INNOWOOD & FIRE – AN UNLIKELY RELATIONSHIP
• Fire is a concern for many civic planers, designers, builders, and homeowners alike especially in bushfire prone areas.
• A standardised Bushfire Attack Level (or BAL) rating is used Australia-wide to categorise products that can or cannot be used in certain areas depending on their BAL rating.
• Group ratings are used to determine the fire hazard level of timber products.
Image by Bushfire Prone Planning
There are six levels to the BAL rating ranging from BAL Low which does not warrant any special requirements to BAL FZ (Fire Zone) which is characterised by products with resistance to direct exposure to flames. For a product to achieve a BAL rating they must undergo testing predominately carried out by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (or CSIRO) who are certified by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) to ensure a fair and accurate test.
Grammar School, Central Coast, NSW, Australia
Some hold the belief that composite timber products are unfit for use in bushfire prone areas as the timber is seen as a ready to ignite material. The reality however is surprisingly different. The materials that make up Innowood when combined are naturally self-extinguishing meaning that the product will char (it is constructed from close to 70% timber after all) but if the external heat source is removed it will put itself out. By altering our standard Innowood formula we have tested to a BAL 29 rating as per CSIRO standards which is only two steps off BAL FZ (the highest rating obtainable).
Group 1 formulation – Apartment at 63 Princes HWY, St Peters, NSW, Australia
Group 1 formulation – T-Puhinui Interchange, NZ
Group 1 formulation – GU Filmhouse, SA, Australia
This means that INNOWOOD’s specially formulated external cladding can be used in areas requiring a BAL 29 rating or lower and in areas that specify a Group 1 Fire rating which allows designers, homeowners, and builders alike to utilise our unique product with confidence even in harsh conditions.
ENQUIRE ABOUT INNOWOOD FIRE RATED MATERIAL
Please do not hesitate to contact us.
