[27/01/2023]

After three long years of torrential rainfall and severe flooding, El Nino is forecast to return in April.

Returning with it will be the hot and dry conditions that make the Australian landscape so prone to bushfires.

The sad reality is that bushfires in Australia are becoming far more regular and devastating. The terrifying 2019-2020 bushfire season is a testament to this fact, with more than 46 million acres burned and 9,352 buildings destroyed.

Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Ratings

In response to the Black Saturday Bushfires in Victoria in 2009, The Building Code of Australia instituted new standards relating to the use of materials in bushfire prone areas.

Six separate zones or Bushfire Attack Levels (BALs) were created, based on the threat level of bushfire at the point at which a property sits, you can see these below.

BAL Appropriate Windows & Doors

A higher BAL rated window or door may require toughened glass to withstand flying debris and heat, internal metal screens, or in the case of BAL-FZ, exterior shutters.

The best way to ensure that the windows and doors on your home meet BAL ratings is to contact us. Our team of experts will work meticulously with you to ensure that your windows and doors are up to standard and match the appropriate BAL rating for your home.

To determine your home BAL rating, contact your local fire authority or local council.

If you'd like to talk to an expert about windows and doors to match your homes' BAL rating, get in touch with us here. 

You can also view Southern Star Aluminium BAL ratings and Canterbury Timber BAL ratings through our website.