Following the UK Grenfell Tower fire, Australian insurers are wary of cheap cladding. Here’s what to do if it’s used on your building.
More than 70 people died when fire spread rapidly across a 24-storey West London tower block in June 2017, with most pundits believing highly flammable, cheap Chinese cladding was to blame (an official inquiry is underway).
As a result, authorities and insurance companies around the world have been quick to put new procedures and policies in place, including the Victorian Cladding Taskforce.
The Taskforce found that systems failures have led to major safety risks and widespread non-compliant use of combustible cladding explains Luke Exell, the Deputy Head of the Statewide Cladding Audit at the Victorian Building Authority (VBA).
Additionally, a preliminary audit in NSW alone identified 1,011 buildings that require investigation.
Insurance companies are now very wary of cheap cladding on buildings across Australia and in some cases are increasing premiums, which means it's important to notify your insurer if your building uses it.
Is your building at risk?
Distinguishing combustible cladding from the more expensive, non-flammable cladding can be difficult.
That's because aluminum composite panels (ACP) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) often resemble traditional building materials such as steel and concrete. And it's what's inside the ACPs, or a cement render, that makes the material dangerous in a fire.
There is no substitute for an expert review by a suitably qualified and registered building survey or, building inspector or fire engineer says Exell.
Insurance companies are now very wary of cheap cladding on buildings across Australia and in some cases are increasing premiums, which means it's important to notify your insurer if your building uses it.
There are some steps you can take until you can get an expert around, including reviewing the original building documents (all design, construction and approval documents) for any mentions of ACPs or EPS.
You can get these from your local council. However, products are often substituted from those specified in design documents – it's good to know exactly what was delivered to site Exell says.
It may also help to find out when the building was constructed.
Most varieties of ACPs used pre-2011 were comprised of a 90-100% polyethylene core. This is the variety of cladding considered most dangerous” Exell says. “EPS has most commonly been used in the building industry during the past 20 years.
Risk mitigation strategies
Exell says the VBA recommends building managers or owners review the following checklist to reduce the risk of a combustible cladding catastrophe: