Two year wait to remove dangerous cladding from high-rise buildings

Homeowners caught up in the ongoing cladding crisis, described by one industry expert as a “living breathing nightmare”, could be waiting up to two years to remove the flammable cladding from the state’s highest risk apartment buildings.

It will take up to two years to remove flammable cladding from dozens of Victoria’s highest risk apartment buildings, the regulator has warned.

And the state government is yet to completely remove combustible cladding from eight hospital buildings, which they identified in 2017 as needing “priority removal”.

The ongoing cladding crisis, described by one industry expert as a “living breathing nightmare”, was first raised after the Docklands Lacrosse fire in 2014 and brought into sharper focus following the tragic 2017 Grenfell fire in London that caused 72 deaths.

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After Grenfell an expert panel audited more than 1100 buildings with combustible cladding and identified 60 buildings material similar to that at Lacrosse, Grenfell and last week’s NEO200 fire as the highest priority to remove.

The burnt remains of the cladding on Lacrosse Tower in Docklands. Picture: Aaron Francis

But the Victorian Building Authority said it could take more two years for cladding — which is usually aluminium composite panels with a polyethylene core or expanded polystyrene — on even these priority buildings to be “rectified”.

A VBA spokeswoman said the regulator was working with owners corporations on the best option to remove the cladding.

“Each building is different and in some cases the time-frame may be longer. Buildings will be in various stages of rectification throughout the process.”

“Ultimately, Building Orders will be issued to require the works to be undertaken.”

Industry insiders say the delays are caused due to sorting out the legal mess of who — among owners or builders — should foot the costly bill to have the cladding removed, with estimates that “rectification” could cost more than $35,000 for individual apartment owners.

The Victorian building Authority (VBA), who has taken over as municipal building surveyor for 44 of the highest risk buildings, it has issued 29 notices and two building orders for minor works in relation to cladding. Three emergency orders — which have mandated an upgrade to smoke alarms, sprinkler systems and clear emergency exits have also been issued.

The blaze at the Lacrosse Tower engulfed 13 storeys in 15 minutes.

While two builders have also been slapped with fines for installing combustible cladding which didn’t meet the building code.

Following the 2017 Grenfell fire the government identified eight hospitals which fire safety engineers said needed combustible cladding removed.

Opposition planning spokesman Tim Smith said it defied belief hospitals were still clad with this “highly flammable and dangerous material.”

“The Andrews Labor government is dithering while this time bomb ticks.”

The department of health has set aside $10 million to remove the cladding but the work is yet to be completed.

A department of health spokesman said an audit of 1100 health services building found a small number of buildings with combustible cladding.

“All of the hospital buildings identified are safe to occupy — including those that require the removal of sections of cladding.”

All health buildings are fitted with alarms that link directly to fire services and sprinkler systems. The hospital buildings do not contain the cladding that was used public housing tower in Grenfell, London or in the Lacrosse apartment building in Melbourne’s Docklands.

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