The Victorian Minister for Planning Minister Richard Wynne has declared certain external wall cladding products to be prohibited from being used by any person in the course of carrying out any building work in connection with buildings of Type A or Type B Construction under section 192B(1) of the Building Act 1993, effective 1 February 2021 (“the Declaration”).
 
Type A Construction and Type B Construction is defined under Part C1 of the BCA Volume One.
 
The previously issued Ministerial Guideline MG-14: Issue of building permits where building work involves the use of certain cladding products has been revoked effective 1 February 2021.
 
The Declaration effective 1 February 2021 provides that the following external wall cladding products are prohibited from being used by any person in the course of carrying out any building work in connection with buildings of Type A or Type B construction in Victoria:

  1. aluminium composite panels (ACPs) with a core of less than 93 per cent inert mineral filler (inert content) by mass in external cladding as part of a wall system; and
  2. expanded polystyrene products used in an external insulation and finish (rendered) wall system.

 
The Declaration does not apply in relation to the use of such cladding products under a permit where the application for the permit was made to the relevant building surveyor before 1 February 2021. If you require clarification of the requirements for cladding products prior to 1 February 2021, we strongly recommend that you seek legal and/or technical advice.
 
The declaration does not impact –

  • Class 1 and 10 buildings such as a detached dwelling, garage, sheds or the like as defined in the BCA Volume 2, or
  • buildings of Type C Construction as defined under Part C1 of the BCA Volume 1.

 
The  Minister has deemed that these products present a higher risk to occupant safety when used in Type A and B buildings, and that prohibiting the use of these products will reduce the risk of fire spread in multi-storey buildings and will reduce the risk to the safety of occupants, neighbouring buildings, property and the public.

A full copy of the requirements of the relevant Victorian Government Gazette can be accessed here.

If you have further queries on this issue please contact Master Builders Victoria on (03) 9411 4555.