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BUSHFIRE ZONES
OVERVIEW
Building a deck or pergola in the Sutherland Shire, Wollongong and Illawarra regions often means dealing with the everpresent risk of bushfires. When we begin the process of designing your deck, the first step is to conduct a site assessment to determine the hazard level, known as the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL Rating) of your property. The BAL code determines the level of risk and the corresponding material and compliance requirements to ensure the optimum safety of your deck.
There are a wide range of BAL solutions for building materials that are compliant for Bushfire zones, Hardwood timber can still be used in areas up to and including BAL 29 for decking. Going above BAL 29 to BAL40 and BAL-FZ more resistant materials are required along with additional building requirements. Products like James Hardie Deck, cement deck boards provide the best protection.
It’s a council requirement to ensure that your new deck meets your local area Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating, and most importantly, you stand a better chance of protecting your home from bushfire or ember attacks. We have extensive experience in building decks to all BAL levels and can provide all required council certification and approvals.
Why Choose Life Outdoors for Bushfire-Prone Zones?
Expertise in BAL 40 and BAL FZ (Flame Zone)
Our team is well-versed in the unique challenges posed by BAL 40 and BAL FZ zones. We bring expertise in designing and constructing outdoor structures that prioritize safety without sacrificing style.
Compliance and Certification
Life Outdoors adheres to all relevant safety standards and regulations for building in bushfire-prone areas. Our projects undergo rigorous assessments to ensure compliance and receive the necessary certifications.
Local Support
Throughout the design and construction process, our dedicated support team is here to address any questions or concerns. We prioritize open communication to ensure your peace of mind as we create your outdoor haven.
Build with Confidence in Bushfire-Prone Zones
Life Outdoors invites you to build with confidence in bushfire-prone zones, trusting our expertise in crafting outdoor structures that prioritize safety without compromising on style. Contact us today to discuss your project and let us bring your vision to life with resilience and beauty. Life Outdoors – Where Safety and Style Coexist in Every Design.
LIFE OUTDOORS, BUILDING RESILIENCE INTO EVERY DESIGN, EVEN IN BUSHFIRE-PRONE ZONES.
Concept Plans
Custom Designs
Approvals (DA/CDC)
Supply & Installation
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Supply
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James Hardie-HardieDeck™
HardieDeck™ decking is deemed non-combustible and can be installed in bushfire areas up to BAL-FZ, so you can still enjoy outdoor living at its best. If you want a deck that is low maintenance and meets your local area Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating with protecting from bushfire or ember attacks, then Hardie Deck is an awesome product.
Hardiedeck offers a range of sleek, attractive decking with contemporary tones. Not only are they certified by CSIRO for use in bushfire zones (BAL-FZ), they can also endure heavy rain and piercing sunrays for years without losing their aesthetic appeal.
Box Span
Boxspan is a solution for BAL Flame Zone (BAL-FZ) areas used for the sub frame construction. It is a roll formed beam manufactured from two “C” shaped sections of high tensile, zinc coated steel, mechanically locked together. It's a light-weight beam with the strength of steel and the versatility of timber.
These beams can substitute timber in many structural applications such as sub-floors and decks frames and can be used in locations rated all the way up to BAL-FZ. Box Span beams provide the benefits of a full protective zinc coating on the inside and outside of the beam.
Australian Hardwood Timber
Most hardwood timbers have natural resistance to bushfires. Merbau, Blackbutt and Spotted Gum can be used on decks up to BAL29. The other sub-structure materials should also be fire-resistant or non-combustible as per the BAL rating.
There are a wide range of fire rated hardwood timbers that are deemed non-combustible and can be used for the subframe construction delivering an all-natural and renewable solution. If you take the time to research and build a deck that meets your local area Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating, you stand a better chance of protecting your home from bushfire or ember attacks.
FlameFix Timber
FLAMEfixx dFx® is impregnated with dFx technology. This patented, industry-leading technology combines a globally approved, durable (d) wood preservative and a proprietary fire-retardant (Fx) into a single working solution. Once the timber is permeated with the dFx® solution, the active ingredients are fixed in the wood for the life span of the timber. The fire-retardant component of FLAMEfixx dFx® is based on inorganic natural ingredients that don’t contain hydrocarbon or carbon. This results in low smoke generation levels during combustion in a bush fire, wildfire or fire situation.
Aluminium Beams
Structural Aluminium beams offer excellent fire resistance to all BAL ratings and have great span capabilities due to the profile and strength capabilities of aluminium. Being made from aluminium also means the beams are lighter and more resistant to corrosion than other metals. Aluminium beams come in a range of sizes and can be powder coated or left in a raw finish.
NewTech Composite Decking
Composite decking board manufacturers are providing solutions that typically meet fire ratings up to BAL-29. There are a variety of sub frame materials can meet BAL requirements between 12.5 to Bal 40, sub framing products like Flame Fix will provide a cost-effective solution to using fabricated metal beams. Once you’re at BAL FZ then a metal sub frame will be needed to achieve maximum fire resistance.