Property Council supports tougher standards
As the Senate hands down its interim report on external cladding material today, Property Council chief executive Ken Morrison says the property industry continues to prioritise safety and compliance.
In the wake of the Lacrosse fire in Victoria and the tragic fire at the Grenfell tower in London, Four Corners has broadcast an investigation into non-conforming building products, and the installation of aluminium composite panels on Australian buildings.
Non-conforming building products are building products and materials that are not of acceptable quality, do not meet Australian standards, are not fit for their intended purpose, or contain false or misleading claims. This is distinct from non-compliant products, which are used in situations where they do not comply with the National Construction Code (NCC).
“Government and industry are doing a great deal of work on this. While Australia already has fire standards that are among the best in the world, we can’t rest on our laurels. Public safety must be our major priority,” Morrison says.
The Senate inquiry into non-conforming building products has been underway since June 2015. The Australian Building Codes Board has called for public comment on an out-of-cycle amendment to the NCC, which would improve fire safety in high-rise buildings. Standards Australia is also undertaking technical reviews.
Many states have also responded by establishing task forces, and in Queensland, legislation addressing non-conforming building products passed in August. This legislation, first of its kind in Australia, is likely to serve as a model for other states to adopt.
The Property Council supports tougher standards for the certification of building products, as well as a national register of products that conform and comply with the NCC.
“The most important thing for regulators and the industry is to identify potential public safety risks and resolve them as a matter of priority,” Morrison says.
“Other areas of non-compliance, where buildings are deemed safe to occupy, can then be addressed over time.”
Morrison says the Property Council has been working closely with its members to understand and manage their risks.
“The industry is taking the issue extremely seriously. Companies are taking a moral approach to this rather than a legal one – seeking to identify potential problems and deal with them before trying to identify liability.”
“Feedback has been members have uncovered a limited number of issues with most able to be addressed relatively simply.
“Instances of non-compliance do not necessarily mean a building presents a public safety risk,” Morrison explains.
Morrison says the industry must also increase its focus on the importance of supply chain management.
“The earlier in the supply chain that non-conforming building products can be identified – ideally at the time the product is manufactured – the more effective the intervention will be.
“We know that building certifiers and surveyors do not have the capacity to check every product, nor are Australian building regulators currently able to investigate every suspected case. We must work on our supply chain to ensure there is more responsibility upstream.
“It is not easy work – but there is enormous goodwill – and a commitment to ensure that Australia’s world-renowned fire safety record is preserved,” Morrison concludes.