Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 26, 2009 4:04 pm Hi All My fiancee and I signed our initial go ahead with Dennis Family at the end of February. We still have not received a contract (no fault of Dennis) because our block of land has received a fire rating which apparently requires the roof to contain a structure which will withold fire for a period of 30 minutes..... Problem? No such thing exists! DFH has said that everything with our contract is ready to go but they technically cannot give us a contract because they are incapable of meeting this roofing requirement. Apparently Boral and Colorbond are trying to invent something and in the meantime DFH is arguing with people about these requirements. The ridiculous thing is that our block is a town block with a very SLIGHT slope (1.9m) and the nearest tree to the building envelope is 34m. DFH has been told that to change the rating the tree has to be more like 100m away! This is ridiculous - just about no where in Kinglake meets this requirement. I have no idea how to proceed - we have been waiting so long for a contract and then we'll still have to get in line for a building permit. It seems like we'll never have a house. Also worrying is that we need to sign by Sept to get the full FHOG. Has anyone else been told anything similar? Any advice........ Re: Building in Kinglake -IMPOSSIBLE Fire Protection Requirement 2Jun 26, 2009 4:27 pm Hey guys - that is horrible! So I would assume then that according to the bushfire standard (AS3959) - you would be classed as "Flame Zone" for the Level of Bush Fire Attack? We're lucky enough to be Level 3. After 4 years - we're in! Re: Building in Kinglake -IMPOSSIBLE Fire Protection Requirement 3Jun 26, 2009 4:34 pm Yes apparently we are Flame Zone - even though we are about 3mins walk from the Kinglake Pub and most of the beautiful trees which originally surrounded the bottom and side borders of our property were burnt beyond regrowth in the fire and a heap of them were hacked down by the army during clean-up...... Re: Building in Kinglake -IMPOSSIBLE Fire Protection Requirement 4Jun 26, 2009 7:22 pm Have you spoken to the council regarding the problem? If this is a requirement that applies to the whole area, then it must be a stumbling block for everyone, especially in light of the rebuilding that's to happen? I don't see how building regulations can include an impossible requirement - there must be some avenue of appeal. Could VCAT be any help, perhaps? Re: Building in Kinglake -IMPOSSIBLE Fire Protection Requirement 5Jun 26, 2009 7:29 pm I was recently told that if your plans were drawn up before march, and you can get a letter from the draftsmen saying so, you only have to follow the old fire ratings.... don't quote me though - I'm still looking into it myself, and I think each building surveyor is different.... My Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=29109 Site Start: 5th January 2010 Base stage completed: 24th January 2010 Re: Building in Kinglake -IMPOSSIBLE Fire Protection Requirement 6Jun 26, 2009 10:57 pm Speak to the locals...there is plenty of building activity in Kinglake...my mate is going through the same process in Kinglake...he has cut down heaps of trees to hopefully reduce his fire rating...he is also only 3 mins from the pub...you might know him...he is registered on this forum as csp...try sending him a message if possible...he has done a fair bit of research into all of this stuff...I will mention your dilema to him, and get him to log in to the forum, he maybe able to help...if not drop in to Aitken Cres...I think it is...he is there most days at the moment...the block with the big bonfire...lol...Craig is his name...Goodluck. Hi , I'm currently going through this now within the Whitehorse council which has a similar set of restrictions. We're having to make compromises with our floor plan due… 3 23642 Yes, neither is termite damage that is not covered by your house insurance. 3 5641 |