Is Your Building Cladding Fireproof?

As we anticipated in a previous news article, the effects of the Grenfell Fire outbreak in London in June 2017 are now being felt in Australia.

The Grenfell Fire highlighted issues with flammable cladding that had commonly been used as a skin or layer to provide a degree of thermal insulation and weather resistance, and to improve the appearance of buildings.

In Australia in September 2018, Standards Australia released an update to standard AS 5113: 2016, Classification of external walls of buildings based on reaction to fire performance (previously known as Fire propagation testing and classification of external walls of buildings.

This Standard sets out the procedures for the fire propagation testing and classification of external walls of buildings according to their tendency to limit the spread of fire via the external wall and between adjacent buildings.

Typically, Aluminium Composite Panels (ACPs) are used as external cladding.

ACPs are manufactured with various cores ranging from the flammable Polyethylene (PE) core up to the fully non-combustible Aluminium honeycomb core.

PE is only for use on signage, low rise developments, factories and warehouses. FR panels are Fire Resistant. A2 and Aluminium-Core Composite Panels are non-combustible. These are all suitable for use on high rise developments.

As a flammable material, the Building Codes in Australia and New Zealand do not permit the use of PE core ACP, unless due consideration is given to the type of construction and the proposed use of the panel. It is up to the team involved in the engineering of the building to understand the difference in the products’ performance. The ultimate decision on the use of any building material rests with the building designers and engineering team.

The question should then be asked, why do non-conforming building materials continue to be used in the marketplace and how many buildings are there in the market that contain the flammable PE core material? The simplest answer to this is the fact that PE core material is much cheaper than the Fire Retardant or non-combustible panelling systems. They all look the same but as has tragically been proven, they do not react the same in a fire event. The only way to fully satisfy yourself that your building is not also clad in a flammable PE cored ACP, is to have the building inspected, with particular attention to be paid to the cladding material.

Since the amended standards were introduced, as Builders we have had the opportunity to tender for projects replacing building cladding. One such project is a large business development in Norwest. Engineers recommended their existing PE cladding be removed and replaced with James Hardie panel and fixing systems.

Everest Contracting specialises in remedial work, including application and replacement of external cladding to buildings.

To ensure your building cladding is fireproof, please contact us for an inspection and quote for our services to your Commercial Buildings or Strata premises.