'Top fire resistant plywood used in various buildings found to be flammable'

Headline from Stuff.co.nz referring to Decortech Firesafe Radiata Plywood…

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/110078131/top-fire-resistant-plywood-used-in-various-buildings-found-to-be-flammable

Hi,
Just for the record as my name is quoted in this article…

I have nothing to do with Decortech or any competitor or anything to do with this issue other than one phone call out of the blue by a reporter a few weeks ago. I understand the reporter may have got my name from an architect.

I knew nothing of this issue beforehand and he told me it may not be an issue and he was still investigating. He told me it may turn into nothing, I was expecting to be told if it was an issue and if there would be a report made however I wasn’t.

I did try and explain to the reporter the difference between a fire rating and surface finishes and a Group Number and did say that some of our projects have used Decortech. I have seen another write up state that I have specified Decortech which is incorrect.

Immediately after the phone call with the reporter I called Michael James to let him know about the phone call.

Thats all for now folks.

Cheers
Debbie

It looks like a standard dramatisation by a journalist. They have tried to give a certain perspective and make it appear that there is a problem that no one wants to talk about.

Many years ago I had one MP that would contact me when dramatic articles were published to see if there was a real issue or not. That’s how trustworthy the media is.