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Bush Fire Safety

Australia, our ‘sunburnt country and land of sweeping plains, provides an abundance of diverse terra firma for landowners to build their dream homes. 

But our intense seasons, particularly summer, can have devastating effects not only on the uninhabited landscape but on the dwellings that are built within. As more people seek beauty and solitude on the outer edges of metropolitan areas and into country zones, the risk of fire attacks increases.

Bush and grass fires combined with wind move at intense speed, and it’s the embers ahead of a fire front that can cause the most damage. Fire embers are fast, fiery, and small, and account for 80-90 percent of homes being destroyed before a fire front arrives. Embers can settle in gutters, door and window crevices and can ignite quickly. As part of your bushfire management plan, your best defence is to be prepared with materials that will slow down the destructive effects of embers and direct fire. 

In response to this century’s devastating fires across our country, State Governments have introduced the Bushfire Alert Rating (BAL) which determines construction and building materials necessary to protect homes from bush and grass fires. If you are building in a bushfire-prone area, it is now mandatory that materials meet BAL compliance before they can even be considered an integrated building material. 

Emberguard

Cyclone’s Ember Guard is made from 304 stainless steel which is the most common form of stainless steel used around the world due to its corrosion resistance. Ember Guard is our highest BAL screening with a rating at BAL-FZ. Ember Guard complies with AS 3959-2018 and provides the highest screening protection against direct exposure to flames, ember attack, and heat flux. 

Ember Guard is made from 304 steel and resists corrosion from most oxidisation elements. The durability of Ember Guard means that is easy to clean and can be used in kitchen and food preparation environments.

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BAL-LOW

There is insufficient risk to warrant specific construction requirements

No special requirements at this level.

BAL-12.5

Ember attack with heat flux up to 12.5kW/m3.

All windows and doors completely protected externally by screens with a mesh with a maximum aperture of 2mm, made of corrosion resistant steel, bronze or aluminium.

Windows
Sashes shall be screened internally or externally with mesh with a maximum aperture of 2mm, made of corrosion resistant steel, bronze or aluminium.

Doors
There is no bushfire requirement to screen to open-able doors. However, if screened, the screens shall be a mesh made of corrosion resistant steel, bronze or aluminium.

BAL-19

Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris ignited by windborne embers, together with increasing heat flux.

All windows and doors completely protected externally by screens with a mesh with a maximum aperture of 2mm, made of corrosion resistant steel, bronze or aluminium.

Windows
Sashes shall be screened internally or externally with mesh with a maximum aperture of 2mm, made of corrosion resistant steel, bronze or aluminium.

Doors
There is no bushfire requirement to screen to open-able doors. However, if screened, the screens shall be a mesh made of corrosion resistant steel, bronze or aluminium.

BAL-29

Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris ignited by windborne embers, together with increasing heat flux.

Screening externally to Windows is not a single option solution at this BAL however it is for Doors.

Windows
Sashes shall be screened internally or externally with mesh with a maximum aperture of 2mm, made of corrosion resistant steel, bronze or aluminium. Screen assemblies must be attached using metal fixings.

AND

Where glazing is less than 400mm from ground, deck/ verandah, roof or awning structure then these glass panels will require screening with a mesh made of corrosion resistant steel, bronze or aluminium.

Doors
There is no bushfire requirement to screen to openable doors. However, if screened, the screens shall be a mesh made of corrosion resistant steel, bronze or aluminium. Screen assemblies must be attached using metal fixings.

BAL-40

Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris ignited by windborne embers, together with increasing heat flux and with the increased likelihood of exposure to flames.

Screening externally is not a single option solution at this BAL.

Windows
Both openable (sashes) and fixed panels of the window shall be screened with a mesh with a maximum aperture of 2mm, made of corrosion resistant steel or bronze.

(Not Aluminium)

Screens to be external and must be attached using metal fixings

Doors
For Hinged and Sliding Doors both the fixed and open-able portions of doors are to be screened by a mesh with a maximum aperture of 2mm made of corrosion resistant steel or bronze.

Screen to be external and must be attached using metal fixings.

BAL-FZ

Direct exposure to flames from fire, in addition to heat flux and ember attack.

Screening externally is not a single option solution at this BAL.