Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Bushfire requirements 7Jun 10, 2009 3:07 pm 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: Bushfire requirements 19Jun 10, 2009 11:29 pm The Building Codes are stratified according to the level of risk to the dwelling e.g. low, medium, high, extreme. Any building at risk must be built to minimise its vulnerability to ember attack (the most frequent cause for houses to burn down) which can strike even when the fire front is kilometres away. The risk profile is then calculated on the degree of exposure to direct radiant heat. The closer the vegetation (fuel) is to the house, the more vulnerable is the dwelling. Standard windows cannot withstand the fierce radiant heat generated by burning proximate shrubs or trees. Once they shatter your house is a goner, fire quickly engulfs the interior and the structure collapses. A good rule of thumb is that the safest distance a house should be from a nearby tree is 2.5 x the height of that tree. Clearing vegetation markedly improves the chances of your house standing. In SA, the risk is assessed by a member of the Country Fire Service who then submits a report to the council prior to building approval. It will make a request that the design is compliant with the stated risk. A couple useful links are: http://www.metrobs.com.au/key_bush.html http://www.esa.act.gov.au/ESAWebsite/co ... uction.pdf If you really live in bushfire prone area then I would highly recommend: The Complete Bushfire Safety Book (out of print, but available on Amazon) or Essential Bushfire Safety Tips by Joan Webster The information is well summarised and referenced. The evidence is based on research and coronial inquests following disasters such as Ash Wednesday. Re: Bushfire requirements 20Jun 10, 2009 11:53 pm More info from the CFA. http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/residents/building/risk.htm A very useful site for those wishing to live in a bushfire risk zone. This was on google. Development controls 2.3.1 Front setback D1 New buildings within residential areas shall adhere to a front building line, which is 5.5-6m to the… 1 3665 I'm wondering if anyone knows what the requirements are of a builder to be eligible to hold Domestic Building Insurance for proposed works. https://www.dbi.vmia.vic.gov.au… 0 3334 |