Frequently Asked Questions
What Area do you Service?
Sydney, Southern Highlands & South Coast
What is a BAL and when do I need one?
BAL or Bushfire Attack Level is a scaled measure used to determine the amount of exposure the building will have to a bushfire. The BAL takes into consideration the potential exposure of a building to radiant heat, ember attack and direct flame contact from the existing bushfire hazard.
How long will a BAL certificate take?
BAL Assessments take our office approximately 2 weeks on average, to complete from the initial lodgement of enquiry.
What do I need to provide for this certificate?
Lot and DP number of the property, known siting location and layouts of the building if it is a new build or addition & any relevant communications / correspondences with the local council or RFS. We can help with this.
What are the different BAL ratings and how do they affect me?
BAL ratings are radiant heat and bushfire attack exposure measures which are presented in kilowatts per square metre of radiant heat exposure the building may experience during bushfire conditions.
The lower the BAL rating exposure for a building the less bushfire attack exposure the asset is predicted to receive under bushfire conditions.
Why should I get a BAL certificate completed prior to purchase of land?
BAL certificate assessments provide a risk profile and determination for planning and construction pathways for a project on bushfire prone land.
Completing a bushfire assessment prior to purchase would give you a clear understanding of site limitations under bushfire conditions and present definite construction standards for a building thus giving a clearer understanding of design constraints and cost options for your building or renovation project.
What are the costs associated with the different BAL levels?
Higher risk sites being BAL 29- 40 and BAL Flame Zone significantly increase the cost of construction due to the need for superior building performance to withstand the increased bushfire attack exposure predicted at a location. Higher BAL ratings will require improved materials and building products such as fire-retardant cladding, heat resistant external facades, doors and windows and alternative design to protect the building from failure under greater bushfire attack exposures.
What is a bushfire assessment report and when do I need one?
A bushfire assessment report is a planning document that aids in the decision of the siting and layout of your house to reduce the amount of exposure to your bushfire risk. Once a landscape risk for bushfire is determined the report will identify, what bushfire protection measures (BPM’s) can be deployed in project design to achieve a desired BAL rating and comply with building code and regulations.
A bushfire assessment report will determine your project design, construction materials, firefighting measures and access, evacuation strategies for the site under a bushfire event. The assessment process gives a clearer indication of your overall site risks and potential costs of construction.
What is a bushfire management plan and when do I need one?
A bushfire management plan lists all the bushfire protection measures that should be implemented as part of your development to reduce the risks of exposure to a bushfire. A bushfire risk management plan sets out the types of modifications, inclusions and maintenance strategies scheduled to deal with the risk of bush fires on your property. These may include hazard reduction activities and checks on the operation of firefighting equipment such as pumps and sprinklers etc.