Building a home
Is your house situated and constructed or modified to withstand a bushfire?
It is possible to prepare your house for bushfire. You need to consider the materials that your house is constructed with - will the materials ignite easily and withstand the effects of radiant heat and direct flame contact?
The closer you are to the bush the more you need to improve the fire resistant properties of your house. There are actions that you can take to assist in protecting your house from radiant heat and flames.
Constructing or modifying your home
CFA and the Building Commission have developed a practical guide for people who want to upgrade their existing home to be better protected from bushfires. The guide is divided into two parts – the first section looks at retrofitting your home to protect against ember attack and the second section looks at retrofitting your home for various Bushfire Attack Levels (BAL).
A guide to retrofit your home for better protection from a bushfire - Large file! pdf 2572k
Visit the Building Commission website for information to help guide you with construction and renovation to protect your home.
Building in a Bushfire Management Overlay
The Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) has been introduced to replace the Wildfire Management Overlay.
The provisions of the BMO ensure that development in areas that may be affected by bushfire can only take place after full consideration of bushfire issues including where the building is located on the site, emergency access and fire-fighting water supply.
Find out more about the Bushfire Management Overlay >>
Creating a defendable space
The type and amount of plant life (trees, scrub, grass, dry or dead plants) around your home may affect the intensity of a bushfire. The land surrounding your property such as hills, slopes and dense vegetation can also impact bushfire behaviour.
To determine your bushfire risk, consider where your house is located and the vegetation around the house. Is the building surrounded by plants, trees, shrubs and undergrowth or is the area cleared so that there is a level of 'defendable space' around your property.
Further information
