Design Your Home to Protect from Fire

Building a new home from scratch gives homeowners the flexibility to include various features that are beneficial in the long run. Seven such aspect that can be taken care of during the design stage itself is fire resistant design.

There's some measure and guidelines that help homeowners to build strong homes that are resistant to fire.

Use non-combustible material for internal frames
Non-combustible material such as fiber cement, brick, stone and steel can be used to construct external walls. These materials are more affordable than traditional materials and are easy to procure and assemble. But they also have a lot of resistance in case there is a fire.

Paint pergolas and decking with fireproof paint
Pergolas and decking are often made from highly inflammable traditional timber. You can paint these structures with a paint that is fire-retardant, which will greatly decrease the likelihood that the wood ignites in case fire breaks out. It also pays to position Pergolas and decking structurally away from home.

Keep the design simple
If the shape of the roof or the house itself is complicated it generally offers more places for embers to get in to and stay inside. Try and minimize on the areas of the roof that are likely to accumulate embers by sealing the eaves and installing gutter guards that are non-combustible.

Seal windows and doors
By sealing the frames of doors and windows, you are reducing the risk of embers getting in to your home in case there is a fire. Homes that is well-sealed is effective when it comes to withstanding fire.

Non-combustible fire shutters made out of aluminum, bronze or steel are used on all windows and doors in areas where the fire risk is high.

Maintain gardens
Plants that are dry or have a tendency to get dry fast are not recommended for a garden, in bushfire-prone areas. Select plants that are high-water-bearing and resistant to fire. Since these plants have higher levels of water content, they may prevent fire from spreading quickly. You can also keep the surroundings wet to keep the plant bed damp. If you install a sprinkler process in the garden it can be kept damp and it will reduce the intensity of fire in case seven breaks out.

No clutter in the gutter
Dry leaves, seeds and branches that are carried by the wind are highly inflammable natural materials. They may become embedded in the gutter. You may place non-combustible mesh over the gutter to keep away from flammable and decaying plants and leaves.

Do not forget process maintenance
Even if you install all the fire resistant fittings in your home, if they are not in working condition they serve no purpose. Ensure process maintenance so that all fire-resistant fittings are in perfect working condition. Process maintenance is important in areas that are liable to bushfire.