Adhere to Construction Requirements with BAL Assessment WA

Posted by savannahnhicks on October 3rd, 2017

A Bushfire Attack Level abbreviated as BAL is a term being used to measure the severity of a building’s potential exposure in order to ember attack, direct flame contact as well as radiant heat. It is basically measured in increments of radiant heat. The BAL assessment WA is the basis of establishing the requirements for construction in order to improve the protection of building elements from the attack of bushfire. The greater the distance from the fire, minimal is the heat flux and hence, lower will be the construction standard.

The BAL assessment WA indicates the following rating:

• BAL Low: This indicates that there is minimal risk to implement specific construction requirements
• BAL 12.5: Ember attack. (BAL 12.5 Construction Requirements)
• BAL 19: This shows the surge in levels of ember attack as well as burning debris ignited by windborne embers, together with increasing heat flux.
• BAL 29: Rise in levels of ember attack and burning debris ignited by windborne embers, together with increasing heat flux.
• BAL 40: Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris ignited by windborne embers, together with increasing heat flux along with the increased likelihood of exposure to flames
• BAL FZ: Direct exposure to flames from fire, along with heat change and ember attack.

If the building is greater than 100 metre from any classified vegetation, then, the BAL rating will more likely be BAL LOW and will not require any special construction requirements. However, BAL 12.5 is applied to the area where there is a risk or have the potential of ember attack that could affect your home.

Before, you decide to build your home, make sure how much prone is the area of fire attack. It is basically determined by assessing BAL. This assessment is generally done either by fire assessor or an engineer. In this circumstances, the BAL assessment cost is essential to determine the estimated cost which generally varies from property to property. The slope of the site, home proximity, type of vegetation as well as Fire danger Index are some of the factors that is required to determine the Bushfire Attack Level.

As soon as you understand the BAL assessment cost, the next step is the planning as well as the designing the building. BAL ratings generally dictate both the construction method as well as material used in bushfire prone areas. The main purpose is generally to prevent the bushfires from destroying building as well as getting fire spread from other areas. Hence, it is important to ensure that both new as well as existing building are constructed according to BAL rating requirements.