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Cladding taskforce announces inspection pilot

The Victorian Cladding Taskforce has announced a pilot building inspection program to help determine the prevalence of aluminium cladding in the state.

The pilot runs for two weeks and the taskforce believes it will be critical in establishing the time and cost of a full audit.

All states and territories are holding audits to establish where non-compliant, flammable building cladding has been used.

The cladding has been blamed for a number of serious fires, including the Grenfell Tower blaze in London in June, which killed more than 80 people.

Dandenong, Moreland, Monash, Port Phillip and Whittlesea councils will take part in the Victorian pilot, which will focus on buildings constructed after 2005.

The Victorian Building Authority previously held an audit of 170 high-rise sites in Melbourne’s CBD, and more than half were found to feature non-compliant cladding.

The taskforce was established last month and will deliver an interim report on October 31.

Meanwhile, ACT Health has announced it will replace potentially flammable aluminium composite panels on the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.

“The risk is low and our buildings have strong fire systems in place to protect building occupants and support safety in the case of fire,” it says.

“However, ACT Health has decided, as a proactive measure, to replace some panels.

“Not all panels on the Centenary Hospital are affected. Therefore, there will not need to be a full replacement.”