Page 5585 - Week 14 - Thursday, 30 November 2017
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Centenary Hospital for Women and Children—aluminium cladding
(Question No 835)
Ms Lawder asked the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, upon notice, on 1 December 2017:
Given that question on notice No 669 asked for a copy of the advice that the Minister received which stated that it would be irresponsible to remove the cladding from the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, could the Minister provide a copy of this expert advice, not just a summary, as originally requested.
Ms Fitzharris: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
Expert advice on early removal of Polyethylene Aluminum Composite Panel (PE-ACP) Cladding was provided by Arcadis, a structural engineering consultant, engaged by Infrastructure Finance and Capital Works (IFCW) on behalf of ACT Health as part of the development of a Statement of Requirements for the PE-ACP replacement tender process.
A summary of the advice was provided verbally by Arcadis in advance of the Statement of Requirement completion, supported by ACT Fire and Rescue and confirmed by IFCW by email correspondence. A copy of the expert advice as provided to the Minister is at Attachment A.
Attachment A
PE ACP Early Removal Advice
Early removal of PE ACP cladding and replacement with a temporary interim measure e.g. plastic sheeting or other type/form of temporary cladding is not advisable for the following reasons.
1. The current façade cladding system in place is part of a complete stable system that demonstrates no performance issues e.g. weatherproof, vermin control etc.
2. Given that the building facades were completed in 2012 ( Stage 1) and 2013 ( stage 2) all facade elements have stabilised with the rest of the building systems e.g. Heating Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC) and so the management of the current building dynamics is well understood. Introduction of temporary cladding measures will change the current building dynamics, increasing the pressure on the building management systems leading to an increased risk of unintended consequences.
3. Introduction of interim measures will introduce specific additional risks that will have an increased likelihood of eventuating compared with the risk associated with the ACP cladding. Given that permanent replacement materials will take six months to procure and install this extended period of possible interim solution represents an unacceptable risk
Plastic Sheeting
• Building facade dynamics will change leading to unintended consequences.
• Weather proofing cannot be guaranteed.
• Vermin protection cannot be guaranteed.
• Plastic sheeting is a combustible material.
• Plastic sheeting will likely be not structurally sufficient to take wind loads.
• Wind noise will increase.
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