Bushfire risk ratings: what does BAL mean for you?

When you live in the world’s most bushfire-prone country, understanding the risk rating system can help you protect your property

Australia is the most bushfire-prone country in the world – and they are occurring more regularly and becoming more destructive, which means your chances of being caught up in one are increasing, no matter your location. While some areas are recognised as more bushfire-prone, the reality is that almost every place in Australia lives with some degree of bushfire risk. So no matter where you’re living, working or building, you should consider – and prepare for – the possibility of fire.

But just how much bushfire risk does your property face? Factors that contribute to the risk are multiple and variable – from types of nearby plants and unexpected weather to human actions and landscaping choices. It may seem impossible to judge what protective steps to take and how much time, energy and money to invest in them.

That’s where the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating system comes in. A BAL rating provides an estimate of your structure’s bushfire risk, so it’s an important system for property owners, authorities and building trades to understand.

In this article, we’ll explain what BAL really means and why it’s a valuable tool for your property protection decisions.

What are bushfire attack levels?

The BAL rating system is an Australian standard for measuring a property’s potential exposure to a bushfire. It’s documented in Australian Standard AS 3959:2018 Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-prone Areas, which sets out 6 levels of ratings. The higher a material’s BAL rating, the more protection it will provide against increased fire severity.

Importantly, the BAL rating determines the construction and building requirements for protecting properties in bushfire-prone areas. So if you’re building or renovating, you’ll need to know about BAL to be able to meet planning approvals.

Knowing your BAL rating also helps you be real about what you could face down the line – so you can take the right steps to protect your property against bushfire.

It’s important to remember that flames aren’t the only cause of destruction in a bushfire.

• Burning leaves and twigs blown by the wind can form an ember attack far ahead of the fire front.
• Radiant heat – the higher temperatures felt even at a distance – can fracture or melt objects or trigger combustion.

This explains the 6-level approach to the rating system: each level reflects the degree of impact relative to an asset’s proximity to the fire front.

You can purchase a copy of Australian Standard AS 3959:2018 from Standards Australia.

How to get a BAL rating assessment

Firstly, it’s important to get an individual bushfire assessment specifically for your particular property, rather than assume your neighbour’s rating will do. Why? Because of the many variables involved. The risk of bushfire impact is based on a combination of factors, including:

• vegetation – types and moisture of plants
• weather – temperatures, humidity levels, rainfall, wind strength
• terrain – slope, sun exposure
• ignition sources – from lightning strikes to dropped cigarettes to arson.

If you’re wondering how to get a BAL rating, the best answer is to call in a professional. Licensed and accredited bushfire consultants have the specialist knowledge and tools to make an accurate assessment of your property, whether you want to retrofit fire protection or are planning to build. They’ll also be able to advise you on bushfire planning.

In assessing your BAL rating, the consultant will look at several variables, including:

• climate conditions for the area – hot and dry, or cool and moist
• distance to flammable vegetation – the less flammable the landscape, the better
• slopes and hills in the landscape – fire travels faster uphill than downhill
• Australian Fire Danger Rating System

You can find out more about professional bushfire risk rating assessments from Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia), the national peak body for fire safety.

If you’d like to understand more about how BAL ratings are calculated, visit the CSIRO’s Bushfire best practice guide.

Although you’ll find guidance online for making your own assessment, we don’t recommend this option. The result will only be an indication at best, and if you’re building or renovating, you may delay the project while you dig up more information to satisfy planning authorities. And if you’re aiming to meet building codes in a bushfire-prone area, you’ll still need to get a professional assessment.

How BAL ratings affect your bushfire protection strategy

Once you know your property’s BAL rating, what effect will it have on your bushfire protection strategy? The main areas will be materials and price – and these are linked. Different BAL ratings will call for different protective materials, which in turn can influence your construction, renovation or retrofitting costs.

It’s important to realise that your building consists of individual parts made of varying materials, and each one will need its own kind of protective measure. Roofing calls for a different defence strategy to flooring, for example. Windows and doors face different threats than external walls do. Plus, the higher your BAL rating, the more stringent the requirements to meet.

Here are just some examples of fire-protective materials you could fit to your property to meet BAL rating requirements.

Walls:

• protective, intumescent paint such as FIRECOAT Exterior and Interior
• coverings for gaps – ideally, non-combustible

Windows:

• thicker, toughened glass rather than standard thickness
• metal screens instead of open apertures
• metal frames or timber ones painted with fire-resistant paint

Doors:

• BAL-rated doors
• metal screens

Roofs:

• non-combustible steel or tiles
• sarking
• ember guards on gutters
• metal instead of plastic components in gutters and downpipes

Decks and verandahs:

• non-combustible enclosures for open sides
• concrete or BAL-rated composite decking rather than timber

FIRECOAT’s Exterior and Interior undercoat paints are available now through Bunnings in Australia. FIRECOAT Exterior is the only paint in the world to have achieved a BAL-40 rating for fire protection – the second-highest rating possible. Both undercoats are easy and safe to use, environmentally friendly and affordably priced. More fire-resistant coating products are in development and will hit the market as soon as they’re ready.

The cost of bushfire protection

The cost of protecting your structural asset against bushfire might seem off-putting when you see it written down. However, the reality of bushfire risk in Australia means that making your home or property fire-resistant is not a luxury: it’s a necessity.

Knowing your BAL rating and fitting out your property appropriately means that you can:

• comply with building codes
• maximise your peace of mind
• possibly qualify for better insurance premiums
• potentially boost your asset’s value and market appeal, especially in bushfire-prone areas.

If you’re building or renovating, determining your BAL rating early offers even more advantages. It allows you to budget realistically for including the most protective materials, and it affords you time to research all the options and source the best ones. For retrofitting bushfire protection, an early BAL rating will let you plan a staged approach and spread the cost out over time.

Benefit from your BAL rating

While local, state and national authorities work on preventing bushfires, they also support property owners in doing what they can to minimise their own chances of incurring damage and loss. It’s easy to find out more about how to put your BAL rating into action.

• Councils, state governments and emergency services all publish up-to-date information on strategies for defending property against bushfire and reducing the risk.
• Building codes for your area are also a helpful guide, even if you’re not building or renovating – contact your local council.
• Jump online for information from building industry and fire protection associations such as your state’s building authority, FPA Australia and the Rural Fire Service.

In the event of a bushfire approaching, the best recommendation is that you leave your property as soon as possible and follow advice provided by your local firefighting service.

For further guidance and tips on protecting yourself and your property during a bushfire, look up your local Rural Fire Service, Country Fire Authority or equivalent organisation.

Monitor bushfire warnings in your area on the Bureau of Meteorology’s National Warnings Summary.