Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Feb 17, 2020 9:51 am Hi - We are planning a small house (80sqm) in a Flame Zone area. I'm trying to find reviews of FireCrunch - how does it handle from a builder's point of view? What sort of durability etc? And negatives? It sounds like a wonder product, so I am very sceptical! Thanks for any insights. Re: FireCrunch 2Feb 25, 2020 8:23 pm Looks like a suitable product Definitely not a wonder product There are many products that meet the relevant standard (AS3959) for BAL FZ AS1530 series is a commercial document and has no standing in detached residential construction other than providing a cross reference for performance criteria of building materials. Ultimately, the key issue in any BAL situation is windows & doors. The glass breaks in the extreme heat and allows ember attack and thus the fire spreads from inside the dwelling. Appropriately designed and tested windows and doors are required and from memory you will require certified screens either internally or externally of a fire resisting construction with a max aperture size of less then 3mm. Sealing of the building envelope is key and the standard allows regular brick veneer construction with some additional detailing around sealing the envelope. One of the most important things is having a plan fir the event of fire. A private bushfire shelter may be one option for you to consider. I'm only up to speed on Victorian planning and building legislation, but am more than happy to help out i you want further information Re: FireCrunch 3Feb 26, 2020 8:04 am CF Design Many thanks for that CF Design. One of the other features of Firecrunch that appealed to me was the sustainability aspect - apparently it's made from a by-product of the steel industry, magnesium oxide. Our house is going to be a 'pole-house' and budget is tight, so can't do brick veneer. As you suggested, I looked into a shelter, but our property is only 770 sqm, and there are many guidelines around positioning a bunker (e.g. distance requirements from the house). My plan at this stage is to run for the river! (190m away) I will have a look into other products that meet the AS3959, but I'm keen to hear from any builders/home-owners who have used this product, and what their experience has been. Unless it works out too pricey, I can't see any reasons not to use it, at this stage.. Re: FireCrunch 4Feb 26, 2020 8:30 am Elevated builds would pose a significantly higher risk than a build on ground and there are specific requirements for the protection of foundations that are exposed. The detailing required will be significant and I would suggest that you look for a Building Surveyor (or whatever the relevant required person is in your state) who has experience in this type of build, otherwise they be asking for a bunch of things that aren't normally required and it could cost a lot in the construction drawing phase. As it appears to be a relatively niche product, you may want to look through the list of suppliers they have, contact them and ask who has bought it and used it then follow up with them as to the use of the product. Also try finding out a list of designer who have specified it and get their thoughts on options Good luck Chris |