Caird Ramsay & Lisle Rudolph
Published 2003
Softcover 100 pages
ISBN:

The recent accumulation of destructive bushfire seasons in Australia has roused concerns regarding the prevailing survivability of the built environment in bushfire prone areas. This new Australian book concisely explains the position we are in regarding the bushfire characteristics resident in our unique geographic situation, and derives sensible design methodology and maintenance initiatives to implement in building that would otherwise be vulnerable to the dangers of bushfires. One may quite understandably ponder the question at this point of why such advisory information has not been compiled sooner. One thing the book explains is that despite the rich element of bushfires in Australia's history, we have not been able to conclusively determine the ignition characteristics of buildings until very recently, due to lack of consistency in statistical data. It took pyric victories in research such as the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires in Victoria and South Australia, which claimed such a wide variety of properties, to enable the undertaking of viable comparative studies in building ignition.

Logically, the book is arranged in two sections, the first explaining the characteristics of Australian bushfires and relevant factors such as the manners of fire spreading and the various ignition mechanisms. The second section addresses design options that will optimize the fire damage resistance of a building. The suggestions here are numerous, and by no means unrealistic. The content examines concerns with building design and materials, for instance the possibilities of using toughened glass and metallic shutters, and how to manage the use of unavoidably combustible structures. Additionally, the equally important consideration of landscaping is explored, looking at the safest possible interactions between building and vegetation.

This publication should be viewed as an essential supplement to architects, owners, or prospective owners of buildings in bushfire prone environments.