Bushfire Rated Roller Shutters
Stay safe in Bushfire Prone Areas with FireSafe™ Bushfire Rated Roller Shutters
We all long for Aussie summers – lazy days at the beach and backyard barbies by the pool with family and friends.
But lately, it seems when we think of summer, we think of bushfires.
Not so long-ago catastrophic fire conditions closed holiday spots, workplaces, and schools. Whole country towns were evacuated in the face of “Code Red” fires.
Bush-fire ravished communities are still picking up the pieces. The toll on wildlife and the environment, as well as the economic cost to local businesses and tourism was unprecedented.
Yet the call of the wild and the beauty of the bush still draw many to the dream of living near nature – not only in remote locations but also highly populated bush-suburbs on the fringes of major cities.
The good news is that it is possible to live in bushfire areas and enjoy all the best that the Aussie bush has to offer.
That’s provided you utilise bushfire design principles and materials that comply with bushfire codes and standards, namely the Building Code of Australia and Australian Standard AS3959-2009.
How much you are affected by these codes comes down to something called BAL.
What is BAL?
BAL or the Bushfire Attack Level is a way of measuring a building’s potential exposure to ember attack, radiant heat, and direct flame contact. It’s measured in increments of radiant heat, expressed in kilowatts/m2.
If your home is less than 100 metres from any classified vegetation, you will likely fall into one of six BAL Rating Zones – from BAL Low, right up to BAL FZ, and your home will need to comply with the building code requirements.
You can use the NSW Rural Fire Service’s handy checking tool to find out if you are on bushfire prone land.
The building requirements ensure your home is protected from flying hot embers and radiant heat by architectural features such as:
- Bushfire shutters (to stop embers getting inside the house), on windows and doors, including garage doors.
- Window glazing types and thicknesses.
- Non-combustible roofing material and gutter guards.
- Walls, including the thickness and what they’re made of.
- Whether exposed water and gas pipes need to be made from metal or protected.
Half Price Shutters have a wide range of manual and automated external roller shutters, including their BAL-40 FireSafe™ Bushfire Rated Roller Shutters.
Security with Style
Made in Australia, FireSafe™ Bushfire Rated Roller Shutters form a protective curtain of 36mm extruded aluminium alloy, suitable for all your windows and doors, including large-span garage doors up to 5,800mm wide.
Their stylish double-line grooved and slightly curved slats, look great and have a commercial-grade double-wall profile for heavy-duty strength.
Best of all, the shutters comply with Australian Bushfire Construction Standard AS3959-2009, rated Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) 40.
BAL-40 is one of the highest danger ratings that a property can be given regarding bushfires. It means that the property is under “Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris ignited by windborne embers, together with increasing heat flux and with the increased likelihood of exposure to flames”.
It sounds terrifying, but FireSafe™ Roller Shutters can give you peace of mind. If a fire ever threatens, your windows and doors will be protected from flying debris and shielded from extreme heat radiation up to 40KW/m2.
Your home will be protected from other threats as well, such as violent winter winds, driving rain, hail, and storm debris. Their sturdy construction has also been proven as an effective visual and physical deterrent to unwanted intruders.
Operating the shutters is a breeze. You can control them manually, or even better, have them motorised – you won’t believe how convenient a remote control is until you try it. You’ll like the choice of remotes too.
Roller Shutters not only secure your safety, they also work wonders for your home’s street appeal. The understated aesthetic of their sleek interlocking slats impresses just about everyone. The decor conscious are delighted with the choice of powder-coated architectural finishes. The more practically minded love the shutter’s durability and 5-year product guarantee.
Security with style is possible. Half Price Shutters can show you how, with a free consultation and quote.
If you’d like more information about FireSafe™ Bushfire Rated Roller Shutters or the expertise to help you protect your home in bushfire-prone areas, call the Half Price Shutters team on 13 61 21.