Requirement for BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) assessments on the construction of Garages, Sheds and Carports in Bushfire Prone Areas

If you are considering building a shed or doing building work in a designated bushfire prone area you may be required to comply with the bushfire construction requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

This will require compliance with Australian Standard AS 3959 – Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas and may trigger the need for a BAL assessment to be undertaken before works can begin.

https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/publications/building-bush-fire-prone-areas

The BCA bush fire construction requirements applies to Class 10a buildings located in designated bush fire prone areas

Any associated structures such as garages, carports, decks or verandas that are attached or adjacent to a house may need to comply with the requirements of the BCA and AS 3959. This could mean that the structure will need to meet the same construction requirements as the house, or be adequately separated from the house either by the nature of its construction or by its distance (>6m) from the house.

Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas may trigger the need for a BAL assessment to be undertaken before works can begin.

Class 10a buildings and decks associated with Class 1a, Class 1b, Class 2 or Class 3 buildings.

Class 10a buildings include non-habitable buildings such as garages, carport, shed, or the like.