On Thursday 24 February, the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) released an industry alert designed to clarify circumstances in which combustible materials may be used in the construction of the external walls of certain buildings. The alert, accessible on the VBA website follows the release of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade’s post-incident analysis report into the Lacrosse apartment fire and the VBA’s audit of Class 2, 3 and 9 buildings. Through the audit the VBA has become aware of considerable variation in industry understanding regarding the use of aluminium composite panels (ACP) and other combustible materials in the construction of external walls.

Read the VBA alert here.