NSW Flammable Cladding Ban Now in Place
A NSW ban is now in place that prohibits the use of highly flammable external cladding on most multi-storey buildings, subject to specific exceptions.
A NSW ban is now in place that prohibits the use of highly flammable external cladding on most multi-storey buildings. The ban applies to cladding that is already installed, and includes fines of up to $1.1 million for corporations and $220,000 for individuals who contravene it.
NSW Commissioner for Fair Trading, Rose Webb gave notice of her intention to impose a building product ban aluminium composite panels last week. It came into force on Wednesday 15 August 2018 and will remain in force until it is revoked.
The ban applies to aluminium composite panels (ACPs) with a core comprised of greater than 30 per cent polyethylene by mass in any external cladding, external wall, external insulation, facade or rendered finish in certain multi storey buildings, subject to specific exceptions.
The Commissioner was granted special prohibition and rectification powers by the Building Products (Safety) Act 2017, in response to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire that killed 71 people in the UK.
The decision to ban the product came after a public consultation period involving submissions from a range of stakeholders including developers, builders, industry associations, fire safety consultants, composite panel suppliers, and individuals.
There are exceptions for products that pass stringent tests and meet certain Australian Standards.