When it comes to cladding compliance in Australia, AS 5113 is more than just another technical regulation — it’s the defining benchmark for facade fire safety. For strata committees, building managers, and consultants alike, navigating this standard can feel like deciphering a maze of codes, test results, and costly remedial decisions. Yet understanding it is essential. The AS 5113 fire testing standard isn’t just a box to tick; it’s the key to ensuring your building remains legally compliant, insurable, and, most importantly, safe.
What Is AS 5113 and Why It Matters for Cladding Compliance
AS 5113:2016 is the Australian Standard for Fire Propagation Testing and Classification of External Walls of Buildings. It was introduced to address the dangers of combustible cladding following several high-profile fires, including the Lacrosse (Melbourne) and Grenfell (London) disasters. The standard establishes rigorous testing protocols to ensure external wall systems resist vertical and lateral fire spread.
In plain English — it’s the gold standard for proving whether a cladding system is safe to stay or must go.
For most existing buildings, achieving AS 5113 cladding compliance is no longer optional. It’s the only recognised pathway to demonstrate that an external wall system meets Australian fire performance requirements under the National Construction Code (NCC). Failure to comply may lead to regulatory action, loss of insurance, or even building evacuation orders. That’s why many owners are turning to facade remediation specialists such as CPR Facade Upgrade Specialists to assess and rectify potential non-compliance issues.
The Legal Framework: How AS 5113 Fits into Australian Cladding Regulations
Under the NCC and relevant state-based cladding audit programs, any building facade must demonstrate compliance in one of two ways:
- Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Compliance: The system uses non-combustible materials (e.g. solid aluminium, steel, or concrete) per NCC C2D10 requirements.
- Performance Solution (AS 5113 Pathway): When combustible elements are used, the entire facade system must pass AS 5113 fire testing conducted by an accredited laboratory.
This means there are only two legal pathways to cladding compliance in Australia. If your building’s cladding system cannot meet either route, it’s deemed non-compliant. To determine which pathway applies to your building, CPR’s Facade Cladding Remediation and Replacement team can provide an initial compliance audit and roadmap to rectification.
Understanding the AS 5113 Fire Testing Standard
The AS 5113 fire testing standard involves a full-scale test of the complete external wall system, including framing, insulation, fixings, and cladding panels. The system is exposed to a fire source and observed for how flames, heat, and smoke spread.
Key test criteria include:
- Flame spread height and duration
- Heat flux and temperature limits
- Smoke production and debris
- Structural integrity post-test
A successful test provides a classification report, certifying that the system meets the fire performance criteria. However, this classification is only valid for that specific system configuration. Substituting components (such as insulation or fixings) may invalidate the result — a crucial point many building owners overlook.
The Compliance Maze: Where Many Buildings Go Wrong
The biggest misconception in the cladding compliance process is assuming that replacing panels alone will solve the problem. In reality, compliance depends on the entire facade system, not just the visible cladding.
Common pitfalls include:
- Replacing panels with new ones without AS 5113 certification for the full wall build-up.
- Relying on outdated fire certificates for individual materials rather than whole-system tests.
- Assuming visual similarity equals compliance.
That’s where a professional facade consultant like CPR steps in, combining engineering insight, data transparency, and legal know-how to deliver a compliance strategy that’s safe, defensible, and affordable.
CPR’s Scaffold-Free™ Approach: Smarter, Faster, Compliant
CPR Facade Upgrade Specialists have redefined how cladding compliance projects are managed. Using their proprietary Scaffold-Free™ access systems — including MARS™ (Multiple Access Rope System), PEARS® (Portable Elevation Access Rope System), and SkyPod® Building Workstations — CPR conducts full-scope investigations and compliant replacements without the need for scaffolding.
That means faster, quieter, and less intrusive projects — with no scaffolding, no blocked entrances, and minimal disruption to residents. On average, this approach offers up to 30% cost savings compared to traditional access methods, while maintaining greater safety and transparency through digital reporting and quality assurance systems like SKY-FIMMS™.
If you’re planning a cladding remediation project, CPR’s Facade Remediation & Preservation service provides a complete, end-to-end solution aligned with AS 5113 and NCC requirements.
From Audit to Compliance: The CPR End-to-End Solution
CPR’s Sky Facade Scope 360® (SFS360®) provides a precise diagnostic foundation for every cladding remediation. Their process starts with a detailed SKY-FIMMS™ 3D facade mapping, capturing every panel and fixing point. From there, the team develops a compliance roadmap tailored to the building’s condition and NCC requirements.
Each project is then delivered under SE2EPC® (Sky End-to-End Project Care) — a quality-controlled framework ensuring every stage, from removal to replacement, is executed safely, transparently, and in full compliance with AS 5113.
Once works are complete, CPR’s AfterCare™ program ensures long-term monitoring and maintenance, protecting both compliance and asset value for decades to come.
Legal Pathways to Cladding Rectification — and Why They Matter
The only legal pathways to cladding rectification and compliance in Australia are:
- Removal and Replacement with Non-Combustible Materials: Using fully compliant products like solid aluminium or A1-rated materials under the Deemed-to-Satisfy route.
- Re-Engineering to Meet AS 5113 via Performance Solution: If partial retention is possible, the system must be re-tested or re-certified based on full-scale AS 5113 results.
Any other workaround — partial replacement, undocumented substitution, or reliance on old certificates — can leave your building non-compliant and uninsured. CPR helps strata committees and building owners navigate these options, working closely with fire engineers and certifiers to ensure every decision follows a legally defensible pathway.
How CPR Simplifies AS 5113 Compliance for Strata Committees
For most strata committees, cladding compliance feels overwhelming — legal jargon, technical reports, and constant pressure from residents and regulators. CPR bridges that gap by turning complexity into clarity.
Through their Scaffold-Free™ systems and transparent digital reporting, CPR offers:
- Data-backed certainty — Every defect and fix is mapped through SKY-FIMMS™.
- Minimal disruption — Works are completed externally, with no access to apartments.
- Peace of mind — All processes are fully traceable and backed by CPR’s QA systems and Accredited Service Partners™.
That means committees can make informed, defensible decisions — without sleepless nights or escalating costs. The process often begins with a SKY-FIMMS™ demonstration or a consultation to assess your current cladding status.
For Building Managers and Consultants: Proof, Not Promises
For building managers and consultants, CPR provides quantifiable evidence of compliance and workmanship. SKY-FIMMS™ functions as a permanent digital record — a 3D model showing the before-and-after state of every facade section. This removes ambiguity and reduces disputes, providing the ultimate peace of mind for regulatory sign-offs and insurance renewals.
With CPR, compliance is not a claim — it’s a demonstrable fact, verified through data and delivered by Australia’s leading Scaffold-Free™ facade specialists.
The Future of Cladding Compliance Is Transparent
As regulators tighten oversight across Australia, the AS 5113 fire testing standard will remain the backbone of facade compliance. Buildings that fail to act now risk costly enforcement actions and reduced property value.
By combining Scaffold-Free™ technology, SKY-FIMMS™ transparency, and multi-decade AfterCare™ maintenance, CPR delivers lasting protection, peace of mind, and verifiable compliance — without disruption or inflated costs. Book your consultation today to begin your pathway to AS 5113 compliance.
