In accordance with the Australian Standard AS 3959-2009 construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas, the bushfire risk for a particular building is defined in terms of its Bushfire Attack Level (BAL). The standard stipulates six possible BALS, ranging from low-risk BAL-LOW to very high-risk BAL-FZ (Flame Zone). While bushfire protection requirements for the lower five BAL categories range from ember protection to the use of non-combustible materials, BAL-FZ requires a 30-minute fire rating of the building envelope elements and sub-floor structure. Knauf offers a range of fire rated solutions that satisfy the requirements for BAL-FZ.
Solutions
External Walls Protection
OutRwall® fire rated external wall systems provide a lightweight alternative to concrete or masonry construction. The Fireclad® fire rated external wall system is also available for the protection of sheds, warehouses, and industrial buildings.
Separating Walls Protection
Knauf Partiwall® is a lightweight fire-rated separating wall system for attached dwellings. Partiwall® provides a cost-effective alternative to concrete and masonry construction and can be used for separating garages from living areas.
Sub-Floor Protection
Knauf offers a number of fire rated floor/ ceiling systems suitable for protecting exposed floors in bushfire prone zones. Refer to the Bushfire Protection brochure for more information.