Flammable cladding, which is believed to have sparked a high-rise inferno in Melbourne, could be hanging off buildings built in Western Australia during the past decade.
WA's building watchdog will work with its Victorian and national counterparts to identify structures which may contain Alucobest aluminium composite cladding - after an inquiry found the product was responsible for a spectacular high-rise fire at a Docklands apartment tower last year.
The WA Building Commission will determine if it needs to inspect all high-rise buildings in the state that were erected since 2005 after it liaises with the Victorian Building Authority and Australian Building Codes Board.
A commission spokesperson said it was aware of the Melbourne tower fire and the role Chinese-made Alucobest aluminium composite panelling may have played in the blaze.
"We are sharing information about the use of aluminium composite panels and the need to ensure that such products comply with the requirements of the Building Code of Australia with the relevant regulatory authorities and permit authorities."
The spokeswoman said it was too early to determine how many buildings could be affected.
Victoria has begun an audit of every high-rise building erected in Melbourne during the past decade after a Metropolitan Fire Brigade hearing found the non-compliant flammable cladding was believed responsible for a fire at the Lacrosse tower in the Docklands region near the Melbourne CBD.
"Like any building material, Alucobest aluminium composite panelling must be used in appropriate circumstances such that the building meets the applicable building standards," the spokesperson said.
"It may have been used inappropriately on the building that had the fire, but that does not mean it cannot be used appropriately in other circumstances."
The brigade finding determined the cladding had behaved like a "wick" and had helped fuel a large blaze at the Lacrosse building in November last year.
The cladding was tested by the CSIRO to be non-compliant with combustiibililty requirements for high-rise buildings.
The Victorian regulator will inspect about 170 residential and public buildings which have been built since 2005.
The WA building commission is yet to announce when it will begin its inspections.
