Since combustible cladding became a national concern, many buildings in New South Wales have come under review. Some already have Fire Orders. Others are still in a grey area. But the decision for building owners is the same. Should you replace the cladding now, or wait?

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The answer depends on the materials, documentation and level of risk. What we often see at Dapcor is that delaying replacement rarely makes things easier or cheaper in the long run.

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When Cladding Replacement Is Required

The NSW Government has outlined when combustible cladding must be replaced. This includes:

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• When a Council or Fire and Rescue NSW Fire Safety Order is issued
• When cladding has a polyethylene (PE) core and does not meet AS1530.1
• When insurers refuse or limit coverage due to façade risk
• When a certifier or fire engineer determines the system is non-compliant

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In these cases, replacement is not optional. Failing to act can affect a building’s insurability, saleability and legal position.

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Why Owners Are Choosing to Act Early

Not all buildings have been ordered to replace cladding. Still, many owners choose to act before enforcement. For some, the pressure is coming from insurers. For others, it’s buyers, tenants or consultants asking for clear documentation. In our experience, buildings that act early are able to plan better, stage works more efficiently and avoid emergency responses when issues are discovered later.

Replacing cladding before a Fire Order is issued gives owners control over timing and cost. It also sends a message to stakeholders that the building is being managed responsibly.

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Are There Cases Where Replacement Is Not Required?

There are some limited situations where cladding removal may not be urgent. If the system is confirmed to meet fire safety standards, or if a performance-based design has been approved by a fire engineer and certifier, replacement might not be necessary. The building may also be sprinkler-protected or the cladding used only in non-critical areas.

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Even so, this is not a decision to make based on assumptions. A fire risk assessment and supporting documentation are essential. Without these, the building remains exposed to compliance and insurance issues.

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What Building Owners Should Do First

The most important step is to understand what’s currently on the façade. That means confirming:

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• The type of cladding
• Whether it has been tested or certified
• What insulation or framing is behind it
• If it crosses floors or fire zones
• Whether records exist from original construction or past upgrades

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With this information, you can work with consultants to define what’s required and what is not.

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How Dapcor Supports Cladding Replacement

At Dapcor, we manage the full process. We begin with cladding audits and destructive sampling where needed. We coordinate with fire engineers, consultants and certifiers to assess the system and determine the best path forward. If replacement is required, we remove materials safely and install compliant, tested systems using certified materials. All documentation is included for sign-off and ongoing compliance.

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We work on occupied buildings every day. Our teams are trained to manage safety, access and staging with minimal disruption to residents or tenants.

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If you are unsure about your building’s cladding, or whether replacement is required, we can help assess the risk and plan the best next step.

> Explore our Cladding Services
> Talk to our team

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