Archicentre
Media Release November 23rd
Fire Resistant Homes Mainstream Housing Market
.. Changing weather patterns and population moves increase risk
Media Enquiries:
Angus Kell, ACT & NSW State Manager, Archicentre Mobile: 0412 565 023
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications Archicentre Mobile: 0417 329 201
The growing urban sprawl surrounding Australia’s capital cities combined with the baby
boomer tree change and sea change phenomena has made fire resistant homes a major part of
Australia’s mainstream housing market Archicentre the building advisory service of the
Australian Institute of Architects said today.
Angus Kell the NSW Manager of Archicentre said, the stark memories of the major fires which swept
through the suburbs of Canberra 2003 and Black Saturday in Victoria last year when 173 people were
killed together with the current fires in South Australia and NSW continues to place a focus on the
importance of life saving fire resistant homes.
Traditionally people have seen fire resistant homes as a regional or rural issue.
The urban sprawl is placing tens of thousands new homes on the fringe of major cities every year often
interfacing with state forests , this situation is being compounded as baby boomers explode regional
populations in coastal and rural bush fire prone areas.
Building fire resistant homes is just plain commonsense and a long term national community safety and
economic strategy which should not be ignored, especially with Climate Change set to increase drought
and bushfires.
” Anyone building a new home or renovating on the urban fringe should ensure fire prevention
standards are included in their design and permit applications.”
Mr Kell said “’Information on fire resistant home design should also become part of
apprenticeship training programs for builders and associated trades such as plumbers,
electricians, carpenters and landscapers in relation to fire resistant plants as a whole of
industry approach “
A well designed sited home including fire prevention measures stands a significantly better chance of
survival especially after the fire has passed.
Archicentre pre-purchase inspections reveal the vast majority of homes built on the urban fringe fail to
have appropriate fire prevention measures built into the design.
These inspections often reveal an excessive build-up of leaves and litter in roof gutters, storage of
timber furniture, wood and other flammable material near the home.
Archicentre has released a Free Bushfire Design on their website
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