Ember Attack

Research by the CSIRO has shown that ember attack — rather than direct flame contact — is responsible for the ignition of the vast majority of homes lost in Australian bushfires. Burning embers can travel up to 30 kilometres ahead of a fire front, landing on and around buildings well before the main fire arrives. These embers accumulate in roof valleys, gutters, against walls, and in any gaps or openings in the building envelope, where they can ignite combustible materials and enter the roof cavity. The Australian Standard for construction in bushfire-prone areas (AS 3959) classifies the level of ember and radiant heat exposure using the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) system, ranging from BAL-LOW to BAL-FML (Flame Zone). Each BAL rating specifies increasingly stringent construction requirements for the roof and all other building elements. At BAL-12.5 and above, roofing requirements include non-combustible roof covering, enclosed eaves with non-combustible soffits, sarking beneath the roof covering, and gutter guards to prevent leaf and ember accumulation. In Gippsland, bushfire risk is a significant concern, with large areas classified as Bushfire Prone under the Victorian planning scheme. The 2009 Black Saturday fires and subsequent events have underscored the importance of bushfire-resistant construction. Town & Country Roofing understands the BAL requirements and ensures all roofing installations in bushfire-prone areas comply with AS 3959 and the relevant local planning provisions.