I am ... a fire safety engineer

We’ve collated an array of information relevant to fire safety engineers below.

Protocols for Mitigating Cladding Risk

The Protocols for Mitigating Cladding Risk (PMCR) is an approach developed by Cladding Safety Victoria (CSV) on behalf of the Victorian Government to consistently and systematically address the risk posed by the presence of combustible cladding on primarily Class 2 and Class 3 buildings.

Read more about the PMCR(opens in a new window).

Minister’s Guideline and Cladding Risk Mitigation Framework

A Minister’s Guideline (MG-15)(opens in a new window) has been issued by the Minister for Planning under section 188(1)(c) of the Building Act 1993. The Cladding Risk Mitigation Framework (CRMF)(opens in a new window) has been developed to support MG-15.

MG-15 was published in the Victoria Government Gazette No G 38 on Thursday 21 September 2023 at page 1715.

MG-15 gives clear policy around understanding risk, how it is assessed and a procedure for how cladding related risk can be addressed.

Read more about the MG-15 and CRMF(opens in a new window).

Compliance in building design

In the fulfilment of its functions under the Cladding Safety Victoria Act 2020, CSV has reviewed in detail the original plans and permits for 1000 privately-owned apartment buildings.

During extensive and direct engagement with impacted owners and tenants, two of the frequently asked questions have been: why was combustible cladding used and who is responsible?

This report addresses the second of those questions with insights about more than 800 buildings where adequate information was available in designs and permits to yield a robust conclusion about the compliance of the external wall cladding.

Read more and download the full report(opens in a new window).

Cladding product fire testing

A variety of cladding types have been identified on buildings referred to CSV, and a range of tests on these products are being conducted to increase our understanding of the performance of these products and the degree of risk they pose in the event of fire.

CSV has published a webpage for industry professionals to increase collective understanding of the performance characteristics of various cladding types.

Read more about cladding product fire testing and see CSV’s test result reports and videos(opens in a new window).

Guide for Aluminium Composite Panels with Flame Retardant on Existing Buildings

CSV, in partnership with the Building and Plumbing Commission has published advice for Municipal Building Surveyors (MBSs) with a guidance framework to follow when reviewing and considering cancelling enforcement issued on external wall cladding in existing buildings (under Part 8 of the Building Act) that comprises Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) with Flame Retardant. Download the Guide below.

Remediation Work Proposals – Building permit requirements

Cladding Safety Victoria (CSV) is supporting the mitigation of risks associated with combustible external wall cladding in Victoria, including by providing advice to building owners about how to manage combustible cladding.

CSV may provide building owners with advice in a Remediation Work Proposal (RWP), which will suggest measures to reduce cladding risk to an acceptable level. Read more about CSV’s approach to providing advice about mitigating cladding risk(opens in a new window).

Key measures that may be recommended in a RWP include the installation of smoke alarms or heat detectors within certain locations of a sole occupancy unit (SOU), in addition to the removal of cladding installed in proximity to potential fire source hazards when required.

Read more about Remediation Work Proposals and building permit requirements(opens in a new window).

Register for the preferred building supplier list

All consultants engaged by an owners corporation to rectify any cladding issues through Cladding Safety Victoria’s Program need to be chosen from the list of consultants identified in the Residential Cladding Rectification Register (RCRR), or as otherwise approved by Cladding Safety Victoria.

The register includes options to engage project managers, fire safety engineers, draftspersons, architects, building surveyors and builders in the cladding removal and replacement process.

Find out more about the register including how to be listed(opens in a new window).

Combustible cladding resources for practitioners

As Victoria’s building and plumbing regulator, the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) have provided a range of useful information about cladding that building practitioners and others may find useful, including specific information about cladding products. Find information and resources from the BPC(opens in a new window).

The Department of Transport and Planning have also provided a range of useful resources on their website(opens in a new window).

Note to Fire Safety Engineers

The Cladding Risk Mitigation Framework (CRMF)(opens in a new window) and the Protocols for Mitigating Cladding Risk (PMCR)(opens in a new window) have been developed by Cladding Safety Victoria (CSV) for particular use by building owners and building surveyors.

These tools guide the development of Remediation Work Proposals (RWPs) to address the risk posed by the presence of combustible cladding on Class 2 and Class 3 buildings in Victoria. These tools are intended to support the development of consistent responses to cladding risks across Victoria without the need for costly consultant analyses.

Where a fire safety engineer is engaged to provide an expert opinion or to report in respect to the preparation of a RWP, or otherwise in respect to combustible cladding on a building, fire safety engineers should, as a matter of good engineering practice, ensure they consider and apply the CRMF and PMCR when preparing and providing their advice. This will ensure the utility of that advice where building surveyors are required to have regard to the CRMF and PMCR in connection to certain buildings affected by combustible cladding under Minister's Guideline 15(opens in a new window). This is consistent with the approach of Engineers Australia's Society of Fire Safety Practice Guide - Façade/External Wall Fire Safety Design, which provides that any frameworks developed by the States and Territories “should be followed in their entirety and would take precedence”.[i]