Being in a bushfire-prone area does not automatically rule out a removal home. It simply means the property, proposed house location and the home itself need to be assessed against the bushfire requirements for that particular site.
Queensland councils and planning authorities use bushfire hazard mapping to identify land that may be exposed to bushfire risk.
If your destination block falls within a mapped bushfire-prone area, additional bushfire requirements may form part of the building approval and certification process.
It is not as simple as measuring a set distance from the nearest trees. The location of the home, surrounding vegetation, slope and other site conditions can all be relevant, which is why the individual property needs to be assessed.
BAL stands for Bushfire Attack Level. It is used to measure the potential level of bushfire exposure a building may experience and helps determine what construction requirements need to be met.
There are six BAL classifications:
As the BAL increases, so does the potential exposure to ember attack, radiant heat and, at the highest level, direct flame contact.
A BAL rating does not necessarily mean a removal home cannot be used on the site.
However, depending on the assessed BAL, the home may need to meet specific bushfire construction requirements once it is relocated.
These requirements can affect areas such as:
Because a removal home is an existing building, some components may need to be upgraded after relocation so the home complies with the requirements for its new location.
The extent of those upgrades will depend on the individual house, the destination block and the BAL assessment. This is why it is important to understand the bushfire requirements before assuming a particular home will be suitable for the property.
Potentially.
A BAL assessment considers the relationship between the proposed building and the surrounding bushfire hazard. This means changing the location of the home on the block, or changing certain site conditions, may affect the result.
Vegetation management may also form part of the assessment, however vegetation clearing is regulated separately.
Do not remove trees or vegetation simply because you believe it may reduce the BAL rating. Speak with the appropriate bushfire assessor, building certifier or council first to understand what can legally and practically be done on the property.
Bushfire requirements are not limited to homes being relocated from another property.
They may also need to be considered when significant building work is being carried out on an existing home located within a bushfire-prone area.
If you are considering raising or repositioning your house, the requirements will depend on the property, the scope of the work and the approvals required.
Every property is different, particularly when bushfire mapping is involved.
Mackay & Sons can assess the relocation side of the project and help determine whether a particular home is a practical option for your site.
Your bushfire assessor, building certifier and relevant council will confirm the bushfire construction and approval requirements that apply to the property.
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Want to understand the full relocation process first? Download the complete guide or browse our other resources.
Local and state planning mapping identifies land affected by bushfire hazard. If your property is in a designated bushfire-prone area, additional assessment or approval requirements may apply. It isn't determined by one simple distance from trees, so check the mapping and requirements for your actual property.
BAL measures a building site's potential exposure to bushfire attack. The six levels are BAL-LOW, BAL-12.5, BAL-19, BAL-29, BAL-40 and BAL-FZ. The assessment helps determine which bushfire construction requirements apply to the building.
The requirements depend on the BAL and the building. They can affect elements such as windows, doors, vents, roofs, wall systems, subfloors, decks and the materials used. A bushfire assessor and building certifier should confirm what applies to a particular removal home and site.
Sometimes the assessed BAL can change if the building location, separation from hazardous vegetation or site conditions change. Vegetation clearing is regulated, so don't remove trees or vegetation simply to try to achieve a lower BAL. Discuss the options with your bushfire assessor, certifier and council first.
