New NSW laws regarding combustible cladding are now in effect.
Similarly as in other states, these laws have been adopted following London’s Grenfell Tower tragedy which highlighted the use of combustible cladding here in Australia.
Before this tragic apartment fire, the use of combustible cladding was largely unmonitored.
For many strata owners, these changes will help put their minds at ease about the fire risk of their home.
So what this means is owners of certain buildings with external cladding are required to register their building with the NSW Government through an online portal.
The deadline for registration of existing buildings is 22 February 2019, which is fast approaching.
Owners of new buildings are required to register within four months of the first occupants moving in.
The Regulations apply to the following types of buildings:
- Residential apartment buildings;
- Buildings where unrelated people sleep, for example, hotels, hostels, boarding houses and student accommodation;
- Aged-care buildings, hospitals and day surgeries; and
- Public assembly buildings such as theatres, cinemas, schools and churches.
External combustible cladding made of the following material falls within these Regulations:
- metal composite panels, including products consisting of aluminium, zinc, or copper outer layers and a core material; and
- insulated cladding systems including systems comprised of polystyrene, polyurethane, and polyisocyanurate.
Do not delay preparing for this stage. You need to take into consideration the high demand placed on industry experts and their time availability. The deadline is 22 February 2019, which does not leave much time considering the Christmas, New Year and Australia Day holidays.
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