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Following the tragic fire at the Grenfell Tower in London in 2017 and the fire at the Lacrosse Building in Melbourne in 2014, new laws have been made for buildings with combustible cladding.

The laws are part of a whole-of-government response to the fire safety risks posed by external combustible cladding.

These laws are the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Identification of Buildings with Combustible Cladding) Regulation 2018 and State Environmental Planning Policy Amendment (Exempt Development – Cladding and Decorative Work) 2018 provision under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

They commenced on 22 October 2018.

Under the Regulation, owners of certain buildings with external combustible cladding are required to register their building with the NSW Government through the NSW Cladding Registration portal.

The Regulation applies to the following building types (both new and existing buildings) of two or more storeys:

  • Residential apartment buildings
  • Other types of residential buildings where people sleep. For example, hotels, boarding houses, backpackers, student accommodation
  • Aged-care buildings; hospitals and day surgeries (and any associated single dwellings within the building)
  • Public assembly buildings. For example, theatres, cinemas, schools and churches (and any associated single dwellings within the building).

The Regulation applies if any of the above buildings have external combustible cladding made of the following materials:

  • Metal composite panels, including products that consist of aluminium, zinc, or copper outer layers and a core material
  • Insulated cladding systems including systems comprised of polystyrene, polyurethane, and polyisocyanurate.

There are also new provisions in the Regulation that require referral of certain 'alternative solutions' (under the Building Code of Australia) involving external combustible cladding to Fire and Rescue NSW.

Council staff conduct rigorous fire safety and other building inspections to check compliance with all Conditions of Consent to ensure that buildings comply with the Building Code of Australia especially in relation to fire protection measures.

Find out the latest frequently asked questions for apartment and building owners.

For further details, contact Council on 1300 434 434 or council@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au

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