BAL is a nationwide standard to determine the severity of a building’s potential exposure to ember attack, radiant heat and direct flame contact. It is measured using levels of radiant heat, expressed in kilowatts per square meter. The higher the number, the more severe the potential exposure.
There are six BAL classifications which form part of the Australian Standard for construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas. The classifications indicate the materials you’ll be required to use in your build.
BAL low: Insufficient risk to warrant construction requirements – very low risk
BAL 12.5: Ember attack – low risk
BAL 19: Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris along with exposure to heat flux of up to 19kW/sqm
BAL 29: Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris along with increasing exposure to heat flux of up to 29kW/sqm
BAL 40: Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris along with increasing heat flux of up to 40kW/sqm and increased likelihood of exposure to flames
BAL FZ: Ember attack and direct exposure to flames from the fire front in addition to heat flux of greater than 40kw/sqm
Import information when building in a Bushfire Prone Area
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