Bushfire Risk Management Planning

This assignment focuses on developing a comprehensive understanding of bushfire risk management planning. It outlines six key steps involved in mitigating bushfire hazards: assessing the risk, selecting an appropriate building site, adhering to construction requirements, maintaining the hazard management area, preparing for emergencies, and creating a Bushfire Survival Plan. The document emphasizes the importance of consulting with accredited professionals like Bushfire Hazard Assessors and referencing relevant Australian Standards and planning directives.

FIRE SAFETY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR A SINGLE STOREY HOUSE AS PER
THE AUSTRALIAN BUILDING CODES AND STANDARDS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report provides a technical assessment feedback on the given designs and plans for the
construction and renovation of a single storey house as per the Australian Building Codes and
Standards. Notably the approach is from the perspective of a bushfire consultant where actual
assessment is done vis-à-vis the relevant provisions. Admittedly, various bushfire protection
measures have relevantly been applied. The assessment considered virtually all the critical
elements and services that are compulsorily mentioned in the given standards for purpose of
assessment. The assessment criteria, as mentioned, follows the building standards of Australia in
which the bushfire requirements are highlighted. Therefore, the report aims at uncovering the
thorny issues that should be addressed in the process of determining whether or not the planned
renovations are in tandem with the given standards and requirements. The report is to be used by
the local council as a substantive reference material in order to seal all the policy-implementation
gaps.
1. INTRODUCTION
The report presented hereinafter focuses on the critical assessment issues of the residential
building whose technical details have been provided to peruse against the set standards of fire
safety. The dominating reference document in this case will be the Building Code of Australia
part 2 (BCA, 1996) section 3.7. Notably, the report pursues various elements in the house against
the given provisions to ascertain full compliance and ensure the structure to be put in place
satisfactorily complies with the requirements. Besides, it should be noted that the assessment is
done prior to building establishment to ensure all critical elements are designed as per the given
provisions as far as fire safety is concerned. In fact, the purpose of this report is to uncover the
critical assessment issues that will assist Council in their assessment of the application for the
building under relevant requirements. Therefore, the report provides a written assessment of the
given site and demonstrates whether or not the building complies with the established
requirements. Admittedly, we looked at a proposed initial development site located along
Weetalibah Road, Northbridge and assessed an application for a renovated dwelling (being a
Class 1 Building). The site had been identified as being impacted by bushfire attack from nearby
significant vegetation and was within 100 meters of the interface. The assessment was primarily
accompanied by the application of the relevant bushfire protection measures for the building and
within the property boundary. Therefore, in a nutshell, the assessment aims at providing the local
council with an actual scenario from the field (as far as bushfire remains a great risk). Certainly,
therefore, the report also provides a substantive material to the local council especially for future
similar assignments to be undertaken. Notably, the given project presented provides a crucial
case study that can be used as a yard stick to ensure that in all future assessments, some of the
policy implementation gaps are progressively sealed and that emerging issues are dealt with
accordingly.

2. SITE DESCRIPTION
The site where the building is seated, as mentioned earlier, will be along Weetalibah road,
Northbridge. There is a nearby vegetation specifically shrubs. The residential building was in
existence but it became necessary to implement some fundamental renovations which shall
comply with the bush fire protection standards. In the recent past, bush fire incidences have
arisen forcing the local authorities to comb through the area and ensure that all developers and
owners of buildings, BCA class notwithstanding, fully comply with the requirements such as AS
3959 and BCA part 2 section 3.7. However, amendments have been made in order to conform
with the current realities.
Figure 1: Front side of the building

3. BUSH FIRE SITE ASSESSMENT
Building Elements and Services
Table 1: Summary of Assessment
Building Element Fire safety parameter Assessment remark
Access routes and exits For quick exit and egress Satisfactory
Provision of Fire safety
services
Strategic points and corners
in the house
Plans underway; sufficient
provision
House seating arrangement Based on the wind direction
and strength
Appropriately done
Structural integrity of wall-
fire resistance
The brick work provided in
the drawing is sufficiently
resistant to bushfire crossover
Choice of material is above
reproach
Rear extensions Must discourage unnecessary
reach to the overhanging
nearby branches
Done to the required
standards especially in
minimizing excessive heat
wave penetration
Roof sheeting Material selected to be fire
resilient
Material selected is within the
standards
Roof gutters To minimize bushfire
climbing to roof
This is satisfactory
Fascia board For more, check section titled
“Construction”
Okay
Downpipes Material selected be in
conformance with the
standards
Okay
External walls and finishing Must be redundantly fire
proof
Was done as recommended
Window frames Fireproof material and
minimized opportunities for
more gaps
Design as recommended
Carport structure As per the give standards Okay
Balustrade As per the given standards Okay
Timber posts The timber fences up to
carport roof is over 350-450
high
Okay
Security gate The height of the gate, as
checked in the design,
complies with the minimum
provision in this area
Okay
Drive way Built of concrete For better fire proofing; this
is okay
Sandstone paving This is preferred due to its
inability to spread fire
Okay
Brick retaining wall for the Achieve redundancy in fire As recommended

externals safety
Box gutter Provides no chance for gaps
or unnecessary
Okay
Construction installation For this section, check the
section under: Construction
Okay
Bedroom location Upstairs to minimize risk of
horizontal fire spread
Okay
Existing windows The frames built of non-
combustible material
preferably metal
Okay
Child proof safety Protecting the minors from
accidental collapse especially
during evacuation
Okay
4. BUSH FIRE PROTECTION MEASURES
Standards:
1- Siting and Design
The house seems to be enclaved in a nearby vegetation on the northern part while southern
part access from the main road is made possible. The access path is free of loose materials
that can hinder effective movement in and out of premise. However, site demarcation,
although not included in the designs, must either be solid wall or metal grill fence to
minimize crossover fire (TAS, 2017 & 2019). Therefore, as can be seen from the design
plans, this is satisfactorily done to ensure minimal interaction of the nearby vegetation cover
and the adjacent buildings.
Notably, in summary, the siting details are provided in the table 2:
Table 2: Siting Details of the Proposed Development
Location Northbridge
Title no: N/A
Developer/Owner XYZ
Intended use /Current
use
Residential
BCA Building type Class 1a
Water utility Based on daily consumption
Access from main
road
Weetalibah Rd, Northbridge
Other Particulars Intended for renovation for total compliance

Figure 2: Part of the vegetation cover
2-Property access arrangement
As mentioned earlier, the building premises can be accessed mainly via the main road from
the southern side. The access paths are made in such a way that quicker access is guaranteed
especially in firefighting situations. Sharp corners must be minimized and instead straight
and direct access paths be promoted. The loose material that may be present on the road
surface must be eliminated otherwise it will hinder free movement (Cheney &
Sullivan ,2008)
3-Construction
The construction, as envisaged in the design, must be in tandem with the acceptable standards by
the local council. Hence from the study of the plans, the following can be deduced vis-à-vis the
available sectional requirements as per AS 5939:

(i) The gaps between the doors, windows and other openings are to be protected using
draught excluders
(ii) The bush fire shutters are permanently fixed to the building with gaps not exceeding
3mm.
(iii) The assembly of these openings are therefore protected to minimize accidental
failures due to fire attack
(iv) Provision of shielding is a key requirement; such that construction requirements as far
as fire safety is concerned is minimized.
(v) As for flooring, seemingly fireproof tiles are to be used. Besides, preference should
be for the raised types
(vi) The walling design especially on the external envelope is encouraging; this is to
pursued further by constructing using materials that are non-combustible.
(vii) For fencing; a part from using brick walls which may be expensive, timber fencing
can also be used but they should be the type that can resist bushfires and disallow
spread to other areas
(viii) The joints are to be such that minimal gaps would result. Currently, as the joints are
done, there is a greater risk of fire spread due to unnecessarily high number of gaps.
(ix) The sheet roofs, as checked in the design, complies with some of the provisions
however: The parts and accessories must be made of materials that do not easily catch
fire since some level of fire resistance is key
(x) At the junction of the roof and wall, there has to be seals done to prevent gaps that
compromise fire resilience of the building; normally the embers can easily jump into
the interiors courtesy of these gaps. However, room ventilation must not be affected
by this. The engineer or designer will have to establish a realistic balance between
these two. Notably, from the technical building design, it is clear that fascia and eaves
lining have been used to cushion against the mentioned bush fire.
(xi) Additionally, roof ventilation for both gable and vents must be fitted with ember
guards and they are to be non-combustible
(xii) The assessment also envisages the use of solar collectors. Therefore, for that case,
gaps must completely be sealed
4-Water and utility services
This is to be provided in plenty so to ensure during firefighting situation, fire is brought under
effective control. The pool water can be used as a last option hence this should be included in the
plans for bushfire mitigation (Standards Australia ,2009).
5-Landscaping
Th type, construction, location and maintenance of the same are considered in this case. From the
layout plans, seemingly, the building is to be seated in a gently sloping landscape. This will
allow proper drainage and minimize the amount of earthwork as an initial preparation for the
foundational seating area is reduced in scope (BOM, 2010). Therefore, in a nutshell, landscaping
be done to support the following:

(i) Prevention of flame interference on both interiors and exteriors
(ii) Significant reduction in fire spread
(iii) Filtering of the embers such that they are dispersed elsewhere away from the
building. In fact, design must be such that accidental jumps of embers onto dwelling are
resisted and adequate distancing between dwelling and vegetation cover is to be
encouraged.
(iv)Orientation of building will have to follow the common direction of wind relative to
bush/vegetation cover
(v) Wind breaking capability of the nearby trees. The ecological relations between the
dwelling and the nearby trees must be cordial and organic. Rather than trees to catalyze
the fire spread, they can be used as powerful wind breaks to minimize the spread of fires
to other areas. Therefore, this can be incorporated smoothly
(vi)Branch overhung must be minimized regardless of how far they are from the dwelling.
Regular pruning and pollarding be encouraged.
Figure 3: Vegetation cover

5. LAYOUT OPTIONS
There are a number of layout options that are presented; out of which the best that fits the
building category and client’s requirements should be selected. In the given plans space
utilization seems to be a top priority. Actually, space economy must be a key issue worth
considering in the design. From, the layout plans, the trees to be planted are designated towards
one end of the building premise. This is encouraging so that risk of fire spread is minimized.
Therefore, as a precaution, the boundary between the dwelling and the trees must be well
maintained (RFS, 2012). Additionally, trees that are to be planted at the front side of the
dwelling must be spaced correctly and limited to a number that may not wreak havoc should fire
break out unexpectedly.
6. OTHER PLANNING MATTERS
Vegetation management
The nearby vegetation cover must be such that it is 10m away from the house from all rounds.
According to the information provided, the actual distance is 100m. Admittedly, this is very safe;
however, still precautionary measures must be instituted. This includes managing the growth of
the bush; collecting the fallen leaves on a regular basis among others.
Other environmental values
There is need to inculcate values such as harmonized ecosystem where the nearby vegetation
cover can play a major role in the entire ecosystem. Such benefits as purifying the air that is to be
supplied to the dwelling are to be encouraged from this.
Riparian protection
The natural waterways must be maintained and accommodated in the plans.

Figure 4: Landscaping
7. CONCLUSION
In summary, it can ostensibly be confirmed that the building design (presented for renovation)
has satisfactorily complied with the majority of the provisions. Besides, it should be noted that
implementing these provisions is only one step towards ensuring that the bushfire resistance and
resilience of the building is improved tremendously. This must come along with proper
management of the building and its premises especially in more bush-fire prone areas.
Admittedly, the most effective management strategy is to isolate the fire hazards that are present
in the building and its surrounding. Now, it should also be noted that there is no universal
method to mitigate bushfire owing to its uncertainty. However, the above-mentioned provisions
and recommendations are best suited for the given case. There is normally a slight difference in
implementation of the bushfire protection measures between existing and new buildings. The
former can happen in a continuous fashion but the latter will have to be established first with
partial conformance to the set requirements as far as bush-fire risk management is concerned.
8. RECOMMENDATION
However, it is being recommended that the few areas that need improvement must be actualized
before the renovations can be done. Therefore, the following measures can be pursued further:
(i) Proper hazard management plan need to be tailor-made for these kinds of building.
The owner and occupants must be trained and guided on how to implement the plan and
it can be composed of the following action points:
-Clear trees that are nearing the house

-Remove fallen leaves from the compound, in the gutters and any other designated area
-If possible, promote planting of low flammability shrubs
-Cut, prune, pollard and coppice where necessary to control growth of vegetation
-Minimize use of wood as fuel especially for room heating; should be last option if need arises
-Regularly conduct walk downs to keenly spotlight the hazardous materials and have a
mitigation program to execute
(ii) Water supply
Adequately provide water to all the strategic points. There should be sufficient water to put out
any fires that may arise any time of the day. Therefore, minimum water capacity must be derived
from the daily usage both in peak hours and off-peak
(ii) Access to the building
This must be reviewed from time to time to ensure obstacles are cleared for smooth exit and
entry into the building. However, security must be maintained as well.

APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Bush fire hazard management.
Identifying the Bush Fire Risk (Excerpt from:
https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/waemergencyandriskmanagement/obrm/Documents/OBRM-
Guidelines-for-Preparing-a-Bushfire-Risk-Management.pdf)
Identifying the level of bush fire risk firstly involved identifying important community assets
considered to be at risk from bush fire in the Northern Rivers BFMC area, and then assessing the
likelihood and consequence ratings.
2.3.1 Assets BFMC members and the community, including RFS volunteers, identified assets
within the Northern Rivers BFMC that they believed were at risk of bush fire. The assets were
divided into four asset types:
• Residential areas including urban bushland interface areas and rural properties; Human
settlement
• Special Fire Protection areas including schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and tourist facilities;
and
• Other human settlement areas including commercial and industrial areas where distinct from
major towns.
• Agricultural; e.g. major silos, regional sale yards, cropping/grazing land; Economic
• Commercial/industrial e.g. major industries, waste treatment plants, sawmills;
• Infrastructure e.g. large power lines, gas and oil pipelines, railway lines, electricity substations,
communication facilities;
• Tourist and recreational e.g. tourist sites and facilities, resorts, retreats;

• Mines; • Commercial forests e.g. pine plantations, eucalypt plantations and commercial native
forests; and • Drinking water catchments.
• Threatened species, populations and ecological communities and Ramras wetlands;
Environmental
• Locally important species and ecological communities, such as species and ecological
communities especially sensitive to fire.
• Aboriginal significance – Aboriginal places and items of significance; Cultural • Non-
indigenous heritage – places and items arising from the early occupation of NSW by European or
other non-indigenous settlers; and
• Other cultural assets – community halls, clubs and recreational facilities. See Appendix 2 for
the full list of assets identified in the Northern Rivers BFMC area. See maps 1-3 for the location
of assets to be treated under this BFRMP. 2.3.2 Assessing the Bush Fire Risk - Consequence
Once the assets were identified, the consequence of a bush fire impacting on these assets was
assessed. See Appendix 2 for the consequence ratings assigned to each asset identified in the
Northern Rivers BFMC area. The different asset types had different assessment processes used to
determine the consequence. These processes are identified below. A potential fire behavior
model using vegetation type, slope and separation distance was used to produce a threat rating
for human settlement assets. The vulnerability of the asset to a bush fire was also assessed and a
rating assigned. These ratings were then used to assess the consequence of a bush fire impacting
upon a human settlement asset.
Human settlement Special Fire Protection (SFP) assets were considered inherently more
vulnerable to bush fire due to mobility capacity, knowledge or other issues relating to their
inhabitants, (e.g. the elderly, infirm, children or tourists) and therefore stricter requirements for
vulnerability assessment and rating were applied. The level of economic impact e.g. local,
regional or state, as well as the economic recovery costs (how long and complicated a financial
recovery will be) of the asset were identified. These ratings were used to assess the consequence
of a bush fire impacting upon an economic asset. Economic Environmental assets with known
minimum fire threshold were assessed to determine if they were at risk of a bush fire within the
5-year life of the BFRMP using fire history data. Those environmental assets which were within
or above the fire threshold were not assessed in the BFRMP, as the negative impact of a fire
within the 5-year period was determined as being low and may even be of benefit to the asset and
surrounding habitat. Environmental The vulnerability of an environmental asset was determined
by its conservation status and its geographic extent (distribution across the landscape).
Vulnerability and potential impact of bush fire were used to assess the consequence of a bush fire
impacting upon an environmental asset.
For non-indigenous historical, Aboriginal and other cultural assets a potential fire behavior
model using fuel load, slope and proximity was used to produce a threat rating. The physical
vulnerability of the asset to a bush fire was also assessed. These ratings were then used to assess
the consequence of a bush fire impacting upon a cultural asset.

Cultural 2.3.3 Assessing the Bush Fire Risk - Likelihood For all asset types the likelihood of a
bush fire occurring was assessed. This involves considering fire history, including ignition cause
and patterns, known fire paths, access, containment potential and potential fire run (size of the
vegetated area). See Appendix 2 for the likelihood ratings assigned to each asset identified in the
Northern Rivers BFMC area. 2.
Identifying the level of risk The consequence and likelihood ratings were then used to identify
the level of risk. See Appendix 2 for the risk ratings assigned to each asset identified in the
Northern Rivers BFMC area.
2.3.5 Evaluating the Bush Fire Risk Once the risk ratings for each asset were identified, they
were evaluated to: a) confirm that risk levels identified in the risk analysis process are
appropriate and reflect the relative seriousness of the bush fire risk; b) identify which assets
require treatments; and c) identify treatment priorities.
2.3.6 Prioritizing Treatments No organization has limitless resources to deal with adverse risk. It
is therefore necessary to define priorities. The bush fire risk ratings determined were used to
priorities the risk treatments, i.e. areas of extreme risk were considered first for treatment, then
very high, then high then medium then low. It was also necessary to priorities within the risk
levels i.e. determining which of the high risks was the most serious. This was done on the basis
of the consequence and likelihood ratings.
2.3.7 Risk Acceptability Risks below a certain level were assessed as not requiring treatment
within the life of this Plan. This is due to a combination of risk priority and capacity to undertake
the works. Within the Northern Rivers BFMC area the level of acceptability is high. Some areas
of medium and low risk have also been allocated treatments, however the majority of these assets
are likely to be managed by routine procedures. The implementation of treatments for medium
and low risk assets will only occur if time permits and resources are available.
Appendix 2: Plans and spaces for bush fire construction.
(Excerpt adapted from: Planning and Building in Bush fire Prone areas for Owners and
Builders.2013. Available at: www.fire.tas.gov.au)
Checklist for building in bushfire-prone areas
There is a lot to think about when planning to build anywhere, let alone in a bushfire-prone area.
The following checklist summarizes the key issues for those looking to build in bushfire-prone
areas.
Step 1: Is your land in a bushfire-prone area? (Section 2.1) Talk to an accredited Bushfire Hazard
Assessor or your Council to find out.
Step 2: Do you need a Bushfire Hazard Management Plan? (Sections 2.1 and 2.2) If you are
building or undertaking a major extension in a bushfire-prone area then you will need to consider
bushfire as part of your development. Talk to an accredited Bushfire Hazard Assessor.

Step 3: Where should you site your Building? (Section 2.3) Your decision should incorporate a
variety of factors, not least of which is managing your bushfire hazard. Your accredited Bushfire
Hazard Assessor can help you to best balance siting, construction requirements, and ongoing
maintenance.
Step 4: What are the building requirements? (Section 3) Your building should be designed to the
Bushfire Attack Level specified on the Plan. Your accredited Building Hazard Assessor can
advise you on construction requirements.
Step 5: Move in and Maintain (Section 4) Congratulations! Now that you are living in your new
home, your Bushfire Hazard Management Plan will show you how to maintain your Hazard
Management Area to protect against bushfire.
Step 6: Prepare for Emergency (Section 5) Be prepared for bushfire. Maintain your land, road
access and water supplies. Prepare your Bushfire Survival Plan. Know your Community
Protection Plan and your Nearby Safer Place

REFERENCE
Australian Standard 3959. (2009). Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-prone areas. Council of
Standards.
BCA. (1996). Building Code of Australia. Council of Standards.
TAS. (2010). Bush Fire hazard management. Available at:
http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/userfiles/tym/file/131392_Building_for_Bushfires_web.pdf
RFS. (2012). Plans and Spaces for bush fire Construction. Available at:
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/4691/Hunter-BFRMP.pdf
The Bushfire-Prone Areas Code Planning Directive No. 5. Available at:
http://www.planning.tas.gov.au
TAS. (2017). Planning. Advisory Note 20 Guidance on the Code and how to determine Bushfire-
Prone Areas is available at: http://www.planning.tas.gov.au/library_and_
information/planning_advisory_notes
Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), Department of Planning and Fire and
Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia (FESA) (2010) Planning for Bush Fire
Protection guidelines - edition 2. Published by WAPC & FESA
Cheney P & Sullivan A.(2008). Grassfires, fuel, weather and fire behaviour - second edition.
CSIRO Publishing Collingwood, Australia
Environmental Resources Management Australia (2000) Baldivis Tramway Reserve
Management Plan - Final Report for the City of Rockingham.
Standards Australia (2009) Australian Standard (AS 3959-2009) Construction of buildings in
bushfire-prone areas.
Blanchi, R & Leonard, J (2008) Property Safety - judging structural safety. In ‘Community
Bushfire Safety’. (J. Handmer, eds) CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne
Website 2010. (http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_009194.shtml)