Firebreaks due November 1st

Published on Monday, 17 October 2022 at 10:58:45 AM

As a property owner, you have an important role in reducing the bushfire risk to occupants, visitors, and neighbours. One of the most important steps is the creation and maintenance of an Asset Protection Zone (APZ). For habitable building’s this translates into a Building Protection Zone (BPZ).

Building Protection Zone

The Building Protection Zone is an area of very low fuel levels and managed vegetation 20 metres out from habitable buildings (As defined in the Residential Design Codes of WA and in AS 3959) and must meet the following requirements,

• Building Protection Zones must extend a minimum of 20 metres out from any external walls of the building.
• Building Protection Zones must consist of non-flammable managed vegetation, reticulated lawns, and gardens with no flammable items.
• All grass in Building Protection Zones must be maintained to or under 5cm in height.
• Trees are to be low pruned (or under pruned) to at least a height of 2 metres from ground.
• No tree, or shrub over 2 metres high are to be within 2 metres of a habitable building and not to overhang.
• There must be no tree crowns or branches hanging over habitable buildings.
• Firewood and flammable materials must be stored 20m from habitable buildings
• Driveways and access ways are to be a minimum of (3) metres wide with a vertical clearance of (4)metres to allow for the safe passage of a fire appliance to all buildings and assets on the land
• Roof gutters should be free of leaves and other combustible material.
• GET YOUR PROPERTY FIRE READY BEFORE THE 1^ST NOVEMBER 2022

Please refer to Shire of Northam website for more detailed information.