New building standards to improve resilience to bushfire
The Victorian Government has introduced tough new building standards to help save lives and property in the wake of the devastating Black Saturday bushfires.
Victorian Premier John Brumby has announced the state’s immediate adoption of the Australian standard for design and construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas, which is scheduled to take effect nationally in May next year.
The new Australian standard will apply to all of Victoria, and areas will be defined under six categories of “bushfire attack level”, ranging from low risk to extreme.
The improved standards follow last month’s Victorian bushfires, which claimed 2029 homes in February.
Every new home built in Victoria will undergo an assessment as part of the building permit application process, which will determine the method of construction to be used.
In the most extreme fire risk areas, new homes will be required to be based on a concrete slab, with exterior walls made of non-combustible material such as brick veneer or concrete.
At-risk houses will require sealed wall and roof joints to guard against ember attacks, aluminium shutters or toughened window glass, fire-resistant door frames and metal trimming for vents and downpipes.
The standard will apply to all new homes and outbuildings, rebuilding and repair work.
The cost to the industry in meeting the new standard when rebuilding destroyed homes is likely to be high, but insurers are likely to embrace it.
AAMI spokesman Emma Watts says her company “welcomes any efforts that are being made to disaster-proof the Victorian homes that will be rebuilt in these areas”.
She told insuranceNEWS.com.au the compulsory upgrades are likely to add $11,000-30,000 to the cost of rebuilding the destroyed homes, but the company will absorb the extra cost.
Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) spokesman Jay Gleeson was guarded in his assessment of the measures. He says AFAC voted against the standard based on a concern it was set too low.
“At the moment we’re going through the new standard versus the old standard to see where things stand, and whether the people in Victoria are going to be better off,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.
Victorian Premier John Brumby has announced the state’s immediate adoption of the Australian standard for design and construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas, which is scheduled to take effect nationally in May next year.
The new Australian standard will apply to all of Victoria, and areas will be defined under six categories of “bushfire attack level”, ranging from low risk to extreme.
The improved standards follow last month’s Victorian bushfires, which claimed 2029 homes in February.
Every new home built in Victoria will undergo an assessment as part of the building permit application process, which will determine the method of construction to be used.
In the most extreme fire risk areas, new homes will be required to be based on a concrete slab, with exterior walls made of non-combustible material such as brick veneer or concrete.
At-risk houses will require sealed wall and roof joints to guard against ember attacks, aluminium shutters or toughened window glass, fire-resistant door frames and metal trimming for vents and downpipes.
The standard will apply to all new homes and outbuildings, rebuilding and repair work.
The cost to the industry in meeting the new standard when rebuilding destroyed homes is likely to be high, but insurers are likely to embrace it.
AAMI spokesman Emma Watts says her company “welcomes any efforts that are being made to disaster-proof the Victorian homes that will be rebuilt in these areas”.
She told insuranceNEWS.com.au the compulsory upgrades are likely to add $11,000-30,000 to the cost of rebuilding the destroyed homes, but the company will absorb the extra cost.
Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) spokesman Jay Gleeson was guarded in his assessment of the measures. He says AFAC voted against the standard based on a concern it was set too low.
“At the moment we’re going through the new standard versus the old standard to see where things stand, and whether the people in Victoria are going to be better off,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.