BUSHFIRE ATTACK LEVEL

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B ^USHFIRE A ^TTACK L ^EVEL

F ^UTURE D ^WELLINGS FOR

S ^TAGE 9 T ^HE G ^ARDENS AT , M ^EDOWIE NSW 2318

Prepared by:

Firebird ecoSultants Pty Ltd

ABN – 16 105 985 993

PO Box 354

Newcastle NSW 2300 Mob: 0414 465 990 Ph: 02 4910 3939 Fax: 02 4929 2727

Email: [email protected]

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Site Details: Stage 9 The Gardens, Medowie NSW 2318

Prepared by: Sarah Jones B.Env.Sc.,G.Dip.DBPA (Design in Bushfire Prone Areas) Firebird ecoSultants Pty Ltd

ABN – 16 105 985 993

PO Box 354, Newcastle NSW 2300

M: 0414 465 990 Email: [email protected] T: 02 4910 3939 Fax: 02 4929 2727

Prepared for: McCloy Group

Reference No. Medowie – McCloy Group Document

Status & Date:

31^st May 2021

Disclaimer

Not withstanding the precautions adopted within this report, it should always be remembered that bushfires burn under a wide range of conditions. An element of risk, no matter how small always remains, and although the standard is designed to improve the performance of such buildings, there can be no guarantee, because of the variable nature of bushfires, that any one building will withstand bushfire attack on every occasion.

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Bushfire Attack Levels – Stage 9 The Gardens, Medowie NSW 2318 ii

Executive Summary

This report provides an assessment of the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) at Stage 9 The Gardens, Medowie NSW 2318 in accordance with AS3959 (2018) Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas Appendix A - Method 1. This report and mapping are not to be used to place wholesale restrictions on lots reflecting the resulting BAL mapping presented within. Future development of surrounding stages may result in lower BALs than detailed in this report.

This assessment is based on the implementation of a 25m Asset Protection Zone (APZ) between any future dwellings and forest vegetation to the south and east. This APZ will include an 8.5m setback in lots facing the forest to the south (lots 901-906) and east (lots 906-909 and 920-921).

This BAL report has shown that any future dwellings within the site will be able to meet the requirements of both AS3959-2018 and the PBP 2019 (NSW Rural Fire Service NSW).

Sarah Jones

Ecologist / Bushfire Planner

BPAD-A Certified Practitioner (BPD-PA-26512)

B.Env.Sc., G.Dip.DBPA (Design for Bushfire Prone Areas)

Disclaimer:

The BALs as depicted within this report and mapping have been determined by management of vegetation to the east and south where land will be cleared for future stages. It should be noted that conditions may change over time that may result in different BALs for the lots.

Although every care has been taken in the preparation of this BAL Report, Hunter Land Pty Ltd and the author accept no responsibility in errors in this report or damaged resulting from the information. It should be noted that upon lodgement of a Development Application (DA) with Council or Rural Fires Service they may recommend additional construction requirements (BALs).

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Terms & Abbreviations

Abbreviation Meaning

APZ Asset Protection Zone

AS2419 -2005 Australian Standard – Fire Hydrant Installations

AS3959-2018 Australian Standard – Construction of Buildings in Bush Fire Prone Areas

BAL Bushfire Attack Level BCA Building Code of Australia

BPA Bush Fire Prone Area (Also Bushfire Prone Land) BPL Map Bush Fire Prone Land Map

BPMs Bush Fire Protection Measures

EPA Act NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 FFDI Forest Fire Danger Index

FMP Fuel Management Plan

ha hectare

IPA Inner Protection Area

LGA Local Government Area

OPA Outer Protection Area

PBP Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019 PTS Port Stephens Council

RF Act Rural Fires Act 1997 RF Regulation Rural Fires Regulation

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Bushfire Attack Levels – Stage 9 The Gardens, Medowie NSW 2318 iv

C ^ONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Site Particulars 1

2 METHODOLOGY 2

2.1 Vegetation Assessment 2

2.2 Slope Assessment 2

3 SITE ASSESSMENT 3

3.1 Vegetation and Slope Assessment 3

4 BUSHFIRE ATTACK ASSESSMENT 4

4.1 Bushfire Attack Assessment 4

4.2 Determination of Bushfire Attack Levels 4

5 CONCLUSION 10

6 BIBLIOGRAPHY 11

APPENDIX ASALE PLAN A-1

APPENDIX BSUMMARY OF AS3959-2018 CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS B-2 APPENDIX CSECT 7.5 PBP 2019 – ADDITIONAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS C-3

T ^ABLES

Table 3-1: Vegetation & Slope Assessment 3

Table 4-1: Bushfire Attack Level Assessment 4

F ^IGURES

Figure 4-1: BAL Map 9

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1 INTRODUCTION

Firebird ecoSultants Pty Ltd has been engaged by McCloy Group to undertake a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) report for Stage 9 The Gardens, Medowie NSW 2318, hereafter referred to as the “site”. Refer to Appendix A for Sales Plan.

This BAL report assesses the application of Australian Standard AS3959-2018

‘Construction of Buildings on Bushfire Prone Land’ and Appendix 1 of Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019 (PBP, 2019). AS3959 (2018) Appendix A – Method 1 has been used in this assessment.

This report has been prepared to provide guidance to prospective purchasers of what Bushfire Attack Levels (BALs) may be required for future dwellings within the site.

1.1 Site Particulars

Locality: Stage 9 The Gardens, Medowie NSW 2318

LGA: Port Stephens Council

Forest Danger Index: 100

Current Land Use: Approved subdivision

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Bushfire Attack Levels – Stage 9 The Gardens, Medowie NSW 2318 Page 2

2 METHODOLOGY

The Australian Standard for assessing the BAL and providing the detailed requirements for construction has been reviewed and amended with the latest version being adopted for use in bushfire prone areas of NSW in March 2020. This version is titled AS 3959- 2018 ‘Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas’ (standards Australia 2018, was used in this assessment.

In addition, the NSW method of determining the bushfire attack level, found in Appendix 1 of the document ‘Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019’ (NSW Rural Fire Service 2019) has also been reviewed and amended to come into line with the process within AS 3959. Therefore, in NSW the methodology with AS 3959 is to be used to determine the bushfire attack level. AS3959 (2018) Appendix A – Method 1 has been used in this BAL assessment.

2.1 Vegetation Assessment

Vegetation surveys and vegetation mapping carried out on the site has been undertaken as follows:

• Aerial Photograph Interpretation to map vegetation cover and extent.

• Confirmation of the vegetation assemblage typology present via a site inspection.

2.2 Slope Assessment

Slope assessment has been undertaken as follows:

• Aerial Photograph Interpretation in conjunction with analysis of electronic contour maps with a contour interval of 10m.

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3 SITE ASSESSMENT

The following assessment has been undertaken in accordance with the requirements of PBP (RFS, 2019) and AS3959-2018.

3.1 Vegetation and Slope Assessment

An assessment of the slope affecting the bushfire behaviour was undertaken for a distance of 100m from the edge of the lot boundaries in the direction of the bushfire hazard. The slopes leading away from the site have been evaluated to identify both the average slope and by identifying the maximum slope present. These values help determine the level of gradient which will most significantly influence the fire behaviour of the site. Refer to Table 1 for Vegetation and Slope Assessment.

Table 3-1: Vegetation & Slope Assessment Direction

from Site Vegetation Classification Effective Slope North Managed land – Residential Subdivision N/A

East Forest vegetation Upslope

South Forest vegetation Cross-slope

West Managed land – Residential Subdivision N/A

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4 BUSHFIRE ATTACK ASSESSMENT

4.1 Bushfire Attack Assessment

To determine the bush fire attack and required Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) for the proposed subdivision the following steps were followed:

1. Determination of the vegetation types within 100m of the site, as assessed in section 3 of this report.

2. Determination of the distance between the vegetation and future dwellings has been assessed in section 4.2 of this report.

3. Determination of the effective slope as assessed in section 3 of this report.

4. A FFDI of 100 was determined for PTS LGA.

4.2 Determination of Bushfire Attack Levels

The results from the above steps were used to calculate the required BAL in accordance with Method 1 of AS 3959 – 2018.

The results from this bush fire attack assessment are detailed below in Table 4-1–

Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment and Figure 4-1 Bushfire Attack Level Map.

Table 4-1: Bushfire Attack Level Assessment

Number Lot

Vegetation Type within

100m &

Direction from future

dwellings

Effective Slope of Land

(degrees)

Separation Distance

from Identified Vegetation

Bushfire Attack

Level (BAL) Construction Section

901 Forest

vegetation to

the South Cross-slope

24 -< 33 m BAL-29 Sect 3 & 7 of AS3959 and Sect 7.5 of PBP.

45 -< 100 m BAL-12.5 Sect 3 & 5 of AS3959 and Sect 7.5 of PBP.

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Number Lot

100m &

dwellings

(degrees)

Bushfire Attack

902 Forest

vegetation to

903 Forest

vegetation to

904 Forest

vegetation to

905 Forest

vegetation to

906 Forest

vegetation to Cross-slope 24 -< 33 m BAL-29 Sect 3 & 7 of AS3959 and Sect

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Number Lot

100m &

dwellings

(degrees)

Bushfire Attack

the South 7.5 of PBP.

Forest vegetation to

the East Upslope

907

the East Upslope

908 Forest

vegetation to

the East Upslope

909 Forest

vegetation to

the East Upslope 24 -< 33 m BAL-29 Sect 3 & 7 of AS3959 and Sect 7.5 of PBP.

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Number Lot

100m &

dwellings

(degrees)

Bushfire Attack

910 Forest

vegetation to

the South Cross-slope 45 -< 100 m BAL-12.5 Sect 3 & 5 of AS3959 and Sect 7.5 of PBP.

911 Forest

vegetation to

912 Forest

vegetation to

913 Forest

vegetation to

914 Forest

vegetation to

915 Managed Land N/A >100 m BAL-LOW N/A

916 Managed Land N/A >100 m BAL-LOW N/A

917 Forest

vegetation to

the East Upslope

>100 m BAL-LOW N/A

918 Forest

vegetation to

the East Upslope 45 -< 100 m BAL-12.5 Sect 3 & 5 of AS3959 and Sect 7.5 of PBP.

919 Forest

vegetation to

the East Upslope 45 -< 100 m BAL-12.5 Sect 3 & 5 of AS3959 and Sect 7.5 of PBP.

920 Forest

vegetation to

the East Upslope 24 -< 33 m BAL-29 Sect 3 & 7 of AS3959 and Sect 7.5 of PBP.

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Number Lot

100m &

dwellings

(degrees)

Bushfire Attack

921 Forest

vegetation to

the East Upslope

*To Note: The construction requirements for the next lower BAL than that determined for the site may be applied to an elevation of the building where the elevation is not exposed to the source of the bushfire attack. An elevation is deemed to be not exposed to the source of bushfire attack if all the straight lines between that elevation and the source of bushfire attack are obstructed by another part of the building.

However, this does not apply to BAL-12.5.

This report and mapping are not to be used to place wholesale restrictions on lots reflecting the resulting BAL mapping presented within. Building location and design will influence the application of the required BALs. For example, a lot indicated as being affected by BAL-29 may have those facades that are not exposed to the bushfire threat constructed to a lower BAL (i.e. BAL-19), reducing the costs of construction and providing more flexibility in choice of external building materials. Refer to Appendix B for Summary of AS3959-2018 Construction Standards and Appendix C for Additional Building Requirements.

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2 3,4 6 5 1

F I G U R E 4 - 1 : B U S H F I R E A T T A C K L E V E L S ^Legend

Subject Site BAL 29

Disclaimer

The BALS as depicted on this map have been determined by vegetation within 100m of Stage 9 at the time of the assessment in March 2021. It should be noted that conditions may change over time, that may result in different BALs for the site.

Although every care has been taken in the preparation of this map the author accepts no responsibility for any misprints, errors, omissions, inaccuracies in these maps or damages resulting from the use of this information.

Note:

Boundaries are not survey accurate.

Although all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the information shown on this map is up to date and accurate, no guarantee is given that the information portrayed is free from error or omission. Please verify the accuracy of all information prior to use.

Ref No 2835 B

Google

Nearmap

STAGE 9

MEDOWIE ROAD

906

KINGAROY STREET

HILLGROVE STREET MACADAMIA CIRCUIT

907 908

909

904 905 902 903

901

911 910 913 912

914

915 916

917 918 919

920 921

8m 25m 12m

8.5m

8.5m 8.5m

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5 CONCLUSION

This report provides an assessment of the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) in accordance with AS3959-2018 Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas for Stage 9 The Gardens, Medowie NSW 2318. This BAL report assesses the application of Australian Standard AS3959-2018 ‘Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Land’ and Appendix 1 of Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019 (PBP, 2019).

This report and mapping are not to be used to place wholesale restrictions on lots reflecting the resulting BAL mapping presented within. Future development of surrounding stages may result in lower BALs than detailed in this report.

This BAL report has shown that any future dwellings within the site will be able to meet the requirements of both AS3959-2018.

Sarah Jones

Ecologist / Bushfire Planner

FPA BPAD-A Certified Practitioner (BPD-PA-26512) B.Env.Sc. G.Dip.DBPA (Design for Bushfire Prone Areas)

Disclaimer:

The BALs as depicted within this report and mapping have been determined by vegetation within 100m of Stage 9 at the time of the assessment April 2021. It should be noted that conditions may change over time that may result in different BALs for the lots.

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6 BIBLIOGRAPHY

NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) 2019. Planning for Bushfire Protection: A guide for Councils, Planners, Fire Authorities, Developers and Home Owners. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Standards Australia. 2018. Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone Ares, AS3959, Fourth Edition 2018, Standards Australia International Ltd Sydney

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Bushfire Attack Levels – Stage 9 The Gardens, Medowie NSW 2318 Page A-1

APPENDIX A SALE PLAN

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ROAD 01 ROAD 02

ROAD 05

ROAD 06

ROAD 04

ROAD 03

ROAD 02 ROAD 02 ROAD 02

ROAD 02

104 105

117

112 114 108 111

106

116 115

124

103

102

110 113 109

107

101 121 120

123 122 119 118

Quality Basin

Water

ROAD 02

FUTURE

20

0 40 80 120 160 200 metres

SCALE 1:2000 @ A1 SCALE 1:4000 @ A3

LEGEND

- FUTURE SUBDIVISION STAGES

- LIMIT OF WORKS

STAGE 9

EXISTING

- EXISTING SUBDIVISION STAGES

OVERALL LAYOUT PLAN

A ISSUED FOR CLIENT REVIEW

B ISSUED FOR APPOVAL 27.08.20 JER GPC

C ISSUED FOR APPOVAL 24.11.20 JER GPC

P:\NSW20\NSW201140\Drawings\CIV\Drawings\NSW201140-C902.01.dwg

North

Project Drawing Title

This drawing has been assigned an electronic code that signifies the drawing has been checked and approved by:

THE GARDENS SUBDIVISION, MEDOWIE STAGE 9

Drawn Date Scale A1 Q.A. Check Date

FOR APPROVAL

Client

McCLOY PROJECT

MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

It must not be used, modified, reproduced or copied wholly or in part without written permission from ACOR Consultants Pty Ltd.

C

ACOR Consultants Pty Ltd

Level 1, 54 Union Street Cooks Hill, Newcastle NSW 2300 T +61 2 4926 4811

PORT STEPHENS COUNCIL This APPROVED Plan Relates

to

CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATE 10-2018-733-4

and is subject to the advice attached to the Certificate

4 December 2020

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OF WORKS CH428.000 CH435.000

CH450.000

CH465.000

CH480.000 CH495.000 CH510.000 CH525.000

CH47.000 LIMIT OF WORKS CH60.000 CH75.000 CH90.000 CH105.000 CH120.000 CH135.000 LIMIT OF WORKS

S9 S8 S7 S6 S5

N8 N7

P1

N6

A20 A21

A22

X6 X5

Z1 A23

A24 J18

Y1

GPT1

HILLGROVE STREET

RK&G

LINE S

MACADAMIA CIRCUIT

RK&G

RK&G RK&G

LINE J

LINE Y

LINE Z

LINE X LINE A

LINE A

LINE N LINE P

CH540.000 LIMIT OF WORKS CH555.000

CH70.000

CH80.000

CH90.000

CH100.000

CH110.000 CH120.000

CH130.000 CH135.231

CH0.000

CH10.000

CH20.000

CH30.000

CH40.000

CH50.000 CH38.191

CH40.000

CH45.543 CH50.000

CH60.000

CH70.000

CH80.000 CH90.000 CH100.000 CH105.604

CH86.000 LIMIT OF WORKS

CH47.000 LIMIT OF WORKS CH45.000

CH30.000

CH15.000 CH75.000 CH60.000 CH45.000

CH30.000

CH15.000

CH405.000

CH420.000

T OF WORKS CH428.000

HILLGROVE STREET

MACADAMIA CIRCUIT

LIMIT OF WORKS CH555.000 CH570.000 CH585.000 CH600.000 CH615.000 CH630.000 CH645.000 CH660.000

CH675.000

CH690.000 CH705.000 CH720.000 CH735.000 CH750.000 CH765.000 CH780.000 CH795.000

LIMIT OF WORKS CH810.000

CH252.101

CH135.000 LIMIT OF WORKS CH150.000 CH165.000 CH180.000 CH195.000 CH210.000 CH225.000 CH240.096

816 221

817 222

818 223

819 821 820 814

822 815

220

813 921 811

920 912 911 913

804

720 809 808

806 807 219

716 717

803 217

218

214

909 710 901 904

906 707 708 709

216

212 706 213

704 703

718 719

917 916 918 919

801 802

702 701

705 902 903 905

907 908

914 910

711 713 712

715 714

810 812

215

805

915 X3 X2

X5 X4

S4 S3 S2 S1

AA1

AA2

AA3

AA4

N6 N5

N4 N3 N2

RK&G

LINE N

RK&G

RK&G RK&G

LINE N

LINE S

LINE X

LINE AA

Z1 X1

CH742.884 CH766.845

LINE X

16.0 17.0 17.0

17.0 18.0

18.0

18.0 18.0 19.0

19.0 19.0

19.0 20.0 20.0

20.0 20.0

21.0 21.0

22.0

26.0

27.0

5

0 10 20 30 40 50 metres

SCALE 1:500 @ A1 SCALE 1:1000 @ A3

(A) - 1.5m WIDE EASEMENT TO DRAIN WATER CONSTRUCT TEMPORARY TURNING HEAD. MIN

RADIUS 12m 200mm BASECOURSE WITH A 2 COAT SEAL. BATTER TO EXISTING AT 1V:4H.

CHEVRONS TO BE PROVIDED AT LIMIT OF WORKS. REFER TO C908.02 FOR DETAILS

(A)

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT PLAN

JER BG

AUG 2020 1:500 GPC 29.10.20

C903.01 C

A ISSUED FOR CLIENT REVIEW 07.08.20 JER GPC

B ISSUED FOR APPOVAL 27.08.20 JER GPC

C ISSUED FOR APPOVAL 24.11.20 JER GPC

REMOVE TRAFFICABLE LID AND FINALISE PIT CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCT CUT OFF DRAIN TO DIVERT EXISTING EXTERNAL UNDEVELOPED CATCHMENT AROUND DEVELOPMENT REFER C901.04 FOR SWALE 2 DETAILS.

REMOVE EXISTING TURNING HEAD MAKE SMOOTH CONNECTION

TO STAGE 7 WORKS

P:\NSW20\NSW201140\Drawings\CIV\Drawings\NSW201140-C903.01.dwgNov 24, 2020 - 5:02pm North

Project Drawing Title

-1 0 1cm at full size 10cm

Issue Description Date Drawn Approved

20cm

This drawing has been assigned an electronic code that signifies the drawing has been checked and approved by:

688 - 730 MEDOWIE ROAD, MEDOWIE

THE GARDENS SUBDIVISION, MEDOWIE STAGE 9

Project No.

Designed

Drawn Date Scale Q.A. Check

Dwg. No.

Date

Issue A1

NSW201140

ENGINEERS MANAGERS INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNERS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

FOR APPROVAL

Client

McCLOY PROJECT

PHONE : 02 4945 7500

DANGAR, NSW 2309 PO BOX 2214

FAX : 02 4929 6472

MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

It must not be used, modified, reproduced or copied wholly or in part without written permission from ACOR Consultants Pty Ltd.

C

ACOR Consultants Pty Ltd

Level 1, 54 Union Street Cooks Hill, Newcastle NSW 2300 T +61 2 4926 4811

ENGINEERS MANAGERS INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNERS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

(A)

REMOVE TRAFFICABLE LID AND FINALISE PIT CONSTRUCTION REMOVE TRAFFICABLE LID AND

FINALISE PIT CONSTRUCTION

MAKE SMOOTH CONNECTION TO STAGE 7 WORKS

REMOVE EXISTING TURNING HEAD CONSTRUCT TEMPORARY CUT OFF DRAIN TO DIVERT EXISTING

UPSTREAM UNDEVELOPED CATCHMENT AROUND DEVELOPMENT REFER C901.04 FOR SWALE 1 DETAILS.

KR22

KR21

LOCALLY SHAPE SWALE TO DIVERT STORMWATER INTO INLET PIT.

CONNECT TO EXISTING PIT

CONNECT TO EXISTING STORMWATER LINE

PORT STEPHENS COUNCIL This APPROVED Plan Relates

to

CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATE 10-2018-733-4

and is subject to the advice attached to the Certificate

4 December 2020

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APPENDIX B SUMMARY OF AS3959-2018

CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

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Bushfire Attack Levels – Stage 9 The Gardens, Medowie NSW 2318 Page C-3

APPENDIX C SECT 7.5 PBP 2019 –

ADDITIONAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS

7.5 Additional construction requirements

To ensure the performance criteria for construction standards given in section 7.4 can be met, PBP adopts additional measures over and above AS 3959 and NASH Standard as follows:

• construction measures for ember protection at BAL-12.5 and BAL-19 provided by AS 3959;

• construction measures for development in BAL-FZ; and

• requirements over and above the performance criteria contained within AS 1530.8.1 and AS 1530.8.2 apply in regards to flaming.

7.5.1 Ember protection

Based on the findings from the 2009 Victorian Bush Fires Royal Commission, PBP aims to maintain the safety levels previously provided by AS 3959:1999 in relation to ember protection at lower Bush Fire Attack Levels.

In particular, the areas addressed are in relation to:

• sarking;

• subfloor screening;

• floors;

• verandas, decks, steps, ramps and landings;

• timber support posts and beams; and

• fascias and bargeboards.

7.5.2 NSW State Variations under G5.2(a) (i) and 3.10.5.0(c)(i) of the NCC

Certain provisions of AS 3959 are varied in NSW based on the findings of the Victorian Bush Fires Royal Commission and bush fire industry research.

The following variations to AS 3959 apply in NSW for the purposes of NSW G5.2(a)(i) of Volume One and NSW 3.10.5.0(c)(i) of Volume Two of the NCC;

• clause 3.10 of AS 3959 is deleted and any sarking used for BAL-12.5, BAL-19, BAL-29 or BAL-40 shall:

o be non-combustible; or

o comply with AS/NZS 4200.1, be installed on the outside of the frame and have a flammability index of not more than 5 as determined by AS 1530.2; and

• clause 5.2 and 6.2 of AS 3959 is replaced by clause 7.2 of AS 3959, except that any wall enclosing the subfloor space need only comply with the wall requirements for the respective BAL; and

• clause 5.7 and 6.7 of AS 3959 is replaced by clause 7.7 of AS 3959, except that any wall enclosing the subfloor space need only comply with the wall requirements for the respective BAL; and

• fascias and bargeboards, in BAL-40, shall comply with:

o clause 8.4.1(b) of AS 3959; or o clause 8.6.6 of AS 3959.

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7.5.3 Construction in the flame zone

The flame zone is the area that has significant potential for sustained flame contact during a bush fire. The flame zone is determined by the calculated distance at which the radiant heat of the design fire exceeds 40kW/m².

The NCC references AS 3959 and the NASH Standard. The NSW variation to the NCC excludes both AS 3959 and the NASH Standard as a Deemed to Satisfy solution for buildings that are required to be constructed to BAL-FZ as defined in AS 3959.

Although Chapter 9 of AS 3959 and the NASH Standard has not been adopted, they should still be used as a basis for a performance based solution demonstrating compliance with the performance

requirements of the NCC and PBP for construction in the flame zone.

All flame zone developments should be sited and designed to minimise the risk of bush fire attack. Buildings should be designed and sited in accordance with appropriate siting and design principles to ensure the safest protection from bush fire impacts.

7.5.4 Flaming

Materials that allow flaming can be problematic and are not supported by the NSW RFS for the following reasons:

• flaming materials increase the exposure of other elements of construction and the adjoining structure to flame contact after a bush fire front has passed; and

• flaming materials will potentially increase the exposure of occupants of the building to radiant heat, direct flame contact, smoke after a bush fire front has passed.

This increase in exposure can contribute to the risk of loss of life and compromise the ability of residents to defend their property and egress from the building once the bush fire front has passed.

In addition, it can reduce the ability of occupants to make safe and effective decisions about their safety.

Where there is potential for materials of construction to ignite as a result of bush fire attack, the proposed building solution generally fails the construction performance criteria for residential infill development.

For development which may be subject to flame contact (BAL-40 and BAL-FZ), systems tested in accordance with AS 1530.8.1 and AS 1530.8.2 respectively will be considered, except that there is to be no flaming of the specimen except for:

• window frames that have passed the criteria of AS 1530.8.1 and AS 1530.8.2, may be approved provided their flaming is not considered to compromise the safety of other elements of the building; and

• use of other minor elements which allow flaming may be considered provided they do not compromise the integrity of the fire safety of the building (examples include address numbers, house names, decorative artwork, etc).

Flaming of other more significant elements of the building (such as aesthetic wall cladding) is considered to pose an unacceptable risk and will not be supported.

BUSHFIRE ATTACK LEVEL