Bushfire Area Standards

GUTTER GUARD & EMBER GUARD MESH AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS: BUILDING IN BUSHFIRE PRONE AREAS.

The AUSTRALIAN STANDARD

ff(AS3959-2009 & AS3959-2009/Amd 2011 Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas) is designed to inform property owners on ways to protect against fire risk in BUSHFIRE prone areas. All properties have a designated BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rating. Basically there are 6 levels of fire rating, the lowest rating (least at risk) being BAL LOW followed by BAL 12.5 / BAL 19 / BAL 29 /BAL 40 / and most at risk BAL FZ (FLAME ZONE). Your local council or bushfire authority should be able to advise the rating of your particular property.

*It should be noted that there are (2) distinct differences in the Aust. Standards when it comes to mesh protection on your property, firstly there is GUTTER GUARD MESH and secondly EMBER PROOF MESH.

“GUTTER GUARD MESH” is predominantly used as a means of preventing leaf debris and vermin from entering your gutters. The Australian Standard requires that Gutter & Valley Leaf Guard in all BAL Zones including LOW /12.5/ 19/29/40/FZ must be “non-combustible”.

* ALL-FLOW ALUMINIUM GUTTER GUARD MESH both EXPANDED AND WOVEN meets these Australian Standards for GUTTER GUARD & VALLEY GUARD.

“EMBERPROOF MESH” is used to protect against embers penetrating external opening in your building such as eaves and roof ventilators, sky lights, vent pipes, under floors and decks. In BAL zones LOW to 29 the amendment requires that any exterior gap greater than 3mm be sealed by a non-combustible mesh or perforated sheet with a maximum aperture ( hole size ) of 2mm to reduce the risk of embers entering the building and causing fire. *ALL-FLOW ALUMINIUM WOVEN MESH meets these Australian Standards for EMBER GUARD. EMBER PROOF MESH used in areas of BAL 40 & FZ shall have a maximum aperture of 2mm and be made of corrosion resistant Steel or Bronze. *ALL-FLOW STAINLESS STEEL WOVEN MESH meets these Australian Standards for EMBER GUARD.

SUMMARY: ALL-FLOW ALUMINIUM GUTTER GUARD MESH in both “EXPANDED & WOVEN” meet all requirements of the Australian Standards for “GUTTER GUARD & VALLEY GUARD” including all BAL Zones from LOW to FZ. Where an “EMBERPROOF MESH” is required ALL-FLOW ALUMINIUM WOVEN MESH meets these requirements in areas BAL LOW/ BAL 12.5/BAL 19/ BAL 29. Where an “EMBERPROOF MESH” is required in areas of BAL 40 & FZ ALL-FLOW STAINLESS STEEL EMBER MESH meets the Australian Standards and should be installed. For further information contact: ALL-FLOW TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD Trading as ALL-FLOW GUTTER GUARD

FREE CALL 1800 033 116 or for TECHNICAL ADVISE email: grahame@allflow.net