Over the next few days, the State Government is to release state-wide maps clearly identifying which areas of Western Australia are prone to bushfires meaning that any new property constructed in these zones must comply with strict building regulations to lower the level of risk should the area be subject to a bushfire.
The new building legislation calls for tighter regulations on flooring, roofing and glazing with building surveyors being called in to make a professional assessment of any building plans before construction can begin. This has raised concerns for many developers and individuals who wish to build in the bushfire prone zones as engaging the services of a surveyor and putting in place any recommended preventative measures to protect the property against bushfire damage is most certainly going to be a costly exercise.
Those planning to build a new home, particularly those close to pockets of bushland in urban areas, must seek professional advice and have surveyors undertake bushfire attack level assessments to look at factors such as the type of bush and typography to determine the level of risk of a property. The level of risk identified in the assessment would then trigger the new building standards applied to each new home or residential extension in declared areas.
With Western Australia experiencing devastating fires in Esperance that killed four people and destroyed bumper crops which were ready for harvest, the state and especially those in bushfire prone regions are on high alert as hot and dry weather is set to continue.
Many property owners and developers working on construction sites in bushfire prone zones are
investing in a small fire-fighting unit as the mains water pressure will drop if fire occurs and everyone rushes to access water to control spot fires or burning embers.
In the event of a bushfire, power is also often lost and due to the increase in demand of water. It is strongly advised that an alternative water source be made available in order to help defend against fire. Items such as a 10,000 litre water tank, a powerful pump that does not require mains power and a quality fire hose can help safeguard properties in the event of a bushfire and can help fire fighters in their attempt to suppress the blaze.
A fire-fighting knapsack is an ideal piece of fire-fighting equipment for putting out ember or spot fires. Depending upon the size of the property or public space involved, you could also consider a vehicle mounted fire-fighting unit.
Call 1800 011 000 to discuss the best fire-fighting equipment to help protect property against the threat of fire or click here to view the fire-fighting equipment range from Rapid Spray.