CONSTRUCTION NOTE 1601
TIFIER NOTE
1302
NOTE
REQUIREMENTS FOR BUSHFIRE
PRONE BLOCKS
All Class 1 buildings and Class 10a buildings or decks associated with Class 1 buildings constructed in a
designated bushfire prone area are to provide resistance to bushfires in order to reduce the danger to life
and reduce the risk of the loss of the building.
Please be advised, if you are building on a block that is located in a bushfire prone area that has a Bush Fire
Attack Level (BAL) rating, you are required to build in accordance with Australian Standard (AS) 3959 –
2009.
Building Work
1. Section 42 (1)
Building work must be carried out in accordance with:
 The BCA
 Approved plans
2. If you are building in a Bushfire Prone Area you must comply with AS 3959 – 2009.
3. How to determine if you are building in a Bushfire Prone Area
i.
Refer to Territory Plan
ii.
Refer to Precinct Maps and Codes in Part 10 of the Territory Plan
iii.
Locate relevant Precinct
4. How to determine the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL)
i.
BAL is indicated on the Precint Map
5. If your are unsure, please contact the certifier appointed to your development.
6. Once BAL has been identified, builder must ensure that the all building work complies with the
construction requirements set out in the relevant section of AS 3959 – 2009 – Constructionof buildings
in bushfire prone areas.
7. BCA Volume 2 – Part 2.3 FIRE SAFETY
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT
P2.3.4 Bushfire areas
A class 1 building or a Class 10a building or deck associated with a Class 1 building that is constructed
in a designated bushfire prone area must, to the degree necessary, be designed and constructed to
reduce the risk of ignition from a bushfire, appropriate to the –
a) Potential for ignition caused by burning embers, radiant heat or flame generated by a bushfire;
and
b) Intensity of the bushfire attack on the building.
8. BCA Volume 2 – Part 3.7.4 BUSHFIRE AREAS
A. Acceptable construction manual
3.7.4.0
Performance requirement P2.3.4 is satisfied for –
a) A Class 1 building: or
b) A Class 10a building or deck associated with a Class 1 building, located in a designated bushfire
prone area if it is constructed in accordance with AS 3959 – 2009; or
c) NASH Standard ‘Steel Framed Construction in Bushfire Areas’.
www.act.gov.au/accesscbr
REQUIREMENTS FOR BUSHFIRE PRONE BLOCKS
The process for determining construction requirements covered by AS 3959 – 2009
Further Information | Phone: Access Canberra on 13 22 81 | Email: [email protected] | Web: act.gov.au/accesscbr
Note: This guidance material has been prepared using the best information available to Access Canberra. Any information about legislative obligations or responsibilities
included in this material is only applicable to the circumstances described in the material. You should always check the legislation referred to in this material and make your
own judgement about what action you may need to take to ensure you have complied with the law. Accordingly, Access Canberra extends no warranties as to the suitability
of the information for your specific situation.
www.act.gov.au/accesscbr