Building cladding is an outer skin that is applied to high-rise buildings to improve thermal energy efficiency, aesthetics, noise dampening, and weather protection. Building cladding can be retrofitted to an existing structure or incorporated into the design of a new structure.
Building cladding materials are typically chosen based on their appearance, durability, and colour availability. The most commonly used material for building cladding is ACM, or Aluminium Composite Material, which is composed of two aluminium skins bonded to a non-aluminium core. HPL, or High Pressure Laminate, panels used for building cladding, on the other hand, are created by pressing layers of wood or paper fibres into a resin and then bonding them together with heat. Rainscreen building cladding systems necessitate an open cavity to allow the insulation behind the weather-resistant panels to breathe. Other materials used in building cladding include wood, glass fixed to a steel frame, and fibre cement weatherboards. Furthermore, building cladding protects the privacy and security of the building's exteriors, provides thermal insulation, and improves the building's appearance. Almost every building cladding system incorporates fire-resistance measures. Emphasis on fire cladding of buildings With numerous incidents of widespread use of combustible cladding, a new wave of concern has hit the Australian construction industry. When selecting a building cladding material, fire safety has become especially important. However, before selecting a fire cladding, make sure that it provides excellent fire protection. For this, you should consult specialist fire safety and fire cladding engineers who can advise you on the best design, easy installation, and versatility of use. High quality fire cladding can provide building occupants protection for two hours in the event of a fire. The right heat-resistant wall panels offer protection for air handling plenums also. Using metal for fire cladding The International Building Code recognises metal fire cladding as non-combustible but this does not mean that buildings with metal cladding are exempt from fire regulations. However, metal cladding does provide significant advantages compared to wood and other materials. Metal cladding made of lightweight aluminum honeycomb cores can be the lightest fire cladding option. This metal fire cladding is lightweight that makes it easy to transport and install, and the fire cladding does not add to the dead load of the building. Moreover, metal fire cladding panels can be made of recycled materials, making them an environmentally-friendly option as it will reduce the amount of raw material that needs to be extracted, or the waste cladding material that needs to go a landfill. Omnii’s team has a thorough understanding of cladding legislations, and has team members who have completed specialised combustible cladding CPD courses to assist you in determining the best paths towards rectification. An addition, Omnii has also prequalified with the Residential Cladding Rectification Register (RCRR) on behalf of the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance. Building cladding and fire cladding services offered by Omnii include:
Undertaking Building Fire Safety Risk Assessment (BFSRA) A Building Fire Safety Risk Assessment (BFSRA) is required by the Queensland Government to assess the risk of fire spread caused by combustible cladding. If combustible cladding is identified or reported in your building, you are required to have BFSRA completed by the due date, failing to do so means your building may be notified as an “Affected Building”, with a fire safety risk, and you may be asked for further action to replace the cladding. Omnii’s dedicated team can be contacted to help with your BFSRA certification. Omnii offers a range of fire safety engineering services including:
Omnii provides specialist services for fire safety engineering, building cladding and fire cladding in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, and other parts of Australia. The company has provided its specialist fire safety engineering services to a variety of projects including healthcare, public buildings, residential, retail, entertainment & leisure, transport and more.
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