6. New Legislation

The upcoming proposed amendment to the NCC (likely March 2018) will incorporate robust changes to the above and require the performance of external walls to meet the new AS 5113 (released 2016 but not called up in the NCC yet) which is the full scale fire testing of a wall (approx. 5m high wall system is tested) – for which only one supplier has provided any evidence of compliance to date (given it’s not a current requirement).

It appears though that the AS 5113 standard is called up only as a performance requirement with DTS solutions (non-combustible claddings like Vitracore G2) remaining compliant and without a need for the full scale test to AS 5113.
It should be noted that many of the products have been through full scale testing – to European or British standards and will be tested to the AS 5113 given market demands for this evidence (driven in part by insurance provisions and Fire brigade need for greater certainty of product suitability).

While this technically will (subject to being passed) impact on building approvals commenced from March 2018, there may be requirements in tenders or client requests for compliance to AS 5113.

Firstly, it’s not legislated yet. Secondly, this standard when it is legislated won’t apply to non-combustible products (in assessing compliance to NCC). Finally, no one has released any test reports to this standard.

This needs to be addressed at tender qualifying clearly that evidence of compliance is not available as yet - it’s not a condition or request that can be met as it stands without spending at least $35k for the testing + cost of building and removing the prototype and having the time to construct the prototype + gain access to the Exova facility in Melbourne to do the test (which takes approx. 2 months from inception to having test completed).