Navigating the building code through non-combustible cladding selection: Fast tracking compliance with fibre cement

Due to recent regulatory reform in Australia targeting flammable cladding, design and construction professionals are seeking efficient pathways to comply with the fire performance requirements found in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) (comprising National Construction Code (NCC) Volumes One and Two).

After the 2014 Lacrosse tower fire, the federal government implemented several measures promoting the use of fire-safe building products, including changes to the NCC preventing the use of flammable cladding on high-rise buildings.

UNDERSTANDING COMPLIANCE PATHWAYS

Performance Requirement CP2 in the NCC Volume One requires that a building must have elements that avoid the spread of fire. The two compliance pathways with the relevant facade safety requirements of CP2 are:

• satisfying the DTS requirements in C1.9 (the ‘Deemed-to-satisfy’ approach); or • demonstrating a solution performs equal to or better than the DTS solution and meets the requirements of CP2 (the ‘Performance Solution’ approach).

Unlike the Performance Solution approach,

DTS provisions provide clear instructions on the materials and building methods that enable automatic code compliance.

Under the NCC, buildings of Type A and B construction must have non-combustible external walls (including cladding products) unless an exception applies.

Comprised of sand, cement and cellulose fibres, and inherently non-flammable, fibre cement cladding is a ‘Deemed-to-satisfy’ solution. Fibre cement cladding offers a fast track to code compliance under the DTS provisions. In addition to fire safety performance, fibre cement has additional performance benefits, including high levels of durability, structural resistance and weatherproofing.

KEY CLADDING SPECIFICATIONS

Fibre cement offers structural reliability, low maintenance requirements and a long lifespan. It is ideal for use as cladding as part of a façade system.

Some cladding products claim to be fibre-reinforced cement but do not offer the same performance. Specifiers should ensure fibre cement cladding meets the relevant composition, manufacturing and performance requirements by requesting Standardsmark Certificates, Product Conformity Statements and/or evidence of Bca-compliance, such as Codemark certification, from the manufacturer.

JAMES HARDIE

James Hardie has been the global leader in the design and manufacture of high performance construction solutions since 1888. James Hardie’s products respond to the heightened demand for durability, code compliance and fire performance. All James Hardie products are meticulously designed and engineered to the highest standards.