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Overview
Infrastructure Canberra (iCBR) is responsible for delivery of the ACT Government's Cladding Rectification Program. Removal and replacement of potentially combustible cladding is the main objective of the program. The program is split into two streams:
- Government Buildings Program
- Private Buildings Cladding Scheme.
The Government Buildings Program completed cladding remediation works in late 2022 on 23 Government owned buildings.
Private Buildings Cladding Scheme
The Private Buildings Cladding Scheme is an ongoing program. The program has two sub-schemes:
- the Private Buildings Testing and Assessment Scheme
- the Private Buildings Concessional Loan Scheme.
The program recognises the challenges faced by apartment building owners to resolve issues with cladding. It provides a range of support to owners corporations. This includes:
- providing information and guidance to owners about testing, assessment and remediation
- offering a concessional loan to support owners with the costs of removing and/or replacing cladding.
Funding for testing and assessment cladding
Two schemes have been established to fund testing and assessment of cladding.
The first scheme was called the Private Buildings Testing and Assessment Scheme. It provided grants to owners corporations of eligible apartment buildings. The grants were worth up to $20,000. This money was used to provide a rebate on the cost of testing and assessing cladding. Applications for the grant were accepted between 21 July 2021 and 21 July 2022.
The second scheme is the Private Buildings Cladding (Supplementary) Scheme. It offers financial assistance for eligible owners corporations to test and assess the combustibility of their cladding. This scheme is open for eligible Class 2 apartment buildings that are three storeys or higher. Grants of up to $12,500 (including GST) are available. Applications are open until 20 March 2025.
Learn more about the Funding for testing and assessing cladding
Apply for a grant under the Supplementary Scheme
Owners corporations can seek advice from a fire engineer if they are unsure about the presence of combustible cladding.
Remediation of combustible cladding
The Private Buildings Concessional Loan Scheme provides owners corporations access to a low-interest loan. This loan is used to engage suitably qualified suppliers to complete remediation works on eligible apartment buildings. Remediation will involve completing work to reduce or eliminate risks presented by combustible cladding.
Learn more about the Private Buildings Concessional Loan Scheme
What is combustible cladding
Cladding is a building material that is applied to the exterior of buildings. It is added to a building in order to:
- provide thermal insulation
- add weather resistance
- improve appearance.
Certain types of cladding can burn rapidly or melt if they catch alight. This can occur at relatively low temperatures. The following types of cladding may be considered combustible:
- aluminium composite panels
- expanded polystyrene systems
- reconstituted wood plastic composite or biowood.
It can be difficult to visually identify combustible cladding. Some types of cladding can look like rendered brick, concrete or solid wood. There are also aluminium cladding products that may not be combustible.
Learn more about types of cladding and fire safety
Suppliers of cladding remediation services
Owners corporations will need to engage suitably qualified suppliers to complete cladding remediation works. The Private Buildings Cladding Scheme has established a register of suppliers. This register is an open and publicly available list. It details the qualifications, experience, licences and insurances relevant to cladding work in the ACT. Suppliers included in the register are able to:
- determine whether the cladding on their building is combustible
- advise the level of fire safety risk to residents from the cladding
- provide recommendation on any remediation work required to reduce or eliminate the fire safety risk
- give a detailed cost estimate on the recommended remediation work
- guide owners corporations on interim measures to mitigate the fire risk until remediation works are completed
- carry out remediation work on the building.
Suppliers on the register practice in the following professions:
- architects – may also act as a project manager
- builders
- building certifiers / building surveyors
- fire engineers
- project managers
- quantity surveyors
- structural and/or facade engineers