Victorian Bushfires
Victorian Bushfires
On 9 February 2009, bushfires swept across Victoria, devastating 78 communities and 400,000 hectares of land. A total of 173 people lost their lives. The devastation resulted in 2029 homes destroyed, along with hundreds of businesses, five schools and kindergartens, three sporting clubs, and numerous other buildings.
Persons affected by the bushfires are able to stay up-to-date with recovery and rebuilding updates through the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction & Recovery Authority’s website, located at www.wewillrebuild.vic.gov.au , or via a central telephone number 1800 240 667.
The information contained in this section is relevant for bushfire-affected persons and/or BDAV Members assisting such persons to re-establish their properties.
BDAV Volunteers
BDAV Members quickly rallied together when the enormity of the bushfires became known. The BDAV has compiled a list of Members prepared to assist bushfire affected persons who lost their homes. Such Members are either donating their time pro bono to provide design/drafting services, or are helping their peers with office facilities and/or equipment while they re-establish their business as a result of the bushfires. To gain an understanding of how the BDAV is assisting bushfire-affected persons, CLICK HERE.
If you are a BDAV Member who wishes to be added to the BDAV volunteer list, please email the BDAV at info@bdav.org.au
BDAV Participates in Industry Roundtables
The BDAV has participated in several Built Environment Bushfire Support Roundtables convened by the Victorian Government since the 'Black Saturday' bushfires. A number of projects are being co-ordinated under the Victorian Built Environment Bushfire Volunteer Program, which deals with resident advice, designing a house, audits and repairs to damaged homes, small-community based building projects, fencing, and land surveying.
New Bushfire Standard
The Australian Building Codes Board has adopted the new national bushfire standard for residential buildings, which replaces the 1999 Standard referenced in the BCA. The new Standard, AS3959-2009, Construction in bushfire-prone areas, takes a risk management approach and aligns construction requirements more closely to the assessed level of bushfire exposure for new building work. It includes improved ways to assess fire fuel loads, and revised ways to make the outside of houses resistant to ember, heat and flame attack. The Standard is available for purchase from SAI Global.
Building in Victoria after the Bushfires
The new residential building standard, combined with new planning measures, came into effect on 6 March 2009 as an amendment to the Victorian Building Regulations 2006. In response to the Victorian bushfires, the Victorian Government has introduced a new residential building standard. This means people can rebuild their homes and communities without compromising safety. A copy of a publication titled A Guide to Building in Victoria After the Bushfires is available by CLICKING HERE
The Building Commission has also published an interim Practice Note for the industry, which deals with Building Controls for Bushfire Safety.
New Industry Generic BAL Assessment Form
In consultation with the Victorian Municipal Building Surveyor's Group and the Australian Institute of Building Surveyor's, the Building Commission has developed a BAL Assessment Form . A properly completed BAL Assessment Form will contain the appropriate information for the purposes of an application for a building permit. All aspects of the Assessment Form should be fully completed. The Relevant Building Surveyor may still wish to confirm the appropriateness of the assessment.
Installation of Bushfire Bunkers
In the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires, some Victorians may be considering buying and installing bushfire bunkers. Fire 'bunkers', 'refuges' or 'shelters' are NOT covered by any Australian Standard nor recognised by the Building Code of Australia. There are currently no technical standards for the manufacture of bunkers. There is an Australian Standard for construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas that is adopted in the Building Code of Australia; however this only applies to new residential buildings built throughout Victoria. If you are considering purchasing or installing a bunker, you should seek professional advice from a suitably qualified fire engineer. The Building Commission has issued a Community Information Sheet summarising the current position related to bunkers.
Guide to Windows & Doors
The Australian Window Association has published a guide to windows and doors in bushfire prone areas. To download the guide, CLICK HERE.
Further Information
For more up-to-date information about the bushfires and related matters, visit the Building Commission’s website.
