Cladding Regulation Deadline

Cladding Regulation Deadline – 29 March 2019

There are less than 6 weeks to go for Strata property owners to comply with the first stage of the Queensland Government’s new combustible cladding regulations with the deadline being 29 March 2019.

Safety concerns about cladding in apartment buildings have reignited following a fast-moving fire this month at a Melbourne CBD apartment block, which is believed to have been fuelled by combustible cladding. The ABC News report on this latest cladding related fire can be viewed here.

The deadline for buildings to complete Part 1 is an online registration process set up by the QLD Government located at www.saferbuildings.qld.gov.au. Strata property owners will be required to complete Part 1 of the process if:

1. Your building was given a development approval after 1 January 1994 but before 1 October 2018 to either build the building or to alter the cladding on the building; and
2. is a Class 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building; and
3. is of a Type A or Type B construction

Any bodies corporate struggling to complete the Part 1 registration process can request an extension of time to comply by using the QBCC Form 31 document however; extension of time requests must be submitted prior to 1 March 2019.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) Commissioner, Brett Bassett, further reiterated the requirement to comply with Part 1 of the process in a statement released in early February stating:

“Once the 29 March deadline has passed, in addition to risking fines for non-compliance, a building industry professional report will have to be provided to the QBCC.” The full media statement can be read here.

Buildings that are required to complete Part 1 of the process and decide to ignore the legislative requirements, could face unnecessary additional costs in the form of fines of up to 20 Penalty Points (1 Penalty Point = $130.55). Additionally, you will have to engage a building industry professional to prepare a report you may not have had to do if Part 1 of the process was completed by the 29 March 2019 deadline.

Following the introduction of the new laws in late 2018, Archers hosted community education seminars across the state, educating stakeholders on the obligations and timelines to achieve compliance with the three stage regulations. The key takeaway’s of the community education sessions can be read here.

This article was contributed by Andrew Staehr – Partner, Archers the Strata Professionals.