Can any home withstand bushfire? The LA fires have fuelled discussions about how to build more resilient homes in the face of disasters of this magnitude and put it front and centre in our minds.
It was only in December that our Engineering Manager, Dr Mani Muthiah, presented to the BDAA conference on how to build more resilient constructions for disasters. These concepts now seem even more relevant to homes in high fire-prone and urbanised areas as environmental factors reshape our understanding of the threats.
The BDAA conference presentation offered valuable insights for strengthening these strategies and building more resilient communities in fire-prone regions (BAL 12.5 to 40 & FZ).
Disaster-Resilient Design for Bushfires
Dr Mani says, “Resilient design and construction isn’t an optional feature; it’s a necessity. We need to incorporate resilience into our buildings to protect against losses of every kind”.
- Protect communities
- Protect properties
- Reduce damage
- Lower recovery costs
- Reduce utility disruptions and remain functional during crises
- Long-term climate adaptation
There are many strategies we can incorporate for fire-resistant design, with engineers, architects, designers and homeowners working together to achieve the most resilient design for the home. Utilising fire-rated materials, creating defensible space around buildings, and incorporating fire-resistant landscaping to minimise fire risk, are the cornerstones of protection.
These strategies collectively enhance a building’s resilience, ensuring safety by using strong materials, cutting-edge engineering techniques, and smart design to create buildings that can withstand challenging conditions while remaining functional.
However, as fire approaches, there are further strategies that become critical to the outcome both for a building and the community around it.
Energy Resilience: Incorporating renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, to maintain power during outages caused by disasters.
Smart Technology Integration: Utilising sensors and smart systems for early warning and real-time structural integrity monitoring during disasters.
Community Resilience Planning: Designing neighbourhoods with access to emergency services, safe evacuation routes, and communal shelters to support residents during crises.
Lines of defence to create bushfire resilient homes
Our engineering geologist, Joe Hepper, says that the LA wildfires have highlighted the extreme risks when environmental factors collide.
“When we have weather events with high precipitation promoting vegetation growth, followed by drought that dries out the vegetation, high winds can easily spark a firestorm. In LA, it’s been a stark example of this and whilst the devastation is immense, some buildings with a defendable area, along with fire-resistent materials and landscaping did survive. There’s learning in that to apply to more homes moving forward.”
Related story – LA architect shares how his home survived due to resilient design. Watch here.
When it comes to design and engineering strategies for bushfire resilient homes, utilising products with BAL ratings and reducing entry points for ember attacks can be the difference between one house surviving and the house next door succumbing to fire.
Considering every plane of the building for material selection for the roof and cladding, the sarking and internal insulation to reduce flammability, and the vegetation surrounding the home are just some of the factors for resilient design.
Water availability for firefighting
The availability of water to protect properties has come to the fore in the LA fires and whilst that infrastructure is beyond the control of each homeowner, there are strategies to create a water supply for your home dedicated to fire fighting.
Reducing combustible debris for bushfire resilient homes
Reducing debris that can easily catch alight from embers is critical. Our team have been providing Risk and Readiness Assessments with the Greater Hobart Bushfire Resilience Project and reducing combustible debris is a key outcome at their demonstration properties. However, within new building and landscaping design, there are strategies to consider for where debris buildup may occur.
Dr Mani stresses that the recent Los Angeles fires highlight the growing threat of extreme weather in urban areas, driven by high winds, dry conditions, and climate change.
“These fires emphasise the need for disaster resilience, focusing on community engagement, strong building codes, early warning systems, and fire-resistant infrastructure with mitigation, recovery, and adaptive urban planning. At HED, we are committed to building homes in Hobart and our surrounding communities with world best practices for disaster resilience.”
While the LA fires seem a world away, as we know in Australia, the bushfire threat is always imminent and very real. Our team are qualified to apply disaster-resilient design to projects across Tasmania by incorporating the strategies above with:
- Construction materials and methods that are pivotal in shaping construction projects’ resilience, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and quality
- Careful planning specific to the location of construction
- Considered selection of the hybrid structural systems to offer advantages
A home that survives bushfire often stands amongst many that do not. The land itself can become a risk with the loss of vegetation creating erosion and land stability risk – a risk that then increases with any significant rainfall. The engineering we apply to both homes and communities plays a significant part in increasing our resilience to this very real threat. Read more about our bushfire hazard services here.
Book an assessment or discussion about your next build with our engineering team by contacting us here.
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Our Bushfire Hazard Practitioner, Joe Hepper, brings Tasmanian knowledge and experience to assess your building site. If your project requires the determination of a BAL (Bushfire Attack Level), a Bushfire Hazard Assessment Report will document potential exposure to ember attack, radiant heat and direct flame contact.
