Viridian Vision Awards
Recently CSIRO scientists flame-tested
a steel-framed house near Mogo, NSW.
Constructed almost entirely from steel
and featuring a non-flammable roof
cavity, it was hoped the test would help
establish a straightforward and affordable
building option for bushfire-prone areas.
Experienced fire researchers consider
that a house constructed predominantly
of steel should be able to survive in the
flame zone of a real bushfire, assuming
that windows or other external openings
have not been breached. The concept is
that the entire non-combustible building
façade, insulation and frame acts to
protect the habitable space.
Trial by fire for bush house
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Viridian Award winner Blackmores Campus, Warriewood, NSW.
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Extreme risk: the CSIRO test.
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Commercial Design
Protect life, minimise damage
The test house was a small low-rise
building and included most of the
features of a domestic house. The house
consisted of an elevated steel framed
floor, steel wall framing with steel
cladding and plasterboard lining and
a steel truss roof with steel roof sheeting
and a plasterboard ceiling.
It included steel fascia and various soft
linings. The side that faced the fire front
had two windows and a door.
“The building needed to be resistant
enough to protect life and minimise the
loss of the building,” said CSIRO bushfire
researcher Justin Leonard.
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Every year, firefighters are called out
to tackle fires which could have been
avoided had the right fire protection
equipment and systems been installed
within the premises and properly
maintained. While most building
owners and managers understand their
obligation to install appropriate fire
protection systems, regular service and
maintenance are often overlooked.
Australian Standards (AS1851-2005:
Maintenance of Fire Protection
Systems & Equipment) recommends
that fire protection systems be
regularly inspected to help keep them
in working order so that they can
perform when required.
For some building owners and
managers, dealing with mandatory fire
audits and other compliance questions
can seem overwhelming.
