Many people don’t know you can use wood for construction in Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) -rated locations. Woody the Woodbot featured in a new FWPA-funded campaign to raise awareness, improve understanding and encourage people in BAL areas to use wood when building.
There is nothing like the beauty, practicality and environmental advantages of wood – and people building to a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating can still enjoy them.
With appropriate design decisions, attractive timber homes can safely be built using sustainably sourced wood and wood products, both inside and out.
That was the message of FWPA’s new newspaper advertising campaign.
Designing to ‘build out’ bushfires involves minimising the risk of ember, radiant heat and even flame damage.
FWPA’s Wood. Naturally Better.™ website provides a range of resources to help owners, designers and builders enjoy the aesthetic, functional and environmental benefits of wood in BAL locations, while meeting the Australian Standard requirements.
Free resources include:
- A comprehensive design guide, Building with Timber in Bushfire-prone Areas
- A calculator to estimate the BAL of a site
- An expert advice service through which people can seek answers to their bushfire design-related questions.
FWPA’s National Codes & Standards Manager Boris Iskra said: “Understanding what is required for each BAL is actually quite straightforward. In Australia, the Standard AS 3959–2009 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas has the benefit of many years of scientific development and provides an extensive guide to building homes to minimise risk for different levels of bushfire vulnerability.”
