Bushfire retrofitting measures: existing and recommended solutions with priority, effort and cost rankings
| Building element | Existing retrofitting measures (case study) | Recommended retrofitting measures based on AS3959:2018 and ongoing maintenance recommendations | Retrofit measures ranking categories | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority | Effort | Cost | |||
| Roof vulnerability | Non-combustible roofing (cases A and B) Replaced the old roof with a new corrugated steel roof (case C) | Repair or replace damaged gutters, gutter shielding, and sarking materials (cases A and B) | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| Consider using additional sprinkler heads in the roof cavity, especially if they contain or are composed of, combustible materials (cases A and B) | High | Moderate | Low | ||
| Clean debris accumulated on roof (all cases) | High | Low | Low | ||
| Gutter maintenance | Closed gutters (cases A, B, and C) | Clean debris accumulated around gutters (all cases) | High | Low | Low |
| Eaves | Sealed eaves (cases A, B, and C) | Seal any gaps (all cases) | High | Low | Low |
| External wall integrity | The extension part constructed using fire resistance timber species comply with AS 3959–2009 (case B) | Seal all gaps larger than 2 mm, protect vents and weepholes using metal mesh Repaint and reapply any fire-retardant treatments to damaged painted external areas (all cases) | High High | Moderate Moderate | Low Moderate |
| Sand and paint any rough sawn timber finishes to prevent embers from igniting the textured surface (all cases) | High | Moderate | Low | ||
| Protect all re-entrant corners (for at least 500 mm in all directions) and bottom of all ground level (at a minimum of 500 mm) using non-combustible materials or class 1 durability timber, with additional flame resisting sarking (cases A and C) | Moderate | High | High | ||
| Window protection | Upgraded dining area windows to double glazing (case A) New windows were installed in 2013 to comply with AS 3959–2009 (case B) | Fill gaps in windows frame using draught seals or close-fitting construction methods (all cases) | High | Moderate | Low |
| Install window shutters | High | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Repair and repaint damaged surfaces and reapply fire-retardant treatments (case C) | High | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Install tight steel mesh and heat-resistant fiberglass fabric with a heat-reflective outer layer on windows for effective ember and heat protection during bushfire season (all cases) | High | Moderate | Low | ||
| Upgrade windows to double glazing (all cases) | Low | High | High | ||
| Door safety | Upgrade to fire-resistance doors (all cases) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Remove any obstacles in the doorway and slippery mats (all cases) | High | Low | Low | ||
| Install tight steel mesh and heat-resistant fiberglass fabric with a heat-reflective outer layer on doors for effective ember and heat protection during bushfire season (all cases) | High | Moderate | Low | ||
| Subfloor protection | Underground area is enclosed (concrete) and has fire-resistant curtain protecting the door (case B)- (Cases A and C have no subfloor area) | No further action is required | |||
| Deck and outdoor area | Constructed using fire resistance timber species comply with AS 3959–2009 (case B) Eucalyptus trees near the shed were also removed (case A) | Use non-combustible materials for deck and outdoor furniture (case C) | High | Moderate | High |
| Remove eucalyptus and overhanging trees close to the house (cases B and C) | High | Moderate | Low | ||
| Sprinkler systems and cameras | Installed an outdoor camera, upgraded Internet, larger water tank with diesel pump, and solar batteries for emergency power, and installed a remote-controlled sprinkler system. (case A) Installed a remote-controlled sprinkler system on the roof (case B) | Consider using additional sprinkler heads to cool down external walls in fire season (all cases) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Defensible space and Asset management zone | Gravel added on west side of the house, flammable plants near house were removed, fire-retardant trees planted, and lawn maintained for safety (case A) Constructed a secondary road at the back of the property for emergency access They have six water tanks as a backup plan for emergency use (case B) | Replace trees along driveway with fire-retardant trees or trim for safety during evacuation (case A) Trim tall trees near the house (cases B and C) | High | High | Moderate |
| Building element | Existing retrofitting measures (case study) | Recommended retrofitting measures based on AS3959:2018 and ongoing maintenance recommendations | Retrofit measures ranking categories | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority | Effort | Cost | |||
| Non-combustible roofing | Repair or replace damaged gutters, gutter shielding, and sarking materials | High | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Consider using additional sprinkler heads in the roof cavity, especially if they contain or are composed of, combustible materials (cases A and B) | High | Moderate | Low | ||
| Clean debris accumulated on roof | High | Low | Low | ||
| Closed gutters | Clean debris accumulated around gutters | High | Low | Low | |
| Sealed eaves | Seal any gaps | High | Low | Low | |
| The extension part constructed using fire resistance timber species comply with AS 3959–2009 | Seal all gaps larger than 2 mm, protect vents and weepholes using metal mesh | High | Moderate | Low | |
| Sand and paint any rough sawn timber finishes to prevent embers from igniting the textured surface | High | Moderate | Low | ||
| Protect all re-entrant corners (for at least 500 mm in all directions) and bottom of all ground level (at a minimum of 500 mm) using non-combustible materials or class 1 durability timber, with additional flame resisting sarking | Moderate | High | High | ||
| Upgraded dining area windows to double glazing | Fill gaps in windows frame using draught seals or close-fitting construction methods | High | Moderate | Low | |
| Install window shutters | High | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Repair and repaint damaged surfaces and reapply fire-retardant treatments | High | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Install tight steel mesh and heat-resistant fiberglass fabric with a heat-reflective outer layer on windows for effective ember and heat protection during bushfire season | High | Moderate | Low | ||
| Upgrade windows to double glazing | Low | High | High | ||
| Upgrade to fire-resistance doors | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Remove any obstacles in the doorway and slippery mats | High | Low | Low | ||
| Install tight steel mesh and heat-resistant fiberglass fabric with a heat-reflective outer layer on doors for effective ember and heat protection during bushfire season | High | Moderate | Low | ||
| Underground area is enclosed (concrete) and has fire-resistant curtain protecting the door | No further action is required | ||||
| Constructed using fire resistance timber species comply with AS 3959–2009 | Use non-combustible materials for deck and outdoor furniture | High | Moderate | High | |
| Remove eucalyptus and overhanging trees close to the house | High | Moderate | Low | ||
| Installed an outdoor camera, upgraded Internet, larger water tank with diesel pump, and solar batteries for emergency power, and installed a remote-controlled sprinkler system. | Consider using additional sprinkler heads to cool down external walls in fire season | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Gravel added on west side of the house, flammable plants near house were removed, fire-retardant trees planted, and lawn maintained for safety | Replace trees along driveway with fire-retardant trees or trim for safety during evacuation (case A) | High | High | Moderate | |
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