Lawyers to Victorian Royal Commission Urge Fire Bunker Standards

In Australia there is no fire bunker standards developed yet. As a result of many survival stories in fire shelters during the last Victorian bushfire, many people are looking for fire bunkers if any bushfire comes during this fire season also. At the same time the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission is continuing its hearing on the last Black Saturday fires from the public at various places.

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.

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