chairs’ report found these buildings most likely have Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) with a polyethylene (PE) core or Expanded Polystyrene (EPS).
No building has required an evacuation order by Victorian regulators, provided certain safety measures are met while rectification works are carried out, such as alarms, sprinklers or evacuation procedures.
In response to the taskforce’s findings, the government has provided the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) with $5 million to inspect more buildings, including a state wide audit of residential buildings likely to have combustible cladding.
The VBA will be required to inspect more buildings each year – from less than 2% to up to 10%.
A state building inspector will also be appointed and former VicRoads chief executive John Merritt has been appointed to the Victorian Cladding Taskforce as a special Adviser to Minister for Planning Richard Wynne.
The government has already taken measures by restricting the use of ACPs with a PE core and the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in Victoria on buildings above two storeys.
Victorian Cladding Taskforce co-chair and former Premier Ted Baillieu said everyone from builders to suppliers and the regulator need to lift their game.
“We want to see maximum levels of compliance and more of an effort from the industry to accept responsibility and ensure everyone is safe.
Co-Chair John Thwaites said there has been a culture of non-compliance throughout the building sector that has meant combustible cladding has become a widespread material used on multi-storey buildings.
“This culture has to change.” Thwaites said.
Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) CEO Scott Williams said the interim report reflects the regulatory failure in Victoria.
“The report’s finding that potentially more than 1400 Victorian buildings have been fitted with non-compliant cladding is a clear reflection of the systemic shortfall of regulatory and enforcement processes in the building industry, and many of the report’s recommendations aim to address this.
“FPA Australia looks forward to the Victorian Government implementing many of the recommendations and working towards restoring consumer confidence in the building industry.” Williams said.
The Australian Institute of Architects’ Victorian president Vanessa Bird said the problem of widespread non-compliant cladding can be attributed to three factors:
- The supply and marketing of inappropriate building materials,
- A poor culture of compliance in the industry,
- And the failure of the regulatory system to deal with these issues.
“While auditing and rectification of existing non-compliance is important, immediate change is required to protect public safety in the future and remedy a poor culture of compliance in the industry.
“We are calling for greater regulation and the registration of all building practitioners in Victoria to address the danger to our community posed by the de-professionalisation of building procurement over many years now.
“Over several years the Institute has identified a significant risk around substitution of specified materials.
“Going forward, we seek greater regulation to address many of the issues that architects have identified over an extended period,”
Bird said cutting red tape cannot and should not come at the expense of people’s safety.
Meanwhile the government will also take immediate action to address cladding on publicly-owned buildings, including hospitals. A Department of Health and Human Services audit has already looked at 1,100 buildings and has identified eight hospitals where non-compliant cladding must be replaced.
Works to rectify the Royal Women’s Hospital are under way, while the remainder of sites will be brought into compliance within 36 months. A further 12 hospital buildings remain under assessment.
Australian Property Journal
