Why you need to be using non-combustible render on external walls
Building and construction safety standards, particularly when it comes to external façades, have been thrust into the spotlight over the last three years. With the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire in London – greatly worsened by the building’s combustible cladding – prompting greater commitment to fire-safe construction. While the risk of flammable elements was no secret, the reality of this risk was highlighted to the construction industry and lay people alike.
Since then, governments across Australia and the world have been creating more stringent standards for non-combustible construction materials.
Safety aspects of non-combustible render
All components of external walls need to be non-combustible. This includes framing, insulation and façade coverings, such as render and external cladding.
When it comes to render specifically, some may think it’s an ancillary element like textured paint (which is not held to the same standard). However this is not the case – render is always required to be non-combustible.
Compliance and legal aspects of non-combustible render
All renders on external walls are required to be non-combustible, satisfying AS 1530.1. The bottom line is that all renders (in both Type A and Type B construction) must be non-combustible. This is regardless of whether the render is part of an external wall, or an ancillary element to buildings.
Unfortunately, the amount of non-compliant products on the market highlights that not every site is meeting the current safety standards. Even looking past the ultimate safety of the eventual residents of the building, this is an incredibly risky decision for site managers and project managers to make.
In addition to the potential for injury or loss of life, failure to comply also makes you culpable in these instances. Even without any tragedy, not building to standard leaves you open to legal action by the building owners, who reasonably have the expectation you will meet all Australian standards.
It certainly pays to habitually check that you and your team continue to meet compliance – both in the products you use and the application or execution of the build.
Case study: Well Street, Brighton
Recently, our non-combustible render was applied to a three-storey residential build in Well Street, Brighton (pictured above). Gunther Constructions undertook the build, and contracted Urban Coatings to complete the rendering. They applied Auscon’s industry leading non-combustible render to the AFS logicwall for a clean, modern – and safely compliant – effect.
Auscon’s non-combustible render range
We’re especially proud of our non-combustible render range. We don’t ever see compliance as a burden – instead, it’s a responsibility and an opportunity to innovate to avoid future tragedy. We’re accept our role in helping to create a safer future.
Auscon Australia was one of the first companies to bring an AS 1530.1 compliant render to the Australian market, let alone an Australian-made product.
To find out more about using Auscon’s Australian-made cement mix solutions in your projects, get in touch today.