We know that most of you will already be familiar with the requirements of building in BAL areas, but we thought it might be time to revisit some of the basics as Hume Doors and Timber have expanded their range of doors and frames suited to areas with high BAL requirements.
So, let us explore Bushfire Prone Areas, Bushfire Attack Level’s and how you can ensure that doors and frames are BAL compliant.
What is a bushfire prone area?
A Bushfire Prone Area is a geographic region where the potential for bushfires is higher due to factors such as vegetation, weather patterns and topography. They tend to be areas that have a history of bushfires or are considered at risk of bushfires in the future.
How does being in a bushfire prone area affect the site?
Any building work or development that takes place within a designated bushfire prone area MUST be compliant with the relevant bushfire safety regulations and standards. This includes using appropriate building materials and design elements to reduce the risk of bushfire damage, including installing doors and frames that meet the BAL rating requirements.
Before looking at door and frame options, you will need to know the BAL of your client’s property.
What is a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL)?
A Bushfire Attack Level or BAL is a risk assessment report measuring the potential risk of a building being exposed to ember attack, radiant heat, and direct flame contact from bushfire.
The below diagram shows the different BAL ratings, along with the radiant heat flux for each zone.
Where can I find the BAL for the property?
When starting a new build or preparing to renovate, you first need to check whether your client is in a Bushfire Prone Area. To find out, visit the local council website and check if the property is located within a Bushfire Prone Area. If it is, your or your client will need to check with the local council if a BAL assessment has already been completed, and if not, follow the local council directions for how to get a BAL for the property.
We have the BAL, now what?
Now that you have the BAL for the property, you can present compliant doors and frames to suit the BAL. Which is where we come in!
At NHS, we have the complete range of Hume Doors & Timber Bushfire Resistant Doors & Frames that have been specifically designed and manufactured to meet the regulatory requirements of building in designated bushfire zones as specified in AS3959.
The range has been extensively tested and has a wide range of options for BAL12.5, BAL19, BAL29 and BAL40 bushfire zones. With a wide selection of door design, glass, and face options within the ranges, your client will be sure to find the perfect BAL rated door and frame to suit their style.
IMPORTANT: All BAL doors and frames MUST be installed as per Australian Standard AS3959 to be compliant.
You can read more about Hume Doors & Timber’s Bushfire Resistant Doors & Frames HERE!
How do I get certified after buring a BAL rated door?
Even though Hume doors and frames have been tested and manufactured as per Australian Standards, to be certified, once the BAL rated door and frame are installed, they will need to be certified on-site by a qualified certifier or independent party.
IMPORTANT: A product can be BAL compliant when purchased, but NOT be certified on site. This can be due to several factors including, incorrect door or frame type, gaps around doors, incorrect installation etc.
It is important to ensure that your products meet the correct BAL for your site and that ALL products are installed as per specifications in Australian Standard AS3959.
Can I get certification if the door is (BAL) compliant, but the frame is not?
It is very important to ensure that the door and frame both meet the requirements of AS3959. If the door is suitable for a specific BAL level, but the frame is not, you will not be able to gain certification, meaning the entryway will not comply with the Australian Standard. Fortunately, Hume has a range of Bushfire Resistant Frames that are suitable for up to BAL40 zones!
Building in a bushfire prone area and meeting the requirements of specific bushfire zones can be confusing!
But we are here to help.
By purchasing your BAL compliant door AND frame from the Hume Doors & Timber Bushfire Resistant Ranges, you will ensure that you have a complete front door system that is compliant to the site’s specific BAL level.
Hume Doors & Timber Bushfire Doors range is available by special order today from NHS
Ready to order a bushfire resistant door and frame? EASY AS!
To get the ball rolling, simply contact us or visit one of our stores with your door specifications and one of our team will be in touch within 1 business day.