As bushfire seasons become increasingly severe in South East Queensland (SEQ), homeowners in high-risk areas must prioritise safety upgrades to protect their properties. One often overlooked but critical aspect of bushfire safety is the garage door. As a large, potentially vulnerable entry point, garage doors can play a significant role in a home’s resilience against bushfire damage. In this blog post, we’ll explore essential bushfire safety upgrades for garage doors in high-risk SEQ areas.
Understanding Bushfire Attack Levels (BAL)
Before implementing garage door safety upgrades, it’s crucial to understand your property’s Bushfire Attack Level (BAL). The BAL is a measure of the potential intensity of a bushfire attack on a building, based on factors such as the region’s fire danger index, vegetation type, and proximity to bushland. The BAL ratings are as follows:
- BAL-Low: Low risk of bushfire attack
- BAL-12.5: Ember attack
- BAL-19: Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris
- BAL-29: Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris, as well as increased radiant heat
- BAL-40: Increasing levels of ember attack, burning debris, and radiant heat, as well as potential exposure to flames
- BAL-FZ: Direct exposure to flames, radiant heat, and ember attack
Understanding your property’s BAL rating will help you determine the appropriate garage door safety upgrades required to mitigate bushfire risk.
Upgrading to bushfire-resistant garage doors
One of the most effective ways to enhance your garage’s bushfire safety is to upgrade to a bushfire-resistant garage door. These doors are specifically designed and tested to withstand the intense heat, flames, and ember attacks associated with bushfires. Key features of bushfire-resistant garage doors include:
- Non-combustible materials: Bushfire-resistant garage doors are made from non-combustible materials such as steel, aluminium, or fibre cement, which do not ignite or contribute to the spread of fire.
- Tight seals: These doors feature tight-fitting seals around the perimeter to prevent the entry of embers and burning debris, which can ignite combustible materials inside the garage.
- Insulation: Some bushfire-resistant garage doors include fire-rated insulation to further enhance their thermal resistance and protect against radiant heat.
When selecting a bushfire-resistant garage door, ensure that it meets the Australian Standard AS3959-2009 for construction in bushfire-prone areas and is appropriate for your property’s BAL rating.
Ember-proofing existing garage doors
If replacing your garage door with a bushfire-resistant model is not feasible, you can still improve its bushfire safety by ember-proofing your existing door. Embers are a significant threat during bushfires, as they can travel long distances and ignite combustible materials. To ember-proof your garage door:
- Seal gaps: Install weather stripping or brush seals around the perimeter of the door to prevent embers from entering the garage.
- Cover vents: If your garage door has vents, cover them with fine, non-combustible mesh screens to keep embers out while allowing for ventilation.
- Maintain the door: Regularly inspect and maintain your garage door to ensure it closes securely and has no gaps or damage that could allow embers to enter.
By ember-proofing your existing garage door, you can significantly reduce the risk of bushfire damage to your home.
Conclusion
Enhancing your garage door’s bushfire safety is crucial for protecting your SEQ home in high-risk areas. Understand your BAL rating, upgrade to a bushfire-resistant door or ember-proof your existing one. Consult professionals experienced in bushfire safety upgrades to ensure compliance with necessary standards. Stay prepared and proactive against the increasing bushfire threat in SEQ.
