What does BAL mean in UNCLASSIFIED

Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) is a classification system developed by the Australian standard for assessing bushfire attack on buildings, boundaries and other infrastructure in exposed locations. It helps to identify critical areas that require additional protection and provides the basis for designing suitable building materials, construction methods, and protection measures against bushfires.

Bal ratings are important in ensuring that buildings have adequate fire resistance to protect them from direct flame contact or radiant heat during a bushfire attack. The higher the BAL rating of a building, the better it will be able to handle high-risk situations such as burning embers or extreme fire weather conditions.

BAL ratings are determined based on several factors including fuel loads, proximity to vegetation or other combustible material as well as wind speed, slope of land and direction it faces. Structural elements like walls and roofs also play an important role in determining the overall BAL rating of a building.

When constructing a building in an area with high risk of bushfires, it is important to choose appropriate building materials such as non-combustible or fire resistant materials, use appropriate construction techniques such as staying above ground level where possible, provide adequate ventilation and guard any gas lines using protective enclosures.

Yes, water tanks located near bushfire prone areas should be made from non-combustible materials such as steel or concrete with secure lids in order to reduce potential risk from bushfires damage or destruction due to flying embers or direct flame contact during an event.