Why cladding is used on buildings

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