The Protocols for Mitigating Cladding Risk (PMCR) is an approach developed by Cladding Safety Victoria (CSV) on behalf of the Victorian Government to consistently and systematically address the risk posed by the presence of combustible cladding on Class 2 and Class 3 buildings.
The PMCR supports the Cladding Remediation Partnership Program which focuses on assisting owners of buildings where combustible cladding is present, but presents a lower risk. Through this program, councils will be supported by Cladding Safety Victoria to manage the remediation process with clear policy around how cladding risk is assessed and a procedure for how risk can be addressed. Supporting this is the Minister’s Guideline (MG-15) and the Cladding Risk Mitigation Framework.
Read more about the program, guideline and framework on the Department of Transport and Planning’s website.
In some cases, full cladding rectification is required to make a building safer from the risk of combustible cladding - this has been the focus of Cladding Safety Victoria's work to date. But for many buildings, the presence of combustible cladding:
- does not present a high enough level of risk to warrant substantial or complete removal of the cladding; but
- presents enough risk to warrant a tailored package of risk mitigation interventions to be introduced that provide a proportionate response to the risk.
Some buildings may be of a construction type or size or may only comprise limited elements of combustible cladding such that no intervention or removal of cladding is required.
As such, a set of documents has been assembled to describe the purpose, establishment, method and application of the PMCR. The full set of PMCR documents is below.
Guide for Aluminium Composite Panels with Flame Retardant on Existing Buildings
CSV, in partnership with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has published advice for Municipal Building Surveyors (MBSs) with a guidance framework to follow when reviewing and considering cancelling enforcement issued on external wall cladding in existing buildings (under Part 8 of the Building Act) that comprises Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) with Flame Retardant. Download the Guide below.
Application of Minister's Guideline 15
These documents contain information, advice and support issued by CSV pursuant to Minister’s Guideline 15 - Remediation Work Proposals for Mitigating Cladding Risk for Buildings Containing Combustible External Cladding. Municipal building surveyors and private building surveyors must have regard to the information, advice and support contained in these documents when fulfilling their functions under the Act and the Regulations in connection with Combustible External Cladding on buildings:
- a) which are classified as Class 2 or Class 3 by the National Construction Code or contain any component which is classified as Class 2 or Class 3;
- b) for which the work for the construction of the building was completed or an occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection was issued before 1 February 2021; and
- c) which have Combustible External Cladding.
For the purposes of MG-15, Combustible External Cladding means:
- a) aluminium composite panels (ACP) with a polymer core which is installed as external cladding, lining or attachments as part of an external wall system; and
- b) expanded polystyrene (EPS) products used in an external insulation and finish (rendered) wall system.
Disclaimer
These documents have been prepared by experts across fire engineering, fire safety, building surveying and architectural fields. These documents demonstrate CSV's methodology for developing Remediation Work Proposals which are intended to address risks associated with Combustible External Cladding on Class 2 and Class 3 buildings in Victoria. These technical documents are complex and should only be applied by persons who understand how the entire series might apply to any particular building. Apartment owners may wish to contact CSV or their Municipal Building Surveyor to discuss how these principles have been or will be applied to their building.
CSV reserves the right to modify the content of these documents as may be reasonably necessary. Please ensure that you are using the most up to date version of these documents.
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Contact email: communications@claddingsafety.vic.gov.au
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