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08 9444 9562Bushfire Attack Level
Bushfire Attack Level
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Bush Fire Attack Level
Special building conditions have been introduced for Bush Fire Prone Areas, which are listed on the Department of Fire & Emergency Services webpage.
A Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) is a means of measuring the severity of a building’s exposure to bushfire risks, including ember attack, radiant heat and direct flame exposure. By improving the ability of buildings in these areas to withstand attacks from bushfires, there is an increase in the protection afforded to the occupants, as well as to the building itself.
Satisfying the additional building requirements of the Australian Standard usually comes at an extra cost to the consumer on new construction. However, not attempting to meet these requirements until after construction is completed tends to be much more costly, so it is best to address them at the planning stage.
Typically the BAL zones are rated according to the level of risk assessed, which is part of the planning application process. These Bushfire Attack Level ratings include: BAL-LOW, BAL-12.5, BAL-19, BAL-29, BAL-40 and BAL-FZ, and range from very low to extreme bush fire risk levels.
During our Construction Progress and Practical Completion Inspections, we verify whether the BAL requirements have been met, and if these haven’t been fulfilled, we list the appropriate Australian Standard clause to clarify the error. Specific building elements that should be kept in mind include roofing and external walls, especially the extent to which they can be penetrated by ember attack, direct flame contact and radiant heat; decks and underfloor areas; windows, shutters and doors, including sealing gaps; and potentially the presence of a rainwater tank on site for firefighting. Often Bushfire Attack Level omissions and/or errors can be difficult to fix at the end of a project and cause avoidable delays, so it’s beneficial to fully satisfy the BAL requirements as work proceeds.
If you’d like a quote for a Construction Progress or Practical Completion Inspection, email us your building plans indicating the Bushfire Attack Level on the plans to office@bestwestbuilding.com.au. We will then be able to provide a no-obligation quote. We would make additional allowance to review the BAL requirements at the Practical Completion Stage.
Bush Fire Attack Level FAQs
The bush fire construction requirements laid out in the Building Code of Australia apply to the following classes of residential buildings located in designated bush fire prone areas:
- Class 1a — A single dwelling being a detached house, or row houses, duplexes, town houses, terrace houses or villa units where attached dwellings are separated by a fire resisting wall.
- Class 1b — Includes the following:
- boarding houses, guest houses, hostels or the like in which not more than 12 people would ordinarily be resident and with a total area of all floors not exceeding 300m²; or
- four or more single dwellings located on one allotment and used for short-term holiday accommodation.
- Class 2 — Dwellings, such as apartments and flats in a building containing two or more units.
- Class 3 — A residential building which is a common place of long-term or transient living for a number of unrelated persons, including:
- a boarding or lodging house, guest house, hostel, or backpackers accommodation;
- a residential part of a hotel or motel;
- a residential part of a school;
- accommodation for the aged, children or people with disabilities;
- a residential part of a health-care building which accommodates members of staff; or
- a residential part of a detention centre.
- Class 10a buildings and decks associated with Class 1a, Class 1b, Class 2 or Class 3 buildings. Class 10a buildings include non-habitable buildings such as garages, carports, sheds, or the like.