State toughens building laws to ban combustible cladding We’re sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Dismiss Normal text size Advertisement The state government has changed the Building Act to ban dangerous cladding on new multistorey properties, in the latest clampdown on shonky practices. Planning Minister Richard Wynne announced a prohibition – effective from Monday – on the use of combustible materials, replacing previous looser guidelines, with non-compliant builders now risking fines of up to $400,000. The 2014 blaze at the Lacrosse tower in Docklands. Credit:MFB The ban applies to flammable aluminium composite panels and rendered expanded polystyrene being used as external wall cladding on future developments.