Why cladding is used on buildings

Cladding is used on the outside of buildings for insulation or protection but some are made from materials that aren't great at withstanding fire.

WHAT IS CLADDING?

- A type of "skin" or extra layer on the outside of a building

- Can be attached to a building's framework or an intermediate layer of battens or spacers

CLADDING USES

- It's mainly used to stop wind and rain entering the building

- Cladding can also provide sound and thermal insulation as well as fire resistance

- It is often used to make a building's exterior look more attractive

WHAT IS CLADDING MADE FROM?

- Wood, metal, brick, vinyl, composite materials that can include aluminium, wood, blends of cement and recycled polystyrene, wheat/rice straw fibres

IS CLADDING FIRE RESISTANT?

- Excellent fire resistance cladding: brick

- High fire resistance cladding: planks or weatherboards made from fibre cement, steel

- Good fire resistance cladding: aluminium, reconstituted timber products

- Poor fire resistance cladding: timber weatherboards, plywood sheets

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES WITH ALUMINIUM COMPOSITE CLADDING PANELS?

- There is potential for fire to spread quickly upwards in a building if inappropriate products are used

- The panels consist of two aluminium faces and a core material such as polyethylene, a mineral-based material, or a combination of both

- Panels are between 3mm and 5 mm thick

- They may look similar on the outside, but their core materials may differ and affect their fire resistance

- Panels with a higher proportion mineral core are considered to better withstand fire, but can still be considered combustible

REGULATIONS

- Cladding is only required to meet the minimum standards under the Building Code of Australia

- The National Construction Code (NCC) requires buildings to have elements such as non-combustible external walls to stop fire spreading

Sources: www.yourhome.gov.au; Australian Building Codes Board; NSW Government