APG have been appointed by several building owners and managers in NSW, Victoria and Queensland to oversee the investigation and remediation of a number of buildings clad in flammable Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP). This follows an expectation from the public that all combustible cladding is identified and replaced to ensure that disastrous events such as the fires at the Lacrosse, Grenfell and Neo 200 buildings does not occur again.
An ACP is made up of two thin aluminium sheets bonded to a polymer core; it is the polymer core that makes this product combustible. ACP’s with a 30% or more polymer core have a poor resistance to fire due to aluminium’s low melting point, thus creating the potential for fire to spread up from panel to panel. The highest risk ACP products have a 100% polymer core, which is usually made from polyethylene.
APG are working with Building owners, relevant state legislation, local authorities, building consultants, fire engineers and insurers to manage the process of identifying the risk to their properties, which includes:
- Identification of materials
- Planning, programme and budget
- Evaluating the exposure
- Management of design and approvals
- Tender of remedial works required
- Management of Rectifications
APG have now been involved in 25 ACP cladding rectification projects across numerous jurisdictions and sectors.