Melbourne Cricket Ground
Client:
Melbourne Cricket Club
Completed:
22 July 2022
Building Appeals Board
In the matter of the Melbourne Cricket Ground
[2022] VBAB 105
COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENT – An application pursuant to s160A of the Building Act 1993 to determine whether the proposed performance solution for the cladding arrangement at the Northern Stand of the Melbourne Cricket Ground complies with the Performance Requirements CP1, CP2 and CP4 of the Building Code of Australia 2019, Volume One. .
4 August 2022
A recent determination by the Building Appeals Board of Victoria (case number 453613, 27 July 2022) has concluded that virtually all cladding at the MCG’s Northern Stand complies with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and can remain in place.
Dr Tony Enright provided specialist fire engineering evidence to support the retention of this cladding, as well as identifying some elements that needed to be removed.
Tony's original survey of the cladding found the following, using a simple traffic light analogy to describe the different types:
red cladding – approximately 1,500m2 of high risk cladding which was ACP (PE), an aluminium composite panel (ACP) with a core comprising 100% polyethylene. This was removed and replaced with a solid aluminium product (i.e. green cladding),
amber cladding – about 4,000m2 of low risk cladding (context dependent) which was mostly ACP (FR), an ACP with a core of 30% polyethylene binder and 70% fire retardant filler. This was subject to a detailed assessment, and
green cladding – some ‘no risk’ cladding, which was solid aluminium (not a composite).
Tony proposed retaining all but a few square metres of the amber cladding, subject to some relatively minor rectification work.
Tony's ‘performance solution’ was peer reviewed by the CSIRO before being submitted to the Board and then peer reviewed again by an expert engaged by the Victorian Building Authority. Fire Rescue Victoria, the Relevant Building Surveyor, the insurer, Sports and Recreation Victoria and Cladding Safety Victoria were all parties to the determination.
The experts agreed, and the Board ultimately determined, that the retention of the amber cladding complied with the BCA.
The determination with reasons has been published by the Australasian Legal Information Institute (Austlii). To access click here.
One final note, fireworks can now return to the MCG!
