Alternative Technology Assn Forums

1. 

   RuffTuff
   Member

   We are in the process of designing a new home. We are in rural WA.
   We're looking for information around energy efficiency reports and fire rating considerations.

   Energy rating:
   If the new home has no energy consuming heating or cooling (ie; entirely passive), does the design still require an energy report? I ask this because we recently had a shed (class 10a building) that we converted into a public studio (class 9b building) and because we had no airconditioning installed (entirely passive design) an energy report was not required.

   Fire rating requirements:
   The rating of the site is BAL40 from 2 sides and BAL29 on the other 2 sides. I recall reading somewhere (think it was the Australian Standards, but can no longer recall) that if an approved fire bunker is installed (to approved standards) then the house does not need to comply with fire rating requirements. I have contacted two fire bunker manufacturers and had two differing answers. Does anyone have any more information?

   We will be owner-building and will of course take energy consumption and fire rating very seriously but would prefer not to be dictated to by legislation.

   Thanks.

   Posted Sunday 6 Nov 2016 @ 3:37:11 am from IP #
2. 

   dave lawrence
   Member

   ask your local council . in nsw i am unaware of those rules ,but they may be different in your shire .as your council inspector will be signing off on the building ,best to ask him /her . I have the australian standard for bush fire construction and have never seen that clause.In NSW we would engage an independent bush fire consultant who would make the report with stipulations as to exactly what was required.

   Posted Sunday 6 Nov 2016 @ 7:01:55 pm from IP #
3. 

   hapy
   Member

   I have studied the AS3959 standard and also created my own method 2 calculations based on that standard. I didn't want to. My intention, with my own owner-builder plan, was to simply pay an "expert" to do the fire assessment for me. It proved impossible, however, to find a reliable and competent "expert" so I did it myself.
   I recommend you try to minimise the fire rating by establishing a fuel free zone and then a fuel reduced zone around your buildings. It is simpler, cheaper and much safer than trying to build a "fire proof" house within a high fuel loaded area. It is smarter to get rid of the fuel load !
   I'd suggest a fuel free zone of around 15m (if you are able) and then a further 15m of fuel reduced zone before you hit the real fuel loaded area. These distances really depend on your landscape and how determined you are.
   By the way, in all the research I did on the matter I never came across any mention of a fire bunker eliminating the need to comply with the AS3959 standard for the buildings. (It may be a myth).

   Posted Monday 7 Nov 2016 @ 12:40:42 am from IP #

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