Bushfire rated roller shutters update

ISSUE 76 January 2021

The 2019/2020 bushfires highlighted the requirement for bushfire rated roller shutters. Now as the summer season sets in, two companies servicing the sector share their insights on product updates and the market.

CW PRODUCTS 

CW Products FireSafe Bushfire Rated Roller Shutter has undergone some minor upgrades and is attracting strong demand following the devastation from the 2019/2020 summer bushfires.

CW Products Managing Director Danny Elassaad says the company’s commitment to technological innovation and product development have continued to grow since its move to be first to market in 2010 with its unique FireSafe Bushfire Rated Roller Shutter.

“As more and more Australians choose to live in bushfire prone areas, and urban sprawl takes homeowners closer to wooded and high vegetation areas, protection from bushfires has become paramount in Australia,” says Elassaad. “And with the requirements of Australian Bushfire Construction Standard AS3959-2018 (for the construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas), FireSafe Bushfire Rated Roller Shutters are an ideal solution for protecting Australian families, their homes and businesses. FireSafe is suitable for both domestic and commercial window, doorway and shop front applications.” 

FireSafe is described as “a stylish, strong and fully extruded aluminium roller shutter system suitable for large span windows and doors up to 5800mm.” FireSafe has successfully undergone rigorous laboratory testing at CSIRO, achieving a Bushfire Rating of BAL A40. Available in a wide range of profile colours and various manual and motorised control options, including CW’s NEW PowerSmart 12V low voltage, rechargeable battery automation system. It is ideal for protecting windows from flying debris and extreme heat radiation (radiant heat shielding properties up to 40 kW/m2) during a bushfire. 

“Suitable for both new and existing buildings, FireSafe can be fully integrated into new building constructions and all shutters are fitted with a FireSafe Authentication Plate and Serial Number. FireSafe is also backed by a 5 Year Guarantee. For great quality, exceptional service and industry best technical support, talk to a CW Products representative today about a FireSafe Bushfire Rated Roller Shutter solution.”

OZROLL

Ozroll General Manager Jack McDonald says the company has a watching brief on the legislation changes around Flame Zone bushfire standards. “Over the years, there has been a grey area regarding testing and what is ‘deemed to comply’. Our BAL 40 rated Roller Shutters still maintain traction throughout the country, but NSW in particular is driving the FZ requirement.” 

Jack McDonald notes a key issue is the added cost of Flame Zone shutters for new home builds. “We are seeing articles in national newspapers, with a focus on the rebuilds of fire damaged homes, where more cost effective options like sprinkler systems are being considered to pass regulations as a way to be fairer on the homeowner. Whether this will set a precedent for the entire sector is yet to be seen.”

“Having said that, we have multiple real life examples from our distributors where homes survived the most recent bushfires because they had installed our BAL40 shutters on the windows. With the shutters down, heat didn’t break the windows and embers didn’t enter the dwelling, keeping any flame damage external and primarily superficial.”

Sign up to the WFA Newsletter

loading