Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 20, 2012 10:19 am We are building with Porter Davis and signed contracts yesterday. Our meeting yesterday was the first time we had seen the BAL requirements for our house. We are having bifold doors from our living area to our alfresco. We had been to the bifold supplier's showroom to have a look at the retractable flyscreen which we were really impressed with. BAL or no BAL we wanted the screen. But when we asked for the screen at our appointment and were told Porter Davis were absolutely unable to do it. However, as part of the BAL requirements for attack level 12.5, we are required to have a flyscreen on all opening doors and windows (including over our beautiful 2340x1200mm front door ). Meanwhile, there is NO protection offered to the bifold door opening. PD insist that we must have the flyscreen over the front door or they cannot get the relevant permits. The law is the law, and at the end of the day I don't have a problem with this. However they continue to tell us they cannot provide a screen - any screen - to this massive opening at the back of the house So having been told we must have flyscreens on all openings, we are left wondering how they can get permits without a screen to the bifolds? I asked this exact question in our appointment and were simply told that PD can't do it. Surely the relevant authorities aren't going to accept this? Any ideas? Re: BAL compliance - doors (bifolds esp.) 2Apr 20, 2012 10:28 am we dont have bi folds , but we were told that our double sliding doors were made to BAL 12.5 standards and did not require the screens.we were told under the code there is no requirement to screen sliding doors because they have surround seals as standard. maybe the same for bi folds? I dont think theyre trying to rip you off or anything. Re: BAL compliance - doors (bifolds esp.) 3Apr 20, 2012 10:34 am Thanks Nayzv. I'm not concerned about them ripping us off (on this anyway ), it's just that we want the screen and wouldn't mind some leverage! PD are providing a flyscreen to a sliding door on another wall of the alfresco (perpendicuar to the bifolds) as part of the BAL requirements, so if you are right about the sliders whoever did our BAL doesn't know it! Re: BAL compliance - doors (bifolds esp.) 4Apr 20, 2012 10:37 am that is weird? maybe im the one being ripped! goodluck with it all. xo Re: BAL compliance - doors (bifolds esp.) 5Apr 20, 2012 10:58 am The screens have to be aluminum mesh to reach BAL requirements - you cant get retractable aluminum mesh unfortunately. I'm surprised you can even have the bifolds - friends of ours were set on getting bifolds but couldn't even get them at all. Sleven Moved into our Atlantique MkII 36 by Carlisle Homes Re: BAL compliance - doors (bifolds esp.) 6Apr 20, 2012 11:16 am sleven, thanks for your response. I didn't even think about the screen not being aluminium . There wasn't any talk of not being able to have the bifolds, that would be devastating for us! Having looked into it a bit further it looks like Nayzv is right, and sliders and bifolds may exempt depending on their construction, so I guess we just got lucky with PD including screens for our two sliding doors. If we can't get it down during the build, we will just have to look at retrofitting a screen on the bifolds, but I imagine it won't be as elegant a solution. Re: BAL compliance - doors (bifolds esp.) 7Apr 20, 2012 12:00 pm No problems Try these guys: http://www.blockoutblinds.com.au/ They are great - we have our plantation shutters with these guys and before this Summer we will be ordering our 2xbifold screens and bifold window flyscreens from them. They colour match! They also do take home layby with no interest!! Great service and good quality too. Sleven Moved into our Atlantique MkII 36 by Carlisle Homes 3 4178 For anyone that comes across this issue in the future - Just did what aussieta said and found a plumber to inspect it and sign off on it. Was difficult to find someone to… 3 7044 From a pure legal perspective, if you've signed the variation, it is a very high bar to have it set aside. No-one can give you legal advice on a forum, but you would need… 3 5480 |