Non-Conforming Building Products (NCBP)
The building and construction industry is complex, with even the simplest structures comprising thousands of different materials and products. Selecting the appropriate materials is crucial, whether for a minor renovation, major upgrade, routine maintenance, or a completely new build.
In Australia, all building work must comply with specific legal and performance standards. These regulations ensure that buildings remain safe, durable, and suitable for occupancy, providing confidence in their reliability.
To maintain fire safety standards across the local government area (LGA), Council conducts proactive inspections and enforcement activities.
Following major fire incidents, such as the Grenfell Tower disaster in London and the Lacrosse apartment fire in Melbourne, concerns have grown over the dangers of using substandard (‘non-conforming’) building materials or incorrectly applying products (‘non-complying’). In both cases, the use of non-compliant combustible external wall cladding (NCBP) allowed the fire to spread rapidly along the building’s facade. The Grenfell Tower fire was particularly devastating, as the flames engulfed the entire structure. These events emphasise the importance of ensuring that all building materials are suitable for their intended use.
In response to these risks, the NSW Government introduced regulations for certain buildings with external cladding. The Environmental Planning & Assessment Amendment (Identification of Buildings with External Combustible Cladding) Regulation 2018 came into effect on 22 October 2018. This regulation specifies which buildings it applies to and requires owners to register relevant details on the NSW Planning Portal.
For buildings occupied before the regulation took effect, registration was required by 22 February 2019. For all other affected buildings, owners must register their details within four months of occupation.
For further information on this Regulation, please visit the Planning NSW website.
Below are general information links to the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) website on matters relating to non-conforming building products (NCBP):