Dear Valued Customer,

BlueScope Steel is pleased to announce the release of construction details for a range of residential roofing systems clad with COLORBOND® steel. These roofing system details have been prepared to provide assistance to those looking to build on sites determined to be "Bushfire Attack Level – Flame Zone (BAL-FZ)" under Australian Standard AS3959-2009.

Building sites assessed under AS3959-2009 as BAL-FZ are those sites considered to be most at risk of bushfire attack. In this zone, there is an extremely high risk of ember attack and burning debris ignited by windborne embers as well as a likelihood of exposure to an extreme level of radiant heat and direct exposure to flames. This is an extremely aggressive environment for all building materials and as a result building systems that perform in this environment can be expensive and complex to install.

The Fact Sheet (COLORBOND® steel clad roofing system construction - Details for bushfire-prone AS3959-2009 BAL-FZ sites), contains construction details for various combinations of materials commonly utilized in roofing systems, including steel or timber roof trusses, steel or timber fascia and steel roof battens.

These systems have been assessed by a registered testing authority, Exova Warringtonfire, as being likely to achieve bushfire attack level BAL-FZ if tested in accordance with
AS1530.8.2-2007, the required test method under Australian Standard AS3959 for BAL-FZ sites.

Australian Standard AS3959-2009: Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas specifies the requirements for the construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas in order to improve their resistance to bushfire attack from: 1. burning embers; 2. radiant heat; 3. flame contact; and combinations of the three attack forms.

The objective of the Standard is to provide greater protection for occupants who may be sheltering in a building whilst the fire front passes and to increase the resilience of the building in bushfire-prone areas.

The Fact Sheet relates only to the roofing system requirements of AS3959-2009 and should be used as a guide only. A copy of the Fact Sheet can be accessed at www.bluescopesteel.com.au/bushfiredesign. For further questions regarding the use of BlueScope Steel manufactured products in the design of buildings located in bushfire zoned areas, please contact Gary MacMillan on 03 9586 2291.

Yours sincerely

Lisa Dent
Marketing Manager, Residential
BlueScope Steel