SA releases building cladding audit findings

The South Australian Government is calling for immediate action after discovering seven privately owned buildings posed ‘extreme’ fire safety risks during the SA Building Cladding Audit. The state-wide audit, which started in July 2017, aimed to identify buildings containing aluminium composite panels (ACP) and provide recommendations to ensure the material’s safe use, in accordance with the National Construction Code. 21 privately owned ‘high-risk’ buildings were also identified and require remedial work within 12 months.

While the SA Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) has not revealed which actions the building owners need to take, potential remedial works could include removing ACP from around fire exits, firefighting equipment, the first three metres above ground level or within one metre of a balcony. Owners could also install an active fire system, such as sprinklers, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, automatic fire doors and fire control systems, according to the Summary of the SA Building Cladding Audit Interim Report.

“The safety of South Australians is the state government’s top priority and we will be working with councils and private building owners to ensure remediation works are carried out as quickly as possible,” SA Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government Stephan Knoll said. “We have also been working with the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) throughout the audit process and they have developed heightened awareness and response procedures for the 28 buildings with unacceptable levels of risk.”

Some owners have already completed or are undertaking works to reduce their buildings’ safety risk, according to the interim report summary. Only two public buildings were considered high risk — one of which is under construction and the other which is an ablution block that is expected to be remediated within weeks, the SA DPTI said. Knoll said the construction site currently has no public access and he’s been advised the building’s risk will be reduced to an “acceptable level” once complete.

“Security and safety have always been one of the primary reasons that we do not reveal the exact locations of buildings with significant cladding issues in line with other states,” Knoll explained. “As a government, safety is at the forefront of all our decisions and that’s why we will not be disclosing the exact locations. We will continue to update South Australians on how the remediation works are progressing as appropriate.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/highwaystarz