Bushfire Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes
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Steel roof structure Non-combustible insulation Non-combustible foil backed blanket insulation Non-combustible sarking Non-combustible roof sheeting Steel roof battens Non-combustible gutter guard Steel flashing Steel gutter Non-combustible fascia Tight fitting Non-combustible soffit downlights Plasterboard internal linings Non-combustible framed window with either toughened glass OR non-combustible bushfire-rated shutter* Non-combustible external cladding on steel top hat sections Non-combustible plasterboard with overlapping joins 846 Timber internal Min. dimension window to 400mm flooring Non-combustible sarking Non-combustible insulation Steel wall framing Steel floor structure Steel roof sheeting Steel roof structure Plasterboard internal lining Steel fascia Steel ceiling battens Non-combustible soffit Bushfire Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes Concrete slab Masonry blockwork with <2mm acrylic render This guidance provides information about improving the bushfire resilience of new and existing Queensland homes. Interpreter Document details The Queensland Government is committed to Security classification Public providing accessible services to Queenslanders from Date of review of security classification July 2020 all culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. If you have difficulty in understanding this report, Authority QRA you can access the Translating and Interpreting Services via Document status FINAL www.qld.gov.au/languages or by phoning 13 14 50. Version 1.0 Disclaimer QRA Reference MINIGF/14480 The State of Queensland and CSIRO advises that the information contained in this publication comprises general Copyright statements based on scientific research. The reader is advised This publication is protected by the that such information may be incomplete or unable to be Copyright Act 1968.© The State of Queensland (Queensland used in any specific situation. No reliance or actions must, Reconstruction Authority) July 2020. therefore, be made on that information without seeking prior expert professional, scientific and technical advice. While Licence every care has been taken in preparing this publication, the This work is licensed by State of Queensland State of Queensland and the CSIRO accept no responsibility for (Queensland Reconstruction Authority) under decisions or actions taken as a result of any data, information, a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 statement or advice, expressed or implied, contained within. Australia licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Copies You are free to copy, communicate and adapt this Bushfire Copies of this publication are available on our website at Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes, if you www.qra.qld.gov.au. attribute the work as follows. Further copies are available upon request to: Attribution Queensland Reconstruction Authority The Bushfire Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland PO Box 15428 Homes is a joint initiative of the Queensland Government City East, QLD 4002 and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Phone (07) 3008 7200 Organisation (CSIRO). The guideline was developed [email protected] by the bushfire adaptation team (CSIRO Land & Water) www.qra.qld.gov.au Acknowledgements This document was developed in collaboration with a reference group from the following organisations: • Department of Housing and Public Works • Queensland Fire and Emergency Services • Queensland Treasury • Local Government Association of Queensland • Queensland Building and Construction Commission • Livingstone Shire Council • Scenic Rim Regional Council • Dr Ian Weir – Queensland University of Technology In addition, we would like to thank the following organisations for their assistance: • James Davidson Architect • Barracuda Design Bushfire threat. Source: QFES 2 Bushfire Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes 3 Contents Introduction to bushfire resilient homes ...............................................6 Part 1: Bushfire essentials .........................................................................12 Part 2: Bushfire resilient design principles .......................................... 34 Part 3: Bushfire resilient construction ................................................... 70 Part 4: Bushfire resilient materials ......................................................... 92 Part 5: Bushfire resilient landscaping .................................................100 Part 6: Ongoing maintenance ................................................................118 Appendices .................................................................................................127 4 Bushfire Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes 5 Introduction to bushfire resilient homes Bushfire Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes Bushfires are a natural part of the Australian Is this guideline for you? Understanding your bushfire risk Protecting yourself and your family landscape, but they can have devastating For all Queenslanders living in bushfire prone consequences on people and communities. The The guideline was developed to support a state- Understanding how bushfires behave and how areas, it is vitally important to develop a bushfire purpose of this guideline is to help the people of wide effort in mitigating catastrophic impacts from buildings are typically impacted is essential survival plan and implement a routine of building Queensland mitigate these effects. The guideline bushfires, and to provide additional assistance for determining what measures can be taken and landscape maintenance (refer to provides innovative, practical and affordable in developing resilient communities throughout to mitigate bushfire risks. Research has shown Part 6 ). Bushfires are chaotic solutions for adapting homes and gardens to be Queensland. The guideline provides information that house loss is a complex phenomenon Ongoing maintenance and dangerous for even the most experienced more bushfire and heat resistant. for homeowners and the building industry on how that is dependent on a combination of factors, to develop more resilient housing in bushfire prone including fire severity, house design, and the firefighters, and the consequences of failing to Preparing for bushfires is critical to minimising areas. As a best-practice document, and for the type and arrangement of surrounding objects. For respond properly (both before and during the their associated risks. This is especially important benefit of property owners, this guidance goes any bushfire event, it is important to assess the event) may be catastrophic. for Queenslanders living in bushfire prone areas. beyond the official building regulations. potential intensity of the fire and to know how to A bushfire survival plan helps your household Where and how we live and the way we organise respond to the different types of bushfire attack. to make important and potentially life-saving our communities will determine the way we prepare The information presented here is not intended to decisions when threatened by bushfire. A well- and respond to bushfire threats. The guideline replace existing regulations, legislation or expert Information on how bushfires spread, how to thought-out plan will protect the lives of your provides information about bushfire hazards and advice on building in bushfire prone areas. It is identify your own bushfire risk and who to contact family and will assist you in preparing your home to how they interact with buildings and landscapes. still necessary to comply with existing building and for advice is provided in Part 1: Bushfire essentials. urban planning regulations, and follow the advice survive the event. The guideline also describes the various measures Climate change that can be taken to improve the chances of both and guidance provided by fire authorities and A bushfire survival plan must be completed well people and property surviving a bushfire. related agencies. Climate change has led to longer and more ahead of the bushfire season to allow time to intense periods of extreme weather and more prepare yourself, family and home. Each occupant The guideline identifies a suite of best practice Bushfire resilience is multifaceted and requires elevated fire weather days. From a building should read and understand the plan, and a hard building and landscaping measures, using attention at different scales. This guideline perspective, this means an increase in the chance copy version should be kept in case digital systems tailored, site-specific solutions to adapt buildings focuses on determining appropriate measures to increase bushfire resilience at individual property, of bushfire and an increase in the potential severity are not working. for bushfire resilience. The guideline is based on of the bushfire itself. extensive research into the attack mechanisms of neighbourhood and community scales. The plan should step through each decision the bushfires and the different ways that buildings and household needs to make and agree on the steps gardens may be vulnerable to these attacks.1 you will each take in the event of a bushfire. For example, will you stay and defend, or will you leave This document provides guidance to stakeholders early, and if you leave, what will you take with you? that can be used to design and build new homes or retrofit existing buildings. It can also be used To develop and prepare a bushfire survival to design or upgrade the landscape immediately