Fire Resistant Homes Now A Mainstream Housing Issue

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23rd November 2009, 10:00am - Views: 1098





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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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