Firstly, please check with your Council that your property is in a Bushfire Prone Area to ensure you actually need the report.

1. Provide your Site address and basic access directions sufficient to accurately locate the property.

2. Copy of Site Plan / Title Plan showing footprint of proposed building works and other structures with dimensions to boundaries.

3. Your Contact details including; current primary residential address, mobile number, email address.

4. Are gates locked, dogs or other animals on the property etc?

5. Can we get 2 Wheel Drive all-weather access to the site at any time or do we need to bring a 4 Wheel Drive?

A BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) is a means of measuring a building’s potential exposure to ember attack,radiant heat and direct flame contact, in a bushfire event. It is a basis for establishing the requirements for construction to improve protection of building elements from attack by bushfire.

A Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Certificate is a document that assesses the potential exposure of a property to a bushfire, indicating the level of risk based on factors like its location, surrounding vegetation, and slope, and is used to determine the necessary construction standards required to build safely in a bushfire prone area; essentially, it certifies that a proposed development is not situated in a high-risk "flame zone" or at a BAL level exceeding a certain threshold, requiring specific building design features to mitigate bushfire damage.

Key points about BAL Certificates:

• Purpose:

To determine the level of bushfire risk a property faces, allowing for appropriate building construction methods to be implemented based on the assessed BAL rating.

• Who needs one:

Property owners planning to build or significantly renovate in areas identified as bushfire prone.

• Assessment process:

A qualified professional conducts a site inspection, considering factors like vegetation, slope, and proximity to potential fire sources to determine the BAL rating.

• Building regulations:

Depending on the BAL rating, specific construction requirements are mandated by building codes to ensure adequate protection against ember attack, radiant heat, and direct flame contact.

• Legal requirement:

In many regions, obtaining a BAL Certificate is mandatory for development in bushfire prone areas