This uniform standard will be helpful for the building designers and approval authorities to make professional judgments in respect of the technical and safety aspects of the fire bunkers and fire shelters. The finally approved standards would be included in the building codes of Australia in its 2011 edition.

If state and territory governments wish to develop their own regulations prior to 2011 they could use the draft to make their own standards as an interim measure.

Mr. Graham Huxley however warned that extreme caution should be taken when using fire shelters and misplaced reliance could be life threatening.

• Safe access to the building.
• Adequate sanitary facilities.
• Provision for looking the external environment.
• Safe egress from the building.
• Provision for identification of such a structure by suitable sign board.

Before installing such a structure, the persons responsible for such installation must specify,

• The maximum number of people that it can accommodate and the duration of maximum stay.
• Actions to which the building may be subjected.
• The possible effect of buildings, vegetation and topography in the vicinity.
• The effect of external fire intensity.
• The prevention of unpleasant experiences within the structure during a fire.

Due to much demand, Fire Proof Shelters has released the new Personal Possession Fire Bunker® which is designed to protect your personal items from the affects of Bushfire.

Most of us realise that the only way to avoid harm from any bushfire is to leave early and not try to defend the property when there is so much to risk!

Houses can easily be rebuilt, however it is the irreplaceable items such as family photo albums, documents, computer drives and many other precious items that we want to protect, and let’s face it, trying to pack all this gear up and take it with you every time it’s a total fire ban day is impractical and a real pain!

Now there is a real answer with the new Personal Possession Fire Bunker® where you can easily pack up your precious items and store them inside the fire shelter making it mush easier and much quicker to leave if there is a fire threat.

See more information on the new Personal Possession Fire Bunker® <== here.

Recently, Melinda Richards one of the lawyers assisting the Royal Commission said in a submission that fire bunker standards should be developed by April 1, 2010 and be in force by not later than May 1.She expected that Victorian government through the Building commission (BC) should take initiative to develop fire bunker standards.

It is to be noted that Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), the country’s apex building regulatory board has taken the issue and is preparing a uniform standard on fire bunkers. However the standards can not be made public during this bushfire season and therefore Ms.Melinda the counsel requested an interim accreditation standard for Victoria until the ABCB’s national standards come out. She demanded that there should be regulations on the claims of fire bunker manufactures about the capacity to withstand intense heat and severe winds, oxygen availability and the bunker’s ability to keep smoke and poisonous gases out of it.

• The fire bunker is insulated by the earth.
• There is cool air inside.
• The exposure to radiant heat is minimum.
• The fire bunker is not fully visible from outside.
• The flames can pass over the bunker.
• Side doors provide easy entry.

However these types of bunkers have their own drawbacks particularly after installation. These may be,

• The excavation and leveling the ground requires labor and money.
• Drainage problems need to be addressed.
• Installation requires some engineering and technical knowledge.

Above Ground Bunkers-The Advantages:

• Since being above ground no excavation is needed
• No landslip or drainage problems
• There is easy access from side door
• It can be built on the ground itself and no transportation is therefore needed.
• It can be used for some other purpose when not in use for fire safety.
• Can be built as per customer specification.

The Disadvantages of Above Ground Bunkers:

• There is no natural insulation from earth. This means threat from radiant heat.
• Likely to heat up in hot weather. No cooling inside.
• Fall of tree branches and structures more possible on an above ground fire bunker.
• Additional insulation needed to protect from fire and radiant heat.

On the day of bush fire he was priming water pumps when his wife recognized roaring fire in the sky. It was heading towards their house. When he ran to the backside a second fire has been coming from that side. With no alternative to escape out he ran into the bunker along with his wife and daughter. They stayed until midnight because it was too hot to come out.

There are too many backyard amateur Fire Bunkers out there that can easily be death traps, said Craig Morrison from Fire Proof Shelters, Australia’s leading Fire Bunker Designer and manufacturer!

Here is an excerpt from the latest Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations.

Dewi Cooke
September 22, 2009 – 12:00AM

VICTORIANS could soon have access to the first regulations for fire bunkers after a decision by the Bushfires Royal Commission to release interim recommendations on their use.

Commission chairman Bernard Teague said yesterday that following three weeks of evidence investigating bunkers and home-building standards in bushfire-prone areas, it was clear that certain matters ”cannot wait” for the commission to conclude its work next July.

He said commissioners would deliver interim recommendations regarding regulations for bushfire bunkers, some aspects of the new AS3959 building standard and the need for a revision of the Standards Australia handbook for building in bushfire-prone areas.

In evidence last month, the commission was told there was no standard for in-ground bunkers but they were urgently needed amid concerns from Victorian Building Commissioner Tony Arnel that people were rushing to install them without technical knowledge.

Mr Arnel said he had directed Victoria’s Building Regulations Advisory Committee to develop an accreditation criteria for pre-fabricated bunkers and estimated that Standards Australia could develop a standard within six months.

But he said it would also be possible for the royal commission to make a finding that criteria for bunkers be rolled into existing national building regulations, as a way of fast-tracking the process.

In the past it was commonly held that a shelter was only required during the initial passing of the fire front, a period of about fifteen minutes during which the radiant heat reached it’s peak. Experts studying the effects of Black Saturday however estimate that in some areas this radiant heat effect would have remained fatal for up to two hours. Bearing this in mind anyone considering purchasing a shelter should be certain that their shelter can withstand prolonged exposure to intense heat and also provide an adequate supply of clean air.

Without proper Australian Standards for Bush Fire Bunkers, you owe it to yourself and family to make sure any Fire Bunker passes these requirements before purchasing one.

1. All Fully Fire Rated Materials used and have Australian Standards certificates

2. Fully Airtight and Smoke Proof Design.

3. LARGE Capacity to allow for maximum Air Volume, reduce anxiety from confined spaces, accomodate any additional people who may be present AND ensure You are further from the Radiant heat source!

4. AT LEAST 400-900mm under the ground for ALL non Fire Door structure, i.e. the concrete is not exposed to direct radiant heat.

5. Fire Proof Viewing Panel that has Thermal rating of 3 or more hours!

6. Choice of TOP or SIDE Entry Bush Fire Bunkers for maximum safety and suitability.

7. MINIMUM Exposure points, i.e. NO Vents, NO Potential FAILURE points that can let heat or smoke in and Air OUT!

These are just some of the CRITCAL features you need to be aware of and make sure you double check before purchasing any Bush Fire Bunker!

To Find out the latest in Bush Fire Bunker designs and answers to your Questions…

Talk to Andrew on (03) 9444 1555 for more inforamtion