Designing in Bushfire Prone Areas

4 October 2021

The ABCB is offering a one-hour NCC CPD course on the principles of bushfire behaviour and how it affects building design.

During the 2019–2020 bushfires, more than 3,000 homes were destroyed. Understanding the nature and behaviour of bushfire events allows practitioners to better design and build where bushfires pose a risk.

The NCC CPD course on Designing in Bushfire Prone Areas helps participants understand the underlying behaviour of bushfire, how risk is assessed and what the requirements are for compliant design. This is not only relevant in terms of achieving the final Certificate of Occupancy, but also in terms of addressing wider concerns.

By having a deeper knowledge of how buildings come under attack, the relevant provisions of the NCC and the relevant Australian Standard (AS 3959:2018), practitioners will gain greater expertise in designing buildings that can better protect occupants.

This one-hour course consists of four chapters which cover:

  • Bushfire behaviour.
  • Mechanisms of bushfire attack on buildings.
  • Principles for assessment of the bushfire attack level (BAL).
  • General and specific construction requirements.
  • Relevant NCC Performance Solutions and Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) solutions
  • An overview of AS 3959:2018.
  • Wider considerations for design in bushfire prone areas.

The content for this online CPD course has been developed by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) in consultation with industry, government and subject matter experts. The suite of CPD courses explore topics, industry issues, and challenges found in the Building Confidence Report.

Experts from relevant disciplines have contributed to developing the course content and supporting materials, to ensure NCC CPD courses are practical and relevant to your everyday work. The courses support and supplement other CPD courses provided by industry, government, and existing accreditation schemes.

Cost

$55 for one-hour NCC CPD course.

The course combines written materials, videos, images and practical information. Being entirely online also means you can learn when and where it suits you and at your own pace.