MEDIA STATEMENT
Fairview Architectural – Australia’s second largest manufacturer and importer of aluminium composite material (ACM) panels – welcomes today’s announcement by the NSW Government of a wide-ranging fire safety package.
Fairview Managing Director, Andrew Gillies, said the Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, the Hon Matt Kean, should be congratulated for establishing a thorough review of all the issues around the selection, fitting and approval of materials used to clad multi-storey residential buildings.
“The NSW Government initiative will provide clarity around the location of cladding that is not fit-for-purpose or that has been installed incorrectly.
“It is imperative to stress that Aluminium Composite Material or ACM cladding is not, of itself, dangerous, but it is important that the right type is used for the required purpose,” Mr Gillies said.
“What is important is the panel’s core composition and whether it has been correctly specified, professionally installed and certified to perform to code, and regulations.”
Mr Gillies said Fairview took its responsibility to educate and inform the building and construction industry and the wider public very seriously and looked forwarded to assisting the NSW Government where it could.
Ends
Further information: Gerry McCusker 0407 805 070
In 2015, Fairview engaged with many industry and government stakeholders around the issue of ACM cladding following the fire at the Lacrosse Tower in Melbourne’s Docklands (Fairview panels were not fitted on the Lacrosse Tower).
At that time, Fairview produced a short video to educate industry and the wider community about this issue. The video can be viewed HERE.
Consumers, regulators, developers, building owners and occupiers, and government need to be better informed about ACM panels so that community concerns can be allayed.
Fairview provides full specifications and installation guides for all products. All customers must ensure that any Fairview product used are selected and fitted to fully comply with the relevant building codes.
Fairview told a recent Senate Economics References Committee hearing that the company supported a suggested ban on the import of ACM panels with a polyethylene core.
The Lithgow-based company also unveiled a new packaging initiative to further assist people to correctly identify and use ACM panel types. All Fairview ACM panels will soon feature striking new red, amber or green labels, clearly reinforcing panel types and suggested usage.