A strategy is a collection of actions that if implemented together, can reduce the risk of damage during a weather event or crisis.
Important areas to check include:
- carports, verandas, patios, and other add-ons
- fire resilient features such as gutter guards, window fire screens/shutters, and sealant
- roof and wall-mounted attachments such as solar panels or air conditioners
- fire suppression equipment such as tanks, pumps, and sprinklers.
- roof cladding and structure including all connections. This prevents damage from strong winds and embers entering the structure.
If necessary, repair or replace any elements that have:
- deteriorated from rot or corrosion
- been exposed to termites
- are faulty or incorrectly installed.
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Actions
Fire retardant coatings can help protect steel, timber, and other substrates. This works by protecting against the heat and flames associated with a bushfire.
You should monitor the condition of any exposed timber surfaces. Decaying timber is vulnerable to bushfire attack. This is because embers may become lodged within gaps and spread fire. These gaps should be sealed and any fire-resistant treatments or coatings need to be reapplied.
You should also monitor painted surfaces for damage. Flaking, cracked, or chipped surfaces can catch fire or spread as embers. They need to be repainted, and fire-retardant treatments reapplied.
Extreme fire weather includes high winds. To avoid ember attack in this weather you must keep your home intact before the fire front arrives. This means making sure embers cannot enter your building envelope.
Embers may be able to enter through lifting tiles or roofing, allowing embers into the roof space. These can then ignite. You should consider tie-down connections for your roof to reduce the likelihood of embers entering your roof.
You must ensure all tie-downs are correct as a failure of one can break the chain of resilience.
Roof sarking is a strong and pliable sheet installed under tiled and metal roofs. It is usually made with a reflective foil layer on one or both sides.
The best time to install sarking is when constructing a home. It needs to be installed directly below the roofing material. It may be possible to install sarking into an existing roof if you are doing major renovations, i.e. retiling a roof. You should replace or repair sarking if it is damaged.
To improve your bushfire resilience, you should use flame-resistant sarking. This can help prevent ember attack and ignition.
Sarking can also improve the effectiveness of your insulation, improving energy efficiency. It can also reduce the risk of mould in your roof cavity, as it acts as a vapour barrier. This can help to manage condensation and prevent water damage.
Sarking can also reduce the amount of dust entering your roof cavity, and can protect from dust, wind and rain during construction.
Leaves and other debris can accumulate in gutters. In a bushfire, embers can ignite this debris. This can burn into adjacent parts of your roof.
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Testing your smoke alarms is critical to ensure the safety of your home and loved ones. If you test your alarms monthly you can be confident that they are in working order. This means you will be promptly alerted in case of a fire.
You should ensure your smoke alarms are appropriately located. They should be positioned somewhere that will quickly wake sleeping individuals. They should also provide early warning in living areas, hallways, and on each level of your home.
Snoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years. You may also need to replace older alarms with interconnected alarms in every room. This is recommended by your state authority.