How to Help Fireproof Your Home

Australia is the most fire-prone country on earth. Fireproofing your home is a must in Australia to allow you to be prepared and ready for the worst. Small changes around your home can make the extra difference when a bushfire erupts. It’s important to note that implementing these recommendations does not guarantee your home will be safe. However, it does give you a more substantial chance of your home surviving. 

Tip 1: Clean up the exterior of your home

Cleaning the outside of your home can be one way to minimise the damage a bushfire has on your home. Cleaning the gutters of leaves and trigs can allow you to fill your gutters with water and block the downpipes, mitigating the threat of an ember attack. Embers get into little places and can quickly start a fire. Reducing the severity by cleaning out your gutters is a great first step. In addition, cutting back trees and shrubs on your property allows you to eliminate fire-prone material and prevent the fire’s spread. Small things like cleaning up fallen leaves and cutting down shrubs will help prepare your home if a fire threatens suddenly.

Tip 2: Have a bushfire survival plan

NSW Rural Fire Service states, “A well-prepared home is more likely to survive a bush fire. Even if you plan to leave early, the more you prepare your home, the more likely it will be to survive a bush fire or ember attack.” 

There are four steps to be prepared for a bushfire:

1. Discuss what to do if a bushfire threatens your home – Will you leave or stay?
2. Prepare your home for the bush fire season – mow your grass to remove the cuttings, prepare a hose that will reach all around your home, clear material that will quickly burn like a doormat etc. 
3. Know the bush fire alert levels – understanding the warning level icons and colour changes can keep you and your loved ones safe.
4. Keep all the bushfire information numbers, websites, and smartphone apps. – Triple zero, “Fires near me” smartphone app, local radio, news broadcaster, and social media to keep you aware of your surroundings. 

Minimise the risk of fire with Amplimesh Fire Attenuation Screens

Fire attenuation screens are designed to resist radiant heat to minimise the risk of fire spreading between buildings. The purpose of a fire attenuation screen is to increase the chance of people safely leaving a building under threat of fire and reduce the intensity of the fire impact whilst the fire is being brought under control.

Amplimesh Fire Attenuation screens have been subjected to two hours of rigorous testing by the CSIRO and in accordance with relevant Australian Standards. During testing, Amplimesh® OneFrame and SupaScreen® were subjected to an irradiance heat of 40kW/m2 for 2 hours and demonstrated a reduction to radiant heat by up to 59%, significantly lowering the threat of fire.

Amplimesh security screens are rigorously tested to ensure they meet Australian and industry standards. If you want to help fireproof your home and minimise the risk of fire spreading throughout your home, choose Amplimesh Fire Attenuation and Bushfire solutions for your windows and doors. You can download our brochures here

SOURCE:

https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare#:~:text=A%20well%20prepared%20home%20is,bush%20fire%20or%20ember%20attack.