Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 Oct 22, 2012 9:20 am We are building in a BAL Flame Zone - would you believe it 10mins from the Sydney CBD! Despite the challenges, we have found a relatively cheap solution for windows and doors, with standard shutters (extra $20k above standard for 12 windows and doors). However, we have been absolutely stumped when it comes to finding a front entrance door. We dont want a glass door, and a completely metal door that hasnt been tested to the BAL FZ standard would apparently still need a shutter. Are there any non-glass front entry door solutions for a BAL FZ zone? Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 2Oct 22, 2012 11:30 am There would be many doors that would be classified in FZ. I would think the doors used in fire stairways must be rated to the same. Also door frame will have to be fire rated. Anyway if you wanted to get around the code, not advisable, you could install what ever meets code and remove later. If shutter required see if it could be re fitted else where after inspection, once again not recommended. I know of many products that might be up to FZ rating but are not interesting in the assessment certification process due to costs. What shutters are considered flame zone rated? Good luck Pulpo Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 3Oct 23, 2012 7:26 pm i am interested in this. what kind of doors do you want? fz so amazing! Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 4Oct 24, 2012 12:24 pm We want a front door that provides some privacy (so glass is out). Happy with aluminium or steel, assuming it is plain and we can get it in a color we would want. But we dont like the thought of having a metal door AND having to have a metal shutter over it. Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 5Oct 25, 2012 10:16 am iain111 We want a front door that provides some privacy (so glass is out). Happy with aluminium or steel, assuming it is plain and we can get it in a color we would want. But we dont like the thought of having a metal door AND having to have a metal shutter over it. Glass can be opaque and then It will be just as private as anything else =) Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 6Oct 25, 2012 11:32 am Good point, but still not so keen on glass aesthetically. Might have to swallow that pill. But being in the Flame Zone, I think we would need either need a shutter over the glass door (which is not the most welcoming look for a front entrance) or have to spend a small fortune on a glass door that has gone through Flame Zone testing (I have a quote for one of these at $4,500). Maybe a steel option would be as expensive, but I wonder if anyone has been through the same challenge. Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 7Jan 27, 2013 7:20 pm With the NSW modification of the FZ requirements you have 3 options for your front door: 1) non-combustible door + Metal doorframes & external hardware + 6mm toughened glass if glazed + + seals etc with flam’ index of 5 or less +tight-fitting + weather strip at base + Non-combustible, non-perforated (aluminium or steel) shutter (not FZ rated shutter) Flyscreen Not required 2) whole door system incl frame & glazing to have FRL of -/30/- OR comply with AS1530.8.2 (ie. FZ rated) 3) FZ rated shutter or blind (there's a company in VIC that does a sort of exterior blind - let me know if you want a link. I've been told that option (1) would be the cheapest. I know you don't want a shutter but it needn't look unwelcoming. If you are building you can get the shutter built in so the pelmet(?) is inside the wall - completely invisible when open. If adding later you will have the pelmet on the exterior above the door, but it's not like bars across the window. Another possibility, depending on your situation: - our threat comes from the north side, so the south side only has to be BAL 40 as it's shielded by the rest of the house; the front door on the east should be FZ but by setting it back so it's shielded by the room on the north, it can be downgraded to BAL 40. Let us know what you end up with. Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 8May 20, 2013 1:20 pm It has taken this long and we are still working on a solution for the front door. The commercial options are: (1) Use a glass/steel door from one of the BAL FZ manufacturers that doesn't require a shutter. Looks like an open-plan office door. Cost: over $7000. (2) Use a steel fire door. Looks like a school corridor door, but luckily you don't have to have the panic bar door opener like at school. Cost: over $2000. These are just totally unacceptable both from a cost and aesthetic perspective. Now we are at the point where the front door will be needed in about 4 weeks (otherwise the overall build will start to be delayed at large cost to us). One solution is not to have a front door. The other, which we are (strangely) considering is making our own front door! To me, this is just beyond comprehension...that a someone has to make their own front door when renovating their house 10 minutes from the Sydney CBD - thanks NSWRFS! Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 9Jun 07, 2013 9:29 pm Your best option is to get a BAL 40 door which are made by several companies including Stegbar & Trend and look like normal doors, then get an extruded aluminium shutter. The shutter can be built in so it's hidden when open, and you never have to close it except in the case of a bushfire. The shutter will cost b/n $1000 & $1500. Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 10Nov 12, 2013 1:53 pm We found a solution for the front entrance door that didn't blow out our budget. We bought a standard wooden fire door and laminated a stainless steel sheet over it on the outside. This meets the arcane BAL FZ conditions, and cost only $500. Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 11Apr 28, 2016 12:37 pm Hi Guys, I know i'm resurrecting a very old thread here, but still hoping for your help? iain111 - Can you please let me know who provided you with your laminated stainless steel sheet solution? Also - can anyone provide me with a ballpark figure for a standard size door rated to BAL40? Thanks in advance, Darren Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 12Apr 29, 2016 1:19 pm Hi Our builder used http://www.taylorsdoors.com.au/ to laminate steel on a fire door. Hope that helps! Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 13Oct 10, 2019 9:50 pm Hey guys Just wanted to let anyone know who’s looking for a balFZ external door, I found some reasonable prices through spartan doors in Newcastle, which are around $2000 per door, instead of the $8000 per door we were quoted for glazed steel fab balfz doors through nil fire. I also got a quote for bal40 doors which are standard aluminium and glazing, with the balfz shutter over, which would have ended up costing $3-4000 per door. You can’t have a vision panel with balfz spartan door but that’s suits us fine. All the best with your homes!! JF Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 14Mar 18, 2024 10:29 am iain111 Hi Our builder used http://www.taylorsdoors.com.au/ to laminate steel on a fire door. Hope that helps! Hi Iain111, could you please sharing a photo of your front entrance door that meet BAL FZ requirements? We are facing the same problem now. We can't find anything suitable us. Thanks. Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 15Mar 18, 2024 10:32 am dazdaz 15 Hi Guys, I know i'm resurrecting a very old thread here, but still hoping for your help? iain111 - Can you please let me know who provided you with your laminated stainless steel sheet solution? Also - can anyone provide me with a ballpark figure for a standard size door rated to BAL40? Thanks in advance, Darren Hi Darren, I'm curious if you guys finally found a solution? Re: Front Entrance doors in bushfire zones 16Mar 18, 2024 10:35 am Jess f Hey guys Just wanted to let anyone know who’s looking for a balFZ external door, I found some reasonable prices through spartan doors in Newcastle, which are around $2000 per door, instead of the $8000 per door we were quoted for glazed steel fab balfz doors through nil fire. I also got a quote for bal40 doors which are standard aluminium and glazing, with the balfz shutter over, which would have ended up costing $3-4000 per door. You can’t have a vision panel with balfz spartan door but that’s suits us fine. All the best with your homes!! JF Hi Jess, Thanks for sharing the information with us, could you please share a photo of your doors? I really need it, Thanks. Hi all, sorting out the ducted air con for a 350sqm double story house. Does this placement sound reasonable to you? Also, I plan to have 6 zones I think. Living room… 0 0 Hi all, sorting out the ducted air con for a 350sqm double story house. I think i plan to have 6 zones I think. Living room (mainly for entertainment so not used often),… 0 0 The warning is on the sticker on the door too. Second the aluminium powdercoat 6 18207 |