New government panel for cladding removal oversite for NSW apartments
The NSW Government has established an expert panel of building and construction specialists to help support the removal of unsafe cladding across the state.
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, Kevin Anderson, said the Cladding Product Safety Panel has been tasked with assisting the NSW Building Commissioner, building owners, councils and other regulators by identifying, and where necessary testing, the safest ways to remove and replace high-risk cladding.
“The Panel will provide expert advice on how to undertake rectification work where unsafe cladding has been identified,” Mr Anderson said.
“It will also, for the first time, provide consistent and clear advice on what products can safely be used when replacing combustible cladding.
“We know it can be confusing for owners and insurers who are sourcing products to replacing unsafe cladding. The panel will provide details of which products and installation systems can be used safely and comply with the Building Code of Australia, relevant Australian Standards and insurance requirements.”
The eight-member panel will be chaired by Professor Mark Hoffman, who led the investigation into building failures at Mascot and Opal towers. It consists of members with expertise in building and construction, product testing, building surveying, certification and fire safety engineering.
NSW Building Commissioner, David Chandler OAM, said the Panel will be available to advise councils and industry when they are scoping rectification work on the suitability of building products being proposed to replace unsafe cladding.
“The panel will help building owners and occupants to be more confident that remediation and certification work will be compliant and safe,” Mr Chandler said.
“We also need to ensure that work will be accepted by insurers without conditionality. The Panel will work closely with the insurance industry to make sure this occurs.