Keeping your home safe during bushfire season

Embers are one of the leading causes of bushfires spreading. To prevent ember attacks, there are a few more things you can do to your home to help to keep it safe in the event of a bushfire.

Protect your windows. Fit metal fly wire mesh or solid screens to spark proof the windows, doors, ventilators and skylights. For even better protection, install Roller Shutters to prevent embers from entering through windows.

Close in all openings in eaves and under-floor areas, as well as sealing all gaps in the roof area along the ridge cap, gutter line and fascia board. Sealing the flute spaces at the fascia board with fibreglass insulation or scribed flat metal with corrugated iron roofs. Well-installed steel roofing is the best roof style to withstand bushfires, however not everyone has the capability to replace their roofing- Consider building any additional structures to your home (Pergolas, Gazebos, etc) with a steel roof to offer better protection in the future. 

Underfloor areas that are not enclosed allow sparks and embers to penetrate. If these areas are used to store timber, firewood, or other flammable materials, the risk is increased. Make sure that underfloor areas are kept clear of flammable material during summer.

You should also be mindful to repair or fill any cracks, gaps or crevices where debris or embers may get caught. 

If you're building, steel framed structures (houses, pergolas and sheds) are much less likely to fail structurally during a bushfire. Construct walls using fire resistant materials such as brick and fibre cement cladding, while avoiding rough timber or vinyl cladding which can burn or warp in extreme heat. 

Always ensure your property has a clear evacuation route. 

Install a sprinkler system - for some suburban homes, regularly watering your garden and lawn areas will help, and installing sprinklers to soak your property will help to reduce the effects of radiant heat, sparks and embers. All fittings should be metal, as plastic melts.

Build a stone wall, earth barrier, or fence close to your home as a radiant heat shield, or plant lower flammability vegetation, including plants and trees with low oil and high water and salt content. These can include Magnolia, Ficus, Lilly Pilly, Aloe, Citrus Trees and most succulents. Avoid highly flammable species such as Conifer, Pine, Tea Tree, Rosemary and Eucalypt. 

Plant trees and shrubs with space between them so they do not form a continuous canopy to make it more difficult for fire to spread. Space trees and shrubs so that there is a break in the line of vegetation from bushland to house, and plant well-watered fruit trees and vegetable gardens on the side of buildings facing the most likely direction of fire.

Avoid using timber mulches, instead opt for pebbles or gravel for ground cover areas. If you plan to build a tennis court or pool, position it between your home and the expected fire direction.

When looking to accent the exterior of your home with timber (think Decking and feature cladding) opt for a much more fire-resistant timber composite instead of natural timber. Composite also doesn't require oil, which means you won't need to store any flammable tins near your home. 

Bushfire Attack Level or BAL is a method for rating the intensity of a locations potential exposure to bushfire. 

Many materials within the building industry are labelled with a 'BAL' rating, which denotes that materials estimated ability to withstand different levels of fire hazards. In increasing order of risk:

BAL-12.5
Significant ember attack, burning debris and radiant heat up to a level of 12.5 kW/m2.

BAL-19
Increasing levels of ember attack, burning debris and radiant heat up to a level of 19 kW/m2.

BAL-29
Increasing levels of ember attack, burning debris and radiant heat up to a level of 29 kW/m2.

BAL-40
Increasing levels of ember attack, burning debris and radiant heat up to a level of 40 kW/m2. Flames from the bushfire front may intermittently contact the house.

BAL-FZ
Increasing levels of ember attack, burning debris and radiant heat in excess of 40 kW/m2. Flames from the bushfire front are likely to engulf part or all of the house.

It is super important to consider the BAL rating of the products you use on your home if you are in a bushfire prone area - it can be dangerous to build with products that are not appropriately BAL-rated. A BAL assessment should be done on all homes in bushfire prone areas prior to any construction or renovation commencing to ensure the safety of your home. There are many elements that can affect your homes BAL rating and this should be left to the experts! 

Don't take it personally if a home improvement or construction company won't service your area for this reason - it is in your best interest and is to keep your and your family safe.