Building in Bushfire Prone Areas

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There is a widespread community belief, reinforced by the news media, that bushfires move at the speed of express trains, that houses explode into flames and burn down in minutes and that there is not much that can be done to prevent it.

Scientific research into the behaviour of houses under attack has shown otherwise

• the majority of houses destroyed in bushfires actually survive the passage of the fire front, only to burn down during the next few hours due to fire spreading from ignitions caused by wind-borne burning debris
• if no one is present to extinguish these small ignitions they can grow to involve the whole building
• people who are well prepared and who return to their after the passage of the fire front can, in many cases defend them

  Various approaches can play a part in mitigating bushfire attack on buildings. These include, where possible, of the proximity to and type of vegetation around a building, protection of windows, modifying the design of the building to reduce its susceptibility to debris build-up by selection of construction materials which will resist ignition from ember attack.

  Vegetation

  It is desirable to have a fuel reduced area around a building to reduce the level of hazard, in particular the risk of attack by flame contact and radiant heat.

  The management of existing vegetation involves both selective fuel reduction ( removal, thinning or pruning ) and the retention of vegetation which may have beneficial effects by acting as windbreaks and radiant heat barriers,

  Building Design

  It is desirable that the shape of new buildings incorporates the minimum of re-entrant corners and changes in roof profile where burning debris may accumulate and ignite the building

  • windows - are the most vulnerable features of a house exposed to bushfire attack
  • consider some of the following suggestions - wire mesh on all opening windows including louvres
  • shutters on the windows ( need to be closed to be effective )
  • passive protection can be provided by glazing options such as wired, laminated or toughened glass
  • decks - research has found timber decks to be particularly vulnerable from wind borne debris, due to the large areas of horizontal timber surface they present
  • consider installing a external drencher system - for this obtain specialist advice

  Remember in the end it is only a house, the lives of your family should come first and their safety must be the first and last consideration.

  For more information look at the Australian Standard 3959-1993, Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas and the accompanying handbook. This standard was revised in 1999 and a corresponding revision of the handbook is underway.

  Source: CSIRO online magazine, ( no 11 - feb 2000 )

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