Your Protection Measures
There are five things you need to consider:
Access
We need to ensure that emergency service vehicles can access your property, at the same time that you might be leaving the area. Are the roads wide enough? Is there enough room for a truck to turn around?
Water
Your home needs a water supply, like a tank, pool or dam, for firefighting purposes. A pump will help.
APZ
A buffer between your home and the vegetation helps protect it. You can still have a garden around your home.
Landscaping
There are simple things you can do to maintain the landscape around your home, like keeping the grass low.
Design and construction
You can help protect your home through the design of your home and the types of materials you use. This includes parts of your house like walls, floors, windows and decks.
Design and construction
You can help protect your home through the design of your home and the types of materials you use. This includes parts of your house like walls, floors, windows and decks. These specific requirements will be different depending on your level of risk.
Walls
You need to build with materials that help ensure the house is more resistant to fire, and that there are no gaps where embers can get in.
Water and gas supplies
Any above-ground pipes need to be made out of metal.
Windows
The glass needs to be thick to protect against the heat of a fire, and metallic screening may be required.
Roofs
The roof needs to be made out of non-combustible material, with proper sealing.
Floors and subfloors
Floors need to be made out of certain materials, unless they are enclosed.
External doors
The timber and glazing on doors need to be made out of certain materials and have proper seals.
Verandas, decks, steps, ramps and landings
Unenclosed areas like decks and verandas need to be made out of certain materials.
The provisions for each of these are detailed in the NSW RFS document Planning for Bush Fire Protection. Further details on design and construction can be found in the Australian Standards (AS 3959-2009 – Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas).
