Last Resort
Bushfire Shelters should only be considered for well prepared properties that can and will be actively defended. In all other circumstances leaving early is the only safe option.In this section we plan to look at rooms as part of a home and separate buildings that may provide shelter during a bushfire.
Building a private bushfire shelter is not a requirement, however if you do decide to include one as part of your bushfire survival plan then you will likely require a building permit approval from your local council and it must comply with the National Performance Standard for Private Bush Fire Shelters. This document outlines design standards and requirements for constructing bush fire shelters.
Design Requirements
A bushfire shelter must offer a safe environment for occupants during the passage of a bushfire, protecting from both direct and indirect dangers. This requires an appropriate design and construction in response to the specific site conditions and intended use. These include;
Proximity to fire hazards - vegetation, other structures, site boundaries, combustible materials
Location within landscape - site slope, water sources
Intended number of occupants
Expected bushfire intensity/Bushfire Attack Level
Access to the associated dwelling
Escape after the bushfire
Estimated maximum period of occupancy
Generation of smoke, heat and gases from construction materials of the shelter
Structural loads which may be expected - wind loading, impact from debris and falling trees
External signage identifying the shelter
Occupant awareness of outside conditions
Required essential maintenance
To obtain a building permit for your bushfire shelter you can either purchase a shelter that has been accredited as meeting the requirements of the National Performance Standard , or obtain certification from a fire safety engineer who did not design the shelter that your non-accredited shelter meets the equirements of the National Performance Standard.
It must be emphasized that private bush fire shelters provide only one component of an integrated approach to bush fire protection and should not be relied on as the sole answer to reducing the risk to residents in bush fire prone areas. Inadequately designed, badly located and poorly maintained shelters are extremely dangerous and present significant confined space and other life safety issues to occupants.
RESOURCES
Provides guidance in facilitating informed decision making in the design of a bushfire shelter.
NSW RFS Fact Sheet
Outlines the NSW Rural Fire Service position for the construction of private bush fire shelters in NSW.