Building for Resilience: Protecting Structures from Bush Fires in Australia

Welcome to the “Building for Resilience” webquest! In this webquest, you will explore the strategies and techniques employed in Australia to construct buildings that can withstand and minimize damage caused by bush fires. You will delve into the principles of fire-resistant architecture and learn how design choices and materials can help protect structures and communities from the devastating impact of bush fires.

You can work individually or in small groups to complete the task.

Task 1: Understanding Bush Fires

1. Begin by researching the characteristics of bush fires in Australia. Identify the factors that contribute to the intensity and spread of bush fires, such as climate, vegetation, and topography.
2. Investigate the impact of bush fires on structures. Explore real-life examples of buildings damaged or destroyed by bush fires and analyze the reasons behind their vulnerability.

• Australian Government – Bureau of Meteorology: http://www.bom.gov.au/weather-services/fire-weather-centre/index.shtml
• Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre: https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/home

Task 2: Design Considerations

1. Examine the design principles employed in fire-resistant architecture. Identify key features and considerations, such as building materials, layout, ventilation, and landscaping.
2. Research the role of building codes and regulations in Australia for bush fire-prone areas. Explore how these codes influence architectural choices and ensure the safety of structures and occupants.

• Country Fire Authority (CFA) Victoria: https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/
• Building Commission Victoria – Bushfire Prone Areas: https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/consumers/bushfire

Task 3: Building Materials

1. Investigate different building materials used to construct fire-resistant buildings in Australia. Focus on materials that possess high fire resistance and thermal properties.
2. Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of materials like fire-resistant timber, concrete, metal, and composite materials. Consider their costs, environmental impact, and overall suitability.

• Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) – Bushfire Performance of Timber: https://fwpa.com.au/rebuilding-with-resilience-by-industry-and-community-in-bushfire-prone-areas/
• CSIRO – Fire Safety of Construction Materials: https://www.csiro.au/-/media/Environment/Preparing-Australia-for-extreme-bushfire-Accessible-text.html

Task 4: Case Studies

1. Select at least two case studies of buildings in Australia that successfully withstood bush fire events. Analyze their architectural design, materials used, and specific features that contributed to their resilience.
2. Discuss the challenges faced during the construction and implementation of fire-resistant strategies in these case studies. Explore any adaptations or modifications made to enhance the buildings’ resistance to bush fires.

• Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements – Case Studies: https://naturaldisaster.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/html-report/chapter-13
• Australian Institute of Architects – Awards Gallery: https://architectureau.com/articles/spotlight-building-for-bushfire/

Task 5: Design Your Fire-Resistant Structure

1. Imagine you are an architect tasked with designing a fire-resistant structure for a bush fire-prone area in Australia.
2. Create a design concept for a residential or community building, focusing on fire-resistant materials, layout, landscaping, and other features that promote fire resilience. (You can use any building app or your book to draw how you would manage the landscape and design your house)
3. Justify your design choices based on the knowledge you have gained throughout this webquest.

• Australian Building Codes Board – National Construction Code: https://www.abcb.gov.au/
• Smart draw app https://www.smartdraw.com/floor-plan/home-design-software.htm?id=363850&msclkid=1396f274dc911037b9d996e7503e3821

In this webquest, you have explored the strategies and techniques used to construct fire-resistant buildings in Australia to mitigate the impact of bush fires. By understanding the principles of fire-resistant architecture, building codes, and appropriate materials, you have gained valuable insights into designing structures that can withstand bush fire events. Remember, building for resilience is crucial to protect lives, property, and communities in bush fire-prone regions.

If you want to see if your design knowledge has improved, try testing it out in the Stop Disasters Game