Bodies corporate and owners are urged to register their buildings and complete a combustible cladding checklist before the Queensland Government deadline of March 29, 2019.
WGC Lawyers Director Rhiannon Saunders, whose areas of practice include body corporate disputes, said the Safer Buildings laws came into effect last month giving property owners six months to comply.
“There are several categories of buildings which this legislation covers including accommodation, professional, commercial and public buildings,” she said.
“It only applies to class 2-9 buildings, of type A or B construction that were built, or that have had cladding altered, between January 1, 1994 and October 1, 2018.
“While most buildings will not have combustible cladding, the legislation puts the onus on property owners to check their building, register their building and complete a combustible cladding checklist at www.saferbuildings.qld.gov.au.
“Failure to do so is an offence and may result in disciplinary action from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission.
“If the checklist reveals combustible cladding may be present, a building industry professional must then be engaged to complete a statement and a second checklist.
“Further steps involve engaging a fire engineer to do a building fire safety risk assessment.
“The amendment to building regulations followed the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017 and subsequent safety concerns about Aluminium Composite Panel cladding.
“This cladding has a thin layer of combustible thermoplastic material called polyethylene which is sandwiched between two sheets of aluminium.
“Used externally on buildings for architectural effect, the cladding can significantly contribute to the rapid spread of fire to other areas of the building.
“For most property owners in the Cairns region, Safer Buildings will just be a matter of completing the paperwork on time to comply with the new building code.”
For any other queries please contact Rhiannon Saunders Director on 40461118 or email rsaunders@wgc.com.au.