Drone Inspection Melbourne: Cladding Audits and Building Safety
Melbourne has the largest stock of buildings affected by combustible cladding in Australia. Cladding Safety Victoria (CSV) has identified over 500 buildings requiring assessment or remediation. For building owners and owners corporations, the first step is a facade condition assessment, and drones have become the preferred method.
Cladding Safety Victoria Programme
CSV is a Victorian Government agency established after the 2014 Lacrosse fire and the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster in London. The programme targets buildings with aluminium composite panels (ACP) containing polyethylene (PE) cores, expanded polystyrene (EPS), and other combustible cladding materials.
CSV prioritises buildings by risk level. High-risk buildings (residential over 2 storeys with significant ACP coverage) receive direct engagement and funding support. Medium and low-risk buildings are required to self-manage assessment and remediation.
What Building Owners Must Do
- Commission a facade assessment to identify cladding type and extent
- If combustible cladding is confirmed, engage a fire engineer to assess risk
- Develop a remediation plan based on the fire engineering report
- Execute remediation works (replacement, protective measures, or a combination)
- Maintain ongoing facade condition monitoring
How Drones Support Cladding Audits
The initial facade assessment requires high-resolution photography of every elevation. The assessor needs to identify cladding types (ACP, rendered EPS, fibre cement, metal composite), measure extent of coverage, and document condition.
A drone captures this data systematically, producing a complete photographic record in a few hours. Zoom cameras can identify panel markings, fixings, and material characteristics from 10 to 15 metres away. Thermal imaging helps differentiate cladding types based on thermal response characteristics.
Melbourne Airspace and Operations
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport controls airspace over a large area of the northern and western suburbs. Essendon Airport, Moorabbin Airport, and RAAF Point Cook create additional restrictions in the north, southeast, and southwest.
The CBD and Docklands area fall within the Essendon Airport CTR. Drone operations in these areas require CASA approval and careful coordination with air traffic control.
Despite these restrictions, experienced operators work in Melbourne daily. The key is allowing adequate lead time for airspace approvals: 10 to 15 business days for controlled airspace operations.
Cost for Melbourne Buildings
- Small apartment building (3 to 5 storeys): $1,000 to $2,500
- Medium building (6 to 15 storeys): $2,000 to $4,000
- Large tower (15+ storeys): $3,000 to $6,000
These prices include the drone survey, high-resolution imagery, and a facade condition report identifying cladding types and defects. Fire engineering assessment is a separate engagement.
Ongoing Monitoring
After initial assessment and any remediation, buildings should be re-inspected every 3 to 5 years. Drone surveys make this affordable enough to incorporate into the building's annual maintenance budget. Comparing imagery between inspections identifies new defects early, before they become safety issues.