Ensuring at design stage your property is bushfire safe.

Bushfire is a major challenge for many communities. It has been a natural part of our landscape for thousands of years and remains a present threat.

All developments on land that is designated as bushfire prone have a legal obligation to consider bushfire and meet the requirements of Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2006 and AS3959 – 2009.

Bushfire prone land is land that has been identified as an ‘area of land that can support a bushfire or is likely to bushfire attack’.  Your local council can provide a map of affected properties. Check on your local council website.

For example, within one Sydney Local Council area there are 3 categories of Bushfire prone land:

• Vegetation Category 1: most hazardous vegetation
• Vegetation Category 2: isolated areas of less hazardous vegetation
• Buffer Zone: areas in which development & people are most likely to be affected by bush fire burning in vegetation.

If your property is located in any of these areas or similar, it needs to be addressed at design stage to save changes and additional expense later. Depending on the type of development and the degree of bushfire hazard, varied building setbacks, landscaping and construction requirements may apply.

New development or extensions to an existing dwelling can be achieved in most cases, however, you need to meet the requirements of Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2006 and AS3959 – 2009.

Buildings can be destroyed or damaged from bush fire due to a number of forms of attack; ember attack, radiant heat and or direct flame contact. Wind can weaken the building elements and make them more susceptible to these forms of attack whilst smoke can impact upon the health of occupants and fire fighters.

If you are looking to purchase a property or land that is located within or close to bushland, you may want to consider an assessment to determine your Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) prior to purchase. You can usually obtain a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Risk Assessment Certificate from your local Council for a reasonable fee.

We can support you through this process and design your dream home to comply with all the necessary requirements while remaining stylish and functional to meet your needs today and in the future.

Typical map indicating bushfire prone areas.

Sketches indicating bush fire risks

Windows specifically designed for Bushfire areas

Making your home eco-friendly

Transforming your house into a cosy and warm house in winter or a cool and comfortable house in summer can be simple and cost effective.

Effective heating and cooling can be custom designed to suit every house and getting your requirements right the first time is essential if you want it to be cost effective.

If you are building or renovating, you have a number of options for controlling the temperature in your house. Depending on where you live you will generally be able to choose from:  

•     Heating or cooling using electricity such as air conditioning, fans and various types of heaters

•     Gas heating which works well as long as it is flued. Non-flued heaters can cause health issues for some people.

•     Recent developments including ethanol heaters featured recently in TV shows like The Block.

•     Environmentally friendly options like ‘Ventis’.  It may cost a bit to install but the running costs are minimal and the overall benefits are great.

A little bit about the Ventis System

Sunshine and daylight radiating upon your roof surface provides a source of free, naturally warm air in your roof space.

The Ventis system draws the warm air from your roof space, and circulates the fresh, warm, drier air through the bedrooms and living areas in your home, creating an even temperature, and a healthy ventilation flow.  The system uses a very effective, medical grade filter, removing air pollution including pollen, allergens and harmful dust from the air before it is circulated into your house.

On hot, humid summer nights, Ventis circulates naturally cool night air around your home by removing the hot air from the roof space to outside and drawing in the cooler night air.

For more information, visit the Ventis website.

When deciding which heating and cooling system to use, it is important to compare the upfront costs of systems against the lifetime running costs.

Home renovations and DIY projects

Home renovations and DIY projects have become increasingly popular in Australia.  There is a great sense of achievement that comes from accomplishing that ‘little’ or ‘big’ project around the house.

While television shows like ‘The Block’ and ‘House Rules’ showcase the workmanship that goes into the renovation, there is a great deal of pre-planning and approval required with your local council before you can proceed.

The nature of your project and your property will determine if you will need Council approval.  You may need a ‘Complying Development Certificate’ or a ‘Development Application’ (commonly known as a DA).  Regardless of the type of approval you require, you must comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA), standards and satisfy all requirements set out in the appropriate policies.

Did you know you must seek council approval for the following:

-       To dig up and replace an existing drive way.  You can change or enhance your driveway as long as you are within your boundary.  However, from the boundary to the street, you require approval – it’s not your property.

-       Extension of an existing carport or patio.  You can enhance or replace an existing carport or patio as long as it maintains it’s current dimensions.  If you are wanting to enlarge the surface area, you may be required to seek approval from council.

-       If you want a pergola or shade structure over 20m² in size you will need to seek Council approval.

-       If you are in a designated Fire Zone you will need approval for most external works.

-       If you want to remove a large established tree.  In most circumstances a permit from Council is required before removing or pruning trees on private property.

Tips for Winter Warmth

Have you noticed that chill in the air? Or the darkness that closes in before you leave the office in the evenings?   Winter is upon us.

Here we share some tips to get your house in good shape to efficiently weather our Winter months. With the rising cost of electricity and gas services, there are a number of things you can do to keep those bills at bay.

Reduce drafts:  Inspect your exterior for cracks and exposed entry points around pipes, windows and doors.  Seal any gaps to ensure you reduce the drafts within your home.

Look at your window coverings: Good quality curtains and blinds that stop cold air coming in and warm air going out are a great investment, and they will help you keep cool in warmer weather too.

Warm the house with gorgeous accessories:  Before you turn the heater on this Winter, try getting comfy under a cosy throw rug.  Not only do rugs look great, they add extra warmth in winter.

Warm the floors:  Flooring like tiles and floorboards can feel colder in Winter.  Floor mats not only add style to your house, they retain heat.

Prevent water damage by keeping gutters clear: Removing leaf debris reduces the risk of blocked gutters and down pipes. When heavy rain cannot flow away freely, gutters can overflow causing water damage to ceiling and eaves. By regularly checking your gutters, you help reduce the risk of water damage.

Check your roof: A roof in good condition is more likely to handle extreme weather so it’s good practice to check roof tiles or corrugated sheets for damage. If your roof is tiled, check for deteriorated ridge capping which can separate from the underlying tiles with age. Once repaired, you can reduce the risk of water damage to roofing during wet weather.

What’s your tip for surviving the Winter weather?

Contact us

We partner with clients to explore new boundaries to ensure you get the most from your environment.  Our focus is to promote efficiency and solve the problems of space and function.   Contact Ruth Newman Architect today on 9540 9959.