BUSHFIRE SEASON

Bushfire season is just around the corner and although we have had average rainfall till August, the prediction for the rest of the year is for reduced rain in some areas of Australia with some areas to experience above average rainfall. However with high grass growth, leaves, twigs, fallen branches and tree bark having been allowed to build up due to some organized bodies and individuals disagreeing to the 10/50 bushfire clearing laws, leaving the authorities accused of being anti-environmental stalling hazard reduction burns in many areas of Australia.

We are in an El Nino with some experts predicting will rise above the previous records for the years 1982 and 1997. We have just had 12 weeks with temperatures above average it looks like and has been predicted for continual spasmodic rain for most of the eastern states for the near future.

OUR SITUATION IS THIS – WE ARE IN EL NINO AND TEMPERATURES THIS SPRING AND SUMMER ARE ON THE RISE WITH THIS EL NINO PREDICTED TO EXCEDE THE PREVIOUS EL NINO’S OF 1982 AND 1987

So expect a super hot summer. Hazard reduction burns are being regressed by some groups so what are we to do.

With El Nino and reduced hazard burns, we need to be vigilant.

What BAL rating are you in – Bal 12.5 attack by embers, Bal 29 attack by radiant heat and burning debris, Bal 40 the possibilities for burning debris and radiant heat levels are significantly increased with the heightened probability of flame contact, FZ – Flame Zone.

Most homes in Australia would be in the category of BAL low however I strongly recommend you ask your council what BAL rating you live in. See our BLOG “Understanding BAL ratings”. This Blog will tell you what you should do to protect yourself, by reducing your fuel load.

OBVIOUSLY IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO FIX SOME ROOF VENTILATORS IN YOUR ROOF TO KEEP YOU COOL IN SUMMER YOU WILL HAVE TO COMPLY TO AUSTRALIAN BUILDING CODE STANDARD AS 3959

Which states – Roof ventilation openings, such as gable and roof vents, shall be fitted with ember guards made of non-combustible material with a mesh or perforated sheet with a maximum aperture of 2mil, made of corrosion-resistant steel or bronze, excluding aluminium.

VENTILATION OPENINGS APERTURE SIZE MAXIMUM 2MIL

This is the crucial part of the Standard 3959 for roof vents, however many roof ventilator companies are claiming that they comply to this Standard when they realistically do not – unless the ventilator is sealed at the opening by mesh with maximum perforations of 2mil, the ventilator will not comply to the Standard. Merely having an ember guard inside the ventilator and having a great part of the outside openly exposed to embers simply does not comply to the Standard.

Smoothline ventilators are the only ventilators that we believe actually comply to Standard 3959 for corrugated colorbond roofs for ember attack.