Safe As Houses

Building or renovating a home in a bushfire-prone area comes with unique challenges – and sometimes significant costs – but the rewards are beyond measure

- Sarah Pickette

When Dr Emma Bowen and her family bought a home backing onto Sydney’s Lane Cove National Park, they knew the bushfire risk was high and that it would impact on their future need to extend the small red-brick home as their family grew.

“We love the bush and we accept the fire risk that comes with it,” says Dr Bowen, general manager of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Macquarie University.

Every new home built in a bushfire prone area must have its Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessed to reflect its potential exposure to ember attack, radiant heat and direct flame contact.

Australian Standard 3959 sets out six BAL classifications (BAL LOW, very low risk; BAL 12.5, low risk; BAL 19, moderate risk; BAL 29, high risk; BAL 40, very high risk; BAL FZ [Flame Zone], extreme risk). By complying with the specifications for its BAL classification, a new house will meet the requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC).

The extension to Dr Bowen’s home is rated BAL FZ, and BAL 40 on any walls where BAL FZ-rated bushfire shutters are used. Now the time has come to consider renovation, she and her partner have briefed their architect to design an extension in brick and Colorbond, with two BAL FZ-rated glass doors.