Fireproofing a Home In Australian Bush Fire Areas
Fireproofing your new home to some degree is expected by the local building councils in Australia. Obviously these rules are more prevalent in areas where bush fires are common and deadly. This is not a choice one makes only to comply with the lawmakers, but it is also the intelligent, safe choice in home building in these high risk areas. Your home is your haven and you want it to be safe. You expect it to make you feel comfortable and secure, and this expectation is especially true if you are building a new home.
The home exemplifies an area of retreat from the worries of the world. It is a place we can relax and feel secure. A major step you can take to preserve your sanctuary, when designing and building a new home in a high risk bush fire area, is choosing a home builder who uses quality materials that are flame resistant to protect your assets. It is preferable to use a builder who is experienced and proficient at home building in these higher risk areas.
Rules vary from council to council so you must check with the lawmakers in your area to determine what level of fire risk you are facing where your building site is located. The local council will also have recommendations on which materials are the safest to use in their area. Local builders are usually well aware of these rules and you can take solace in the fact they have expertise in the area of fireproofing a home.
How to Reduce the Risks of Fire Damage
A qualified local home builder is well versed in the rules and regulations in his or her local building area. They are familiar with the risks of bush fires in that area as well as which are the most proficient and cost effective materials to use when building and fireproofing your new home. For example each council in these high risk building areas requires a specific type of framing material. Often steel frames are required to prevent or minimize structural damage in the event of a bush fire.
There are also several types of hardwoods that are used in conjunction with these steel frames. There are particular types of hardwoods that are more flame retardant than a wood that may be similar in appearance. Although the woods may appear similar, one is softer and thereby more susceptible to fire. Relying on your builder to help you choose the most flame resistant materials is crucial to building in an area that has a high risk of bush fires.
Man versus Fire
Bush fires are an ongoing battle between man and mother-nature and in order to win this battle one must be armed correctly. Fireproofing your home is one of the best lines of defence against a bush fire. This begins by selecting a builder that is familiar with the safest methods to use while building your home.
It is also wise to follow common sense methods in fireproofing. These include keeping your home free of an excess of combustible materials and having adequate access to water in case it becomes necessary to soak your home in the face of an advancing brush fire in order to prevent it erupting in flames.
Many Australians also choose to add a firebreak around the perimeter of their property during construction. Some even choose to invest in their own fire fighting equipment as an addition to their armoury of defences. However you decide to protect your home once it is built, the process of fireproofing begins with choosing a qualified builder who can guide you safely through the murky waters of fireproofing your new home while it is being built.
Tony Goodman says:
hope you can help,
I am looking for a product to fireproof my external timber bi-fold doors which have been painted with exterior Estapol
My home is located in bush fire rated zone and regulation are requiring me to protect them with metal wire screens, and I am at a loss as to how to apply external screens to bi-fold doors
The alternative is to possibly fireproof the doors with an application of a fire proofing paint
Thanking you in advance
Regards
Tony Goodman
Mobile 0400378700
July 14th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Hayden says:
Tony,
There is a product offered by Canterbury Windows that is a retractable flyscreen for bifolding doors. I’m not sure if it is fire rated though. Also, as the doors are existing I’m not sure if the product will work with your doors.
As you say the alternative is to paint them with a fire retardant paint.
Good luck in your search for a solution
Hayden Kerr
Ozkit Homes
October 20th, 2009 at 1:51 am