The Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) has been working tirelessly on proactive and appropriate responses to building fires to ensure high-rise buildings are safe and the enforcement systems are robust. The efforts have gained significant momentum since the 2014 Lacrosse Apartment fire in Melbourne.

The BMF has noticed that more concerns have been raised since the Grenfell Tower fire in London and is commissioning an expert to report on compliance and enforcement problems within the building and construction industry. This expert will cover areas like education, licensing, design, quality assurance, competencies of practitioners and importation affecting the use of the National Construction Code (NCC).

Under the direction of BMF, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) will increase the rate of which safety measures are taken out through the NCC that will prevent the non-compliant use of cladding. Notably, the introduction of the Building and Construction Legislation Amendment Bill of 2017 by the Queensland government is a big step in the right direction and the exact aim of what the BMF wants to enforce.

The BMF has also instructed the Senor Officers’ Group to finalise the use of recommendations in the Strategies to Address Risks Related to Non-Conforming Building Products report, especially the implementation of a national forum of building regulators.

To go with this, the BMF has put into place a one-stop shop website that will give general information on non-conforming building products and allow the public to submit a complaint or enquiry about a product or material.

Feel free to check out the website here: http://www.abcb.gov.au/NCBP/Non-Conforming-Building-Products