Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 14, 2012 11:58 am Hi all, Anyone currently or have built a new home with Flame Zone BAL level in Victoria? Would love to hear about your successes, advice, failings etc. Any ideas on ways you can keep your costs down? What types of materials are good/recommended to use in Flame Zone ratings. Cheers, Rose Re: Building in BAL Flame Zone (FZ) 2May 14, 2012 7:49 pm Sorry never built one worse than BAL 29, but I would start with a very flexible design. Rework tricky areas like verandahs and elevation from the ground. I would also seriously research every component particularly windows and external wall finish. Use the great resources available at the rebuilding commission (except of course they have probably changed their name since i wrote this!!) @builderforlife Building inspector and passionate about construction When you need an expert to take a look. Re: Building in BAL Flame Zone (FZ) 3May 15, 2012 8:59 am Thanks builderforlife! Some great points to think about. We will be building on a slab so that should elimnate the elevation problem. But what are some things to think about when you refer to "rework the verandah"? Will have a look on the website too. Windows are a bit confusing as it states in the standards you either need a shutter or a mesh (<2mm) to cover the window and i think external walls are limited to masonry or earth and the like. Any ideas what would be the cheapest alternative? Thanks! Re: Building in BAL Flame Zone (FZ) 4May 15, 2012 7:20 pm Windown mesh is a reasonably inexpensive item. Masonry walls are reasonbly expensive but its a sound investemnet in peacr of mind. given slab on round you may not have the vernadah/timber deck problems i envisaged @builderforlife Building inspector and passionate about construction When you need an expert to take a look. Re: Building in BAL Flame Zone (FZ) 5May 23, 2012 9:18 am Does the window mesh need to be permantley fixed to the house? Re: Building in BAL Flame Zone (FZ) 7May 24, 2012 7:22 pm Window mesh can be in a shutter if required. @builderforlife Building inspector and passionate about construction When you need an expert to take a look. Re: Building in BAL Flame Zone (FZ) 8Sep 20, 2012 5:31 pm Hi Rose I suggest when you submit your DA, that you include a breakdown into the components of the house, and what you'll use to mitigate the fire risk:- Subfloor - concrete, steel piers, sealed up with fibre cement etc Walls - brick, fibre cement etc Roof - tiles, or FZ rated sheet metal of some kind [colourbond have tested to FZ from memory] Windows/Doors - check out products like Paarhammer, Trend, SmokeControl, NilFire Fencing - metal fencing can provide heat/wind/ember breaks - use these creatively [eg strategically positioning a lone wall as a heat shield] to block high risk areas and potentially lower your rating on that elevation It'll show the council you've put some thought into your solution and should make life easier in terms of getting approval. Affording it on the other hand, is the challenge Hope that helps. Simon Re: Building in BAL Flame Zone (FZ) 9Sep 20, 2012 9:42 pm Most window companies dont make windows to be FZ rated, you would have to use metal shutters over them in order to comply. Brick veneer Walls comply as FZ, slab is ok, all fly screens must use 2mm ss mesh, as well as all the other opening, like weep holes and vents must be all blocked with ss mesh. Eaves and colourbond roofs must use ecoPly 15mm plywood over the roof, and then battens and rockwool and sheets, eaves also must have 16mm fire grade plasterbord over the ecoply, and then covered with fibro. These are all requirements for FZ and much more.. not cheap. You should have bush fire report and Council DA conditions will list all the requirements you have to do. Re: Building in BAL Flame Zone (FZ) 10Sep 21, 2012 10:12 am simon&jo Fencing - metal fencing can provide heat/wind/ember breaks - use these creatively [eg strategically positioning a lone wall as a heat shield] to block high risk areas and potentially lower your rating on that elevation We are on 25 acres so there will be no fencing. although i like that idea simon! We have our council approval which only took a couple of week. We are now finalising deisgn and trying to get some costings to see if we can actually afford it! We have designed the house so we get shielding and as a result have 3 side at BAL40 which is great as we really didn't want shutters! Our external will be formatech (a poured contrete like substance) with colourbond Re: Building in BAL Flame Zone (FZ) 11Sep 22, 2012 9:27 am veseli Most window companies dont make windows to be FZ rated, you would have to use metal shutters over them in order to comply. Paarhammer, NilFire, and Miglas are 3 companies that spring to mind which have met BAL FZ and don't require shutters over their glass. But yes, in general, most current solutions do require a shutter of some type. Re: Building in BAL Flame Zone (FZ) 12Sep 27, 2012 9:42 pm Well done. It was a very good idea idea to resite your proposed home from BAL FZ to BAL 40. Good luck with the project @builderforlife Building inspector and passionate about construction When you need an expert to take a look. Re: Building in BAL Flame Zone (FZ) 13Sep 28, 2012 8:37 am thanks builder for life. The house is still in the same place but we have designed it for shielding. Hopefully it all gets the go ahead! Re: Building in BAL Flame Zone (FZ) 14Oct 18, 2012 11:09 am What have people done with there FZ doors? Any suggestions and costings? Hi All It has been a few weeks since my last update. The build has been progressing well. No major issues to report. 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