Shortly before 6:00am on the morning of Monday 4 February 2019,
a fire broke out on the 22nd floor of the Neo200 Complex at 200
Spencer Street in Melbourne. Residents of the 372-apartment
building were evacuated. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
Whilst the authorities will conduct their investigations and
prepare detailed reports detailing the cause and progress and path
of the fire, it has been widely reported that aluminium composite
panels with a combustible polyethylene core formed part of the
construction of the balconies and that this combustible cladding
may have contributed to the spread of the fire up the building to
the 29th floor before it was extinguished.
Combustible cladding used in the construction of commercial and
residential buildings across Australia remains a significant
concern and risk for owners, occupants, builders and developers
alike.
