HB

HB 3302009
Living in bushre-prone areas
A guide to reducing the threat and
impact of bushfre attack and an
explanation of the basis of AS 3959
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HB 3302009
ISBN 0 7337 9328 2
First published as HB 3302009.



Co-author
_________

Barry Eadie

Barry Eadie is a bushfire consultant and is Managing Director of Barry Eadie Consulting Pty Ltd. Barrys qualifications include:
Fellow, Institute of Fire Engineers, and his Professional Affiliations include Institution of Fire Engineers, Engineers Australias
Society of Fire Safety and Fire Protection Association Australia.
Barrys areas of expertise cover Bush Fire Hazard Management, Fire Safety and Prevention Expert Witness (Land and
Environment Court) and risk assessment.
Barry was responsible for the fire safety of buildings throughout NSW and, as an operational firefighter, attended many
bushfires.
Barry was a part time lecturer with the Sydney Institute of Technology for the Fire Technology Course and lectured in several
subjects including Bushfires and Fire Services.
Barry is a past Independent Chair of Standards Australias Technical Committee FP-020, Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-
prone Areas, the committee responsible for developing Australian Standard AS 3959.

Barry appeared as a witness before the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.

Co-author

Charlie Herbert

Charlie Herbert spent over 40 years in the Timber Inspection Branch of Forests NSW (formerly the Forestry Commission of
NSW). He was the Chief Timber Inspector for the 25 years prior to his retirement in 2006.
Charlie is a member of a number of timber-related Standards Australias Technical Committees.
Charlie is a member of Standards Australias Technical Committee FP-020, Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-prone Areas,
the committee responsible for developing Australian Standard AS 3959.

Design, production and Co-author
________

David Michel, GI Fire E; AAII; MAIRM

David Michel is Project Manager at Standards Australia and Secretary to a number of Technical Committees, including Fire
Maintenance, Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems, Fire Pumpsets and Water Tanks, Fire Safety and Bushfires and is the
Executive Officer of the Fire Standards Coordination Group.
Cover

Cover illustration shows a bushland setting that could be either a proposed building site or adjacent to an existing property.
Copyright

Standards Australia Limited

All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written
permission of the publisher.
Published by Standards Australia Limited, GPO Box 476, Sydney NSW 2001
Phone: 02 9237 6000
Fax: 02 9237 6010
Email: mail@standards.org.au
Internet: www.standards.org.au

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HB 3302009 Living in bushfire-prone areas


Page 1

Abstract
This Handbook was developed by Standards Australia to provide information on a range of
measures to lessen the risk for people living, or planning to live, in a bushfire-prone area. It
provides information on the nature of bushfire and the benefits of considering a range of
opportunities to lessen the risk from bushfire attack. It also provides an explanation of the
basis of Australian Standard

AS 3959, Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas.

Peer review and bushfire committee
While this Handbook has been reviewed by a Peer Review panel for comment prior to
publication, it has not been submitted to Committee FP-020, Construction of Buildings in
Bushfire-prone Areas, for ballot. The content of this Handbook does not necessarily
represent the views of all members of Committee FP-020.
Bushfire risk reduction has been the subject of considerable discussion and debate. Further
suggestions as to how this Handbook may be improved are welcomed and should be
directed to Standards Australia.
Australian Standard AS 3959
This Handbook is advisory in nature and is not intended to be a replacement for AS 3959, or
referenced in legislation, or referenced (wholly or in part) by a regulatory authority as a
prescriptive or deemed to satisfy solution for bushfire risk reduction.
Research
There are many factors and variables involved in measures to reduce the severity of bushfire
attack and, at the time of publication, much of the information is yet to be finalised due to
ongoing research into bushfire risk reduction programs.
Although this Handbook attempts to identify as many bushfire issues and solutions as
possible, it does not provide answers to all questions due to the complexities associated with
bushfire threat and risk reduction. Ongoing research will address unresolved issues
wherever possible.
Legislation and technical content
Legislation relating to construction in a bushfire-prone area may change and readers will
need to consider how this would affect their personal circumstances.
The content of this Handbook is intended for people with a non-technical background and, as
such provides explanations from that perspective.
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HB 3302009 Living in bushfire-prone areas


Page 2

Contents
Introduction ............................................................ 3
Part ABushfire
Chapter 1 A background to bushfireAn introduction to Chapters 2 to 6 .............. 4
Chapter 2 A brief history ........................................................................................ 6
Chapter 3 Bushfire-prone areas ............................................................................. 7
Chapter 4 The nature and stages of bushfire ......................................................... 8
Chapter 5 How bushfires ignite buildings ............................................................. 12
Chapter 6 Bushfire regulations and legislation ..................................................... 19
Part BBuildings and fire systems
Chapter 7 Bushfire risk reductionAn introduction to Chapters 8 to 14 ............... 21
Chapter 8 Design and constructionNew and existing buildings ......................... 22
Chapter 9 Australian Standard AS 3959............................................................... 24
Chapter 10 Siting, landscaping and defendable space ........................................... 30
Chapter 11 UtilitiesWater, gas, electricity and communications........................... 34
Chapter 12 Refuges, bunkers and shelters............................................................. 35
Chapter 13 Contents of the building........................................................................ 37
Chapter 14 Bushfire sprinklers and water spray systems........................................ 39
Part CPeople, actions and interactions
Chapter 15 Residents active measuresAn introduction to Chapters 16 to 19 ..... 41
Chapter 16 Understanding Stay or Go .................................................................. 43
Chapter 17 Fire plans ............................................................................................. 48
Chapter 18 MaintenanceBuilding and vegetation ................................................ 53
Chapter 19 Looking after your pets......................................................................... 56
Appendices
A Terms used in this Handbook .................................................................................... 57
B Facts, fallacies, misconceptions and frequently asked questions ............................... 60
C Overview of typical construction requirements in AS 3959 ......................................... 67
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................ 69
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HB 330-2009, Living in bushfire-prone areas