Response to Cladding Safety Victoria Report

The ACA responds to the recent Cladding Safety Victoria report, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the combustible cladding crisis. While acknowledging the seriousness of the issue, the ACA emphasises that architects have been disproportionately blamed for a problem that stems from complex, systemic failures across the entire construction industry. Consumers deserve a better system!
Cladding Safety Victoria recently released its research analysis report on Compliance in Building Design, with a focus on combustible cladding and its use on apartment buildings within Victoria.
As the peak body representing 800+ architecture practices in Australia, the ACA is well-positioned to make the following points on behalf of our members:
1. MISPLACED BLAME
The narrow terms of reference of the report unjustly shifts responsibility onto individuals with Professional Indemnity Insurance, including architects. This approach ignores broader systemic failures in product certification, regulatory oversight and industry practices that contributed to the widespread use of unsafe cladding.
2. UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Architects are unfairly criticised for relying on manufacturer claims and certifications that were later found to be flawed or falsified. Architects relied on manufacturer advice regarding the safety of products like Alucobond, which were marketed as non-combustible and compliant with international and Australian standards.
3. REGULATORY OVERSIGHT IGNORED
The report fails to address the role of bodies like CodeMark in granting certifications, which were later retrospectively withdrawn by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS‑ANZ) for non-compliant products. The report’s failure to address this issue shifts undue blame onto architects, who were misled by faulty certifications.
4. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT MODEL OVERLOOKED
The report overlooks how the Design and Construct model may have contributed to the problem by pressuring professionals to accept substandard products to meet cost and time constraints. This model has been widely linked to compromised quality and safety.
5. SYSTEMIC FAILURES DOWNPLAYED
The report places an unrealistic burden on architects to have identified issues with widely used products like Alucobond that claimed compliance. In many cases, inferior products are substituted onsite during construction without the architect’s input or knowledge.
Paul Viney, National Vice-President and President Vic/Tas Branch of the Association of Consulting Architects, stated:
While we take our professional responsibilities seriously, it’s crucial to recognise that the cladding crisis is a result of multiple failures across the entire building industry. Architects are committed to public safety and are eager to be part of a comprehensive solution that addresses all aspects of this complex issue.
This report is a missed opportunity to address the real issues behind the cladding crisis. By unfairly singling out architects, it fails to tackle the systemic problems that led to this situation. Looking at one part of the picture does not tell the whole story.
Only by addressing these systemic issues can we ensure that responsibility is appropriately distributed, and the safety of consumers is guaranteed.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORM AND STRONGER CONSUMER PROTECTION
The ACA calls on all stakeholders, including government bodies, to work together to develop a more robust and transparent system that ensures building safety without unfairly targeting any single profession.
We call on the Victorian State Government to improve consumer safety by actioning the following recommendations:
- Broaden the scope of inquiry to examine the entire construction process.
- Enhance accountability in product certification and regulatory oversight.
- Review industry practices, particularly the Design and Construct model, and develop guidelines to ensure that contractual pressures do not compromise safety standards.
- Recognise the limitations faced by architects and other professionals who rely on manufacturer claims and certifications.
CONTACT
For more information, please contact: Emma Brain, Advocacy Coordinator