Fire Safety in Combustible Cladding Rectification
Our team provides extensive fire safety management for combustible cladding rectification projects, covering every aspect from risk assessments and safety planning on-site fire safety monitoring and staff training. BASIC Expert delivers customized solutions to minimize fire risks, safeguard all project personnel, and ensure strict compliance throughout the rectification process, offering complete assurance for building owners, occupants, and contractors.
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NOTABLE PROJECTS
​BASIC Expert conducted a construction setup audit for Mentone Grammar School. The assessment evaluated all potential risks associated with the project, including the installation of combustible insulation within certain external wall cavities of the building. As a result the Creativity Centre at Mentone Grammar now aligns with the highest standards of fire safety.
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This was an important task as BASIC Expert had to work to keep the school open so that students could attend school while the building was being rectified. Ensuring minimal disruption to the school’s daily operations while maintaining a safe environment was crucial, highlighting the planning and execution required by BASIC Expert.
Mentone Grammar Creativity Centre
St Kilda Road Residential Tower
A property in residential Melbourne was identified by CSV to have a number of issues, including wall cladding along Northern and Southern elevations extending sixteen levels; horizontal cladding along Western elevation extending twelve levels; horizontal strip cladding in sporadic locations; and awning structure extending from Eastern elevation to Southern elevation.
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​BASIC Expert conducted large-scale fire tests, which demonstrated that both horizontal and vertical fire spread are unlikely to occur. While the full removal of combustible cladding was estimated to cost 11.5 million AUD, BASIC Expert proposed an alternative rectification strategy, following the SFAIRP (So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable) approach and supported by test verification, which is projected to cost only 70,000 AUD. This approach offers a significantly more cost-effective solution while maintaining fire safety.
GRENFELL TOWER FIRE INQUIRY
Our engineering team collaborated with the Metropolitan Police to analyse the Grenfell Tower fire incident. Our team focused on six key areas: impact of insulation on external fire spread; fire reconstruction; fire spread to exterior of the building; fire spread from outside the building then back into the building; how the fire broke out of the original flat; and smoke infiltrate from lobbies into flats.
NEO200 BUILDING FIRE
BASIC Expert conducted an investigation and produced a forensic report for the City of Melbourne regarding a fire that occurred in the Neo200 building. The report highlighted various findings related to the fire's origin, ignition sources, fire prevention system functionality, and maintenance issues. The report provided recommendations for maintenance, rectification of defects, and review of systems.
SELECT PRESENTATIONS
CHUBB INSURANCE AUSTRALIA
Aluminium Composite Panels
Dr. Jonathan Barnett focused on the complexities surrounding Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) and their implicants for budling owners, in relation to fire safety, insurance, and rectification costs.
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He outlined the potential consequences for building owners: reduced resale values; higher insurance premiums; and financial challenges related to rectifying buildings with ACP.
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He touched on risk assessment methods including Victoria’s Statewide Cladding Audit and international models. He addressed the costs involved in ACP removal and replacement, focusing on the need for thorough planning and risk evaluation when determining who pays for rectifications.
FIRE AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW
The Importance of Systems Interface Testing
Jonathan Duler’s presentation highlighted that interface testing, as required by AS 1851-2012, ensures that fire protection systems are correctly integrated and function correctly in the event of a fire. He discussed real-world examples where poor interface testing led to significant safety failures, underscoring the need for thorough and ongoing testing, especially in buildings with challenged by combustible cladding.