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Home Planning & Rebuilding Architects Bushfire Homes Service

Architects Bushfire Homes Service

The Architects Bushfire Homes Service has been established to assist people who lost their homes in the February 2009 bushfires.

The service offers people access to a range of house designs and one free consultation with an architect. The house designs are tailored to be able to comply with the new Australian Standard for residential buildings in bushfire prone areas.

The Architects Bushfire Homes Service is being provided by architects who are offering their services to assist people who lost their homes. The service is offered at no cost to people who choose to use it.

The service is coordinated by the Office of the Victorian Government Architect, the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects and the Building Commission. The Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority is helping to facilitate these offers to people affected by the bushfires.  

Registering for the service

If you are interested in registering to participate in this offer please phone (03)8620 3866 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This service will provide one free consultation with an architect who will provide advice on the suitability of the design of the house on your property and any modifications that may be required.

Cost estimates

The Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors is costing each of the designs on offer and a likely range of construction costs for each house. The architect will advise how this service can be accessed.

In addition, volunteers from the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors have offered to provide a free cost estimate for any site related matters identified during the consultation.

Architects Bushfire Homes Service – User’s Guide

This document explains how to use the Bushfire Homes Service and what to expect once you have selected a house design.  Bushfire Homes Service – User’s Guide

Bushfire Design Principles

The idea behind constructing bushfire resistant buildings is to contribute to saving lives and properties in the event of a bushfire. The aim is to reduce the likelihood of a building catching fire.

This can be achieved by the application of three basic principles in the building design phase:

  • Preventing embers and burning debris from entering or alighting upon the building
  • Reducing the combustibility of the building fabric
  • Discourage the build-up of combustible materials on or near the building.

Houses at risk of bushfire attack also need to be highly wind resistant, as the extreme winds that often accompany a bushfire can damage otherwise sound buildings, making them susceptible to ignition.

AS 3959 Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-Prone Areas

The Australian Standard for building in bushfire prone areas (AS 3959-2009) was revised shortly after the February 2009 Victorian bushfires.

The revised AS 3959-2009 mandates that an initial assessment of bushfire risk, categorised as Bushfire Attack Level (BAL), is applied to the assessment of all building works in Victoria.  Further information 

Disclaimer

Care has been taken to offer a range of well considered designs which can offer high amenity and can be adapted to suit individual needs, however the Office of the Victorian Government Architect (OVGA) and the Australian Institute of Architects make no representation nor warrant that the designs are suitable for the purposes of individual owners. No responsibility for the work of an architect engaged by an owner is taken by the OVGA or the Institute.