Concerns have been raised over the potential dangers of flammable cladding on Sydney’s high-rise apartments.

The risk could be greater than anywhere else in the country, yet authorities have yet to announce an audit along the lines of those under way in Victoria and WA.

The issue has made headlines since Melbourne’s Metropolitan Fire Brigade published a damning report on November’s fire at the Lacrosse apartments in the city’s Docklands.

It says cheap cladding, imported from China and not tested to Australian standards, enabled the blaze to spread rapidly.

It is feared similar products have been used across Australia, and a Victorian Building Authority (VBA) audit of 170 Melbourne CBD sites has already discovered potentially non-compliant cladding on hospitals and an aged care facility.

Two months ago the NSW Department of Planning and Environment told insuranceNEWS.com.au it was “closely monitoring” the VBA’s investigations and audit.

A spokesman has confirmed there is currently no update to the department’s position.

Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Lewis told insuranceNEWS.com.au his brigade has “serious concerns about the use of non-conforming products to clad NSW buildings and how such products would impact on firefighting and evacuation should a fire occur. FRNSW is working to address these operational concerns through the formation of an internal specialist working group.”

Fire Protection Association Australia CEO Scott Williams told insuranceNEWS.com.au his group is “always concerned by silence”.

“There are more high-rise buildings in Sydney than anywhere else, and the question looms – why have Victoria and WA taken this on and others have remained silent?

“The problem is that it is a can of worms, and once you open it you can’t just focus on cladding and ignore anything else that comes up.

“They just don’t have the capability or the resources to take that on. This product has been proven to be non-compliant and we would like to see more being done.

“Non-compliance has to be addressed – otherwise what is the point of having a system?”