The Grenfell Tower tragedy reignited concerns around polyethylene composite cladding that were originally sparked by the Melbourne Docklands Lacrosse fire in 2015. The debate around liability is still unfolding, but in the meantime, the industry is cracking down on cladding. Changes to standards and city-wide audits are all part of the crack down on the highly flammable product, with the aim to prevent any further incidents.
A new whitepaper by aluminium cladding experts, DECO, has been released on the dangers of polyethylene composite cladding and the alternatives available to the market. Fire-safe cladding: Building a culture of compliance seeks to educate architects, specifiers, and designers on the importance of specifying products that are compliant with Australian Standards.
The whitepaper outlines the danger implicit with using a non-fire compliant cladding such as was used at Grenfell and Docklands, highlighting the ticking time bomb nature of the issue. The relevant standards are also laid out, with specific details pertaining to how each standard’s testing is carried out. In doing so, the paper makes clear for building industry professionals exactly what they should be looking for when specifying a product.
The paper goes on to identify solid aluminium panels as the ideal solution to composite aluminium panels. Made from extruded aluminium, solid panels are free from combustible materials or a flammable core and offer strength, durability, flexibility, and low maintenance.
Free to download, the whitepaper is essential reading for all building professionals in the wake of the recent Grenfell and Docklands fires.
For more information on changing standards and the ideal alternative to composite aluminium cladding, download Fire-safe cladding: Building a culture of compliance.
