Combustible Cladding Update

The Queensland Government has launched a new website providing further information on the new obligations on owners of private and local government buildings to undertake a mandatory ‘combustible cladding checklist’. 
The ‘Safer Buildings’ website will be the portal through which building owners register and begin the new statutory three stage process, aimed at identifying buildings in Queensland that may have potentially combustible cladding.

Coming into effect on 1 October 2018, the Building and Other Legislation (Cladding) Amendment Regulation 2018 will apply to owners of buildings which:  

• are a class 2 – 9
• are of a type A or B construction, and
• are built, or have had the cladding altered, after 1 January 1994 but before 1 October 2018. 

The three stages of the new obligation will be:  

• Part 1 will require owners to register with QBCC through an online portal and complete a preliminary risk checklist. Subsequent stages will only apply if a building is deemed to be at risk of being affected by combustible cladding. (Must be completed by 29 March 2019)
• Part 2 will require owners of buildings identified through Part 1 to obtain an ‘industry professional statement’ outlining the risk profile of the building. (Must be completed by 29 March 2019)
• Part 3 will apply to buildings deemed to be potentially affected by combustible cladding through the first two stages. A building fire safety risk assessment by a fire engineer will be required. (Must be completed by 3 May 2021)

Buildings determined to be affected through this process will be required to display a notice in a conspicuous position on the building and provide a copy of risk assessments to lot owners and tenants.

The website also includes the relevant forms outlined in the regulation, and a FAQ section.

While strongly supportive of Government action to tackle the non-conforming cladding issue, the Property Council has written to the Minister expressing concern with the design of the checklist process. The Property Council has called for the system to be amended to allow for corporate registrations on the ‘Safer Buildings’ checklist, a streamlining of the requirements, and more realistic timeframes to complete the process.