Works to remove non-compliant cladding identified as a high fire risk at the Launceston General Hospital have begun.
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The work is being undertaken around the Ambulance Bay and Emergency Department entrance: access to the emergency department is not affected.
The aluminium composite panel (ACP) cladding was discovered to be non-compliant during an audit conducted following the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London.
Tasmanian Director of Building Control Dale Webster said the audit process, under federal direction, had assessed 42 buildings across the state, with only the LGH reported to have the aCP cladding at risk of fire.
The full report was released in January, and showed cladding on four storeys of the LGH was referred to a fire expert and found to be non-compliant and a high fire risk.
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The report found there were “many possible ignition points” and while the risks were manageable now, were likely to increase over time as the cladding degraded.
The first stage of the removal work was completed in December, which coincided with the adoption of new regulations restricting the use of ACP in Tasmania.
In November when the cladding risk was discovered at the LGH, Health Minister Michael Ferguson reassured patients that the hospital was safe for use by patients and visitors during the removal process.
An area on Frankland Street has been reserved for overflow ambulance parking after patients have been offloaded during the building works.
