BAL Rating

The BAL rating system was developed by the CSIRO and is codified in AS 3959 — Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-Prone Areas. The rating is determined through a site assessment that considers the type and density of surrounding vegetation, the distance from the vegetation to the building, and the effective slope of the land between them. The six BAL classifications are: BAL-LOW (very low risk), BAL-12.5 (ember attack), BAL-19 (increasing ember attack and burning debris), BAL-29 (increasing heat flux), BAL-40 (very high heat flux), and BAL-FML (direct flame contact). For roofing, the BAL rating determines the permitted roofing materials, the requirements for sarking, the type of gutter guard needed, the enclosure of eaves with non-combustible materials, and the sealing of all gaps and penetrations against ember entry. From BAL-12.5 upward, the roof covering must be non-combustible (which rules out timber shingles but permits all standard metal and tile products). From BAL-19, sarking to the underside of the roof covering becomes mandatory, and gutters must be fitted with non-combustible gutter guards. In Gippsland, large areas are designated as Bushfire Prone Area (BPA) under the Victorian planning scheme, requiring BAL assessments for all new construction and major renovations. The 2009 Black Saturday fires, which severely impacted parts of the Latrobe Valley and surrounding areas, led to significant tightening of bushfire construction standards across Victoria. Town & Country Roofing ensures all work in BPA-designated areas complies with the applicable BAL rating requirements.