There was some debate in the Senate on Monday 12 February on the Private Members Bill introduced by the Nick Xenophon Team in September last year. The Private Members, Customs Amendment (Safer Cladding) Bill 2017, seeks to ban the importation of combustible aluminium products.

The Bill and parliamentary proceedings can be accessed here.

Master Builders welcomes any debate on improving the regulatory environment to support a better quality and more efficient construction sector. The Senate proposal to ban cladding imports is not required because the National Construction Code has been strengthened to address risks around the use of cladding on high-rise buildings.

The policy response to concerns around combustible cladding is being rolled out progressively around the country.

Master Builders advocates for consistent and clear change where there is regulatory reform.

Master Builders welcomes the out-of-cycle amendments to the National Construction Code that take effect in March this year.

Changes to the NCC provide a national response to addressing concerns regarding combustible aluminium cladding.

Click here for the information circular about the out-of-cycle amendment to the National Construction Code.

These changes restrict the use of combustible aluminium cladding. Under proposed Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions, bonded/ laminated materials (or aluminium-clad products) are required to have a core that is non-combustible.

In addition, the NCC references a new Australian Standard (AS 5113) which provides an accurate indication of the fire performance of wall claddings and wall assemblies. AS 5113 will be referenced in a new verification method that will enable industry to verify the fire performance of external cladding systems against the relevant performance requirements of the NCC.

The NCC changes combined with the reforms below will provide a more effective regime:

• Consistency and simplification of state and territory laws
• Better pathways for testing and verifying products around product certification, registration and labelling
• Accountability across the supply chain including those who specify buildings (architects, designers, engineers)
• Clear requirements for design documentation and building certification
• Reasonable, practical and fair shared responsibility provisions
• Consistent enforcement regime
• Better regulator feedback on failures in the system.
The Building Ministers Forum (BMF) is managing reforms to the National Construction Code and considering other approaches to deal with non-conforming and non-compliant products. There are still further reforms to be delivered. We hope a consensus approach is adopted by the BMF on further reform work, and we encourage better engagement with industry in the development of further reforms.