Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Contour Map and its use in determining the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Rating.

A Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment is a method used to determine your bushfire attack level (BAL) rating pertaining to your site in relation to the vegetation within a 100 m radius around your site. It consists of a certificate that is a declaration of the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating and a detailed account of why you are that level by identifying all the bushfire risks around you. In case of larger sites and subdivisions a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) contour map can be used to determine the indicative rating for several sites.

A Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Contour Map is a scaled satellite map of a site showing site boundary and the bushfire threat within a 100 m radius and the potential Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings that emerge from the bushfire threat, starting from Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating Flame-Zone to Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) 12.5. It takes into account the separation distance from the bushfire threat and radiates the emergent levels as you move away from the bushfire threat vegetation. The image above describes this graphically.

While a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) contour map can be produced for a development of any scale, it is mostly used for planning purposes in large subdivisions to show a range of Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating across several lots whilst highlighting the bushfire hazards in the process. If a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) contour map exists for a previous subdivision approval, then it may be used instead of a site-specific Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment. However, this is at the discretion of the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessor as well as the decision making planning officer as the vegetation keeps changing over time and a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) contour map may become invalid if drastic changes occur at site.

If you are located in a bushfire prone region and are proposing a development or are making changes to your current development, it would be wise to check if a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) contour map or any sort of Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment exists for your site. If yes, contact your local BPAD Accredited Level 2 Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Assessor today to have it assessed against current site conditions.

Contact Green Start Consulting’s experienced team for expert advice on everything building industry related including Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Reports, Bushfire Management Plan (BMP), Bushfire Management Statement (BMS) and Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Contour Maps.

Due to constantly evolving legislation the information provided within this blog may no longer be valid. The advice given on this site is general in nature and does not take into account your specific circumstances. Please email one of our building surveyors to check what is right for you