Safety & compliance
Our castellated/grooved spacers are designed to solve one problem: levelling the gap created by profiled cladding so the wall plate sits flush. They are mechanical spacers only and are intended to work in compression.
What these spacers are (and are not)
These spacers:
- are not electrical equipment and contain no live parts
- are not structural mounting blocks
- are not designed to take shear loads, impact loads, or act as a bracket
- do not provide a weather seal or gasket and carry no IP rating
- do not provide BAL/fire performance and must not be relied upon for any fire/non-combustibility requirement
- AS2918 Compliance: These spacers must not be used in any application where non-combustible materials are required (e.g., proximity to heat sources or flues under AS2918).
Installation requirements
Because the spacer sits behind a power point/switch plate, it forms part of the overall installation. For safety and compliance:
- Professional Installation: Installation must be performed by a licensed electrician in accordance with applicable standards and laws (including the Wiring Rules and state/territory electrical safety requirements).
- Secure Mounting: The electrician/installer must ensure the accessory is securely fixed to a suitable compliant mounting arrangement (substrate/mounting method and fasteners). The spacer must not be used as the primary retention method.
- Substrate Verification: Do not rely on cladding as the fixing substrate unless the electrician has confirmed an appropriate compliant method.
Fit, compatibility and measuring
Cladding profiles and power point variants can vary by product line, batch, installation, and orientation. Any product selectors, presets, or downloadable files are provided as guidance only. Before final installation:
- verify your measurements
- test-fit the spacer and plate
- confirm the finished plate is stable (no rocking/movement)
Materials and performance (printed parts)
Material properties and long-term performance depend on print settings, orientation, and environment. Exposure to heat/UV and sustained clamping forces may cause creep, warping, or cracking over time. We recommend periodic inspection and replacement if any degradation is observed.
Stop use immediately if you notice:
- cracking, delamination, deformation, or softening
- loosening of the wall plate or movement/rocking
- damage to surrounding materials
Limitations and responsibility
To the extent permitted by law, we are not responsible for outcomes arising from incorrect measurement/selection, non-compliant installation, misuse outside intended purpose, or modifications. Nothing on this website constitutes electrical advice—your licensed electrician is responsible for determining the appropriate compliant installation approach.
Chemical compatibility & material safety
Responsibility:
Selection of adhesives, sealants, primers, surface preparation products and cleaning agents is the installer’s responsibility, and must be suitable for the substrates, environment, loads, and the third-party manufacturer’s instructions.
Chemical compatibility notice:
FlatClad products are made from PLA (polylactic acid). PLA may be adversely affected by certain solvent-based products. Exposure can result in softening, swelling, stress cracking/crazing, loss of strength, surface distortion and/or bond failure. The risk is greatest where the third-party product contains strong organic solvents or uses solvent-welding mechanisms.
Known incompatibility risk (non-exhaustive)
Avoid (or treat as high risk) any product that contains, is thinned with, or relies on aggressive solvents such as:
- Ketones (e.g. acetone, methyl ethyl ketone/MEK)
- Ethers (e.g. tetrahydrofuran/THF)
- Chlorinated solvents (e.g. methylene chloride/DCM, chloroform)
- Aromatic solvents (e.g. toluene, xylene)
- Similar high-solvency blends commonly found in solvent cements, contact adhesives, and some thinners/degreasers.
If a product is described as a solvent cement/pipe cement, contact adhesive, or requires clean-up with thinners, it should be considered unsuitable unless explicitly confirmed compatible with PLA (or the relevant thermoplastic) by the third-party manufacturer and verified by testing.
Verification (required):
- Review: Review the third-party SDS/TDS for solvent content and substrate compatibility.
- Spot Test: Conduct a compatibility spot test on an off-cut or inconspicuous area:
- Apply a small amount of the intended product
- Allow to remain for the full cure time (minimum 24 hours, or as specified by the third-party manufacturer)
- Proceed only if no adverse effects are observed
Limitations:
Third-party product formulations vary by manufacturer and may change without notice. Flatclad does not warrant compatibility with all adhesives, sealants, primers or chemicals. Final selection, testing and installation are the responsibility of the installer.
Safety incidents
If you become aware of a safety issue associated with a spacer you obtained from us, stop using it and contact us. (Where a supplied consumer product is associated with serious injury or illness, Australian law may require mandatory reporting to regulators.)