“While the root cause of the Grenfell Tower fire in London is still being determined, it has prompted speculation about the likelihood of, and discussion of ways to prevent, similar catastrophic events here in Australia, ” Radley de Silva, CEO of Master Builders Association of Victoria, said.

“We remind everyone in the building and construction industry of the importance of taking appropriate measures to ensure the materials they use are suitable for the building work they are performing,” Mr de Silva said.

“The existence of non-conforming products is a major concern for the building and construction industry. The industry does not need more regulation but better enforcement, clarity and information.

“Availability for sale is not necessarily an indication of suitability for a given project. Therefore, more responsibility must be borne at the front–end by for example manufacturers and suppliers, but building contractors also need better tools to ensure they use the right product in the right place. This can only be achieved if government is able to bring the existing array of information/certification tools together into a single coherent system with appropriate oversight, transparency and enforcement.

“For example, better certification processes and a single portal for all product types—one that building contractors can use with ease and confidence—would assist in enabling all building practitioners to use the right products in the right place.

“Industry and government must work together to offer a single readily-accessible repository of information about certified products and how to use them appropriately. Right now, good information is too scattered and hard to find quickly.”

“We remind Victoria’s building and construction industry that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) can be helpful resources for announcements about non-conforming products and product recalls,” Mr de Silva said.

The Australasian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC) provides an online resource here entitled Procurement of Construction Products: a guide to achieving compliance.

On 17 February 2016 the VBA issued a media release and report following their External Wall Cladding Audit, which reviewed 170 high-rise residential and public buildings in the Melbourne CBD and immediate suburbs. More information about the VBA’s audit can be found here.