We are Accredited, Fast and Affordable Bushfire Consultants.
We service Perth and Regional Western Australia.
We offer a prompt and professional service at a competitive price.
Owner Dwayne Griggs - ZigZag - Scenic Drive, Gooseberry Hill, WA
We are a small local Western Australian business and customer satisfaction is our number one priority. We are primarily focused on providing a quality service to local businesses and residents in bushfire prone areas.
We are based in Maida Vale, Western Australia and we service all areas of Perth and Regional Western Australia.
A BAL assessment determines the level of bushfire threat to a building or development. It is used to inform the required risk management measures and also the standards for construction. Read More
Call us for your free BAL Quote
A Bushfire Management Plan (BMP), also known as a Fire Management Plan (FMP), is a plan which identifies the extent of the bushfire hazard to the development. Read More
Call us for your BMP Enquiry
A Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment is required for properties in bushfire-prone areas. Designed to save lives, property and environment, this assessment helps homeowners adequately prepare their property to passively mitigate the risk of bushfire by construction to the appropriate standards.
In warmer climates, such as in Perth and much of Western Australia, homes and properties are at greater risk of being impacted by bushfires, making BAL Assessments crucial for anyone that is located within the bushfire prone areas.
BAL Assessments are required for anyone building a new home or altering an existing structure that's located in a bushfire-prone area. These assessments are mandated by Local Government Authority (LGA), completed in unison with the Local/State Planning policy/regulations, the Australian Standard (AS3959) and with direction from the Fire Protection Association of Australia (FPAA) to ensure compliance of site.
Western Australia's Department of Fire & Emergency Services provides a Bushfire-Prone Map that shows areas susceptible to bushfire and would need a BAL Assessment.
With the map as your reference, you should be able to identify whether your property or proposed structure is within a designated bushfire-prone area. On the map, if the "red zone" is inside the boundary of your property or where your proposed structure will be located, you must comply with the new bushfire planning reforms, which include procuring a BAL Assessment.
Certain kinds and sizes of properties may be exempt from the new reforms, but your local council may still require a BAL Assessment as part of the building permit approval process. It's important to understand what is required of you and ensure you get qualified advice.
If you're unsure of the requirements specific to your location and property, professional bushfire consultants like WA Fire & Safety can help.
BAL Assessments are performed by qualified and accredited bushfire consultants who will assess your property and make recommendations that will ensure your home achieves the minimum acceptable BAL rating outlined in Australian Standard AS3959-2009.
All local councils also require a BAL Report and Certificate at a minimum, which a BPAD Accredited Level 1 Practitioner will be able to prepare. Be aware that a BPAD Accredited Level 2 Planning Practitioner is likely to be required. Our bushfire consultants are BPAD Level 2 qualified to develop all BAL Reports and documentation, we are always aware of the varying requirements across different council areas.
Our fire safety consultants must visit the site to determine the fire risk of your proposed structure or dwelling (or proposed changes to it). The assessment will also cover vegetation on the site and available fuel in the Asset Protection Zone (APZ).
The completed report will include your site plan (showing setbacks, dimensions and distances), imagery of the site and vegetation (including distances and justifications), the determined Bushfire Attack Level and other relevant information.
If your site is deemed high risk, has limited areas to build, or has other environmental complications, rest assured that our BPAD Level 2 Planning Practitioner will be able to assist you in mitigating the risk.
The costs of BAL Assessments and ensuring your new building will comply with the required Australian Standards will vary based on the size of the property, complexity of the development and time required to complete the job. However, our quotes are most often a fixed cost.
Before making an offer on any land, it's always a good idea to speak to professional bushfire consultants like WA Fire & Safety to understand whether you need an assessment prior to an offer on property and how much the process may cost. This ensures your project is affordable, achievable, compliant and 100% successful. Some places in Western Australia can have an unavoidable high BAL Rating where the risk cannot be mitigated easily and may not be affordable, so it pays to check first. Often all it takes is a phone call to Dwayne or Claire.
Depending on your BAL level and location, you may also need other risk mitigation documents, such as Bushfire Management Plans (BMP) or Bushfire Management Statement (BMS), yes some bushfire consultants get the job done without these, but future compliance for insurance is necessary.
Bushfire Management Plans are comprehensive documents that may be required as part of the development approval process. This is particularly the case where the risk of bushfire is high or moderate, the development involves risk mitigation, BAL rating reduction, multiple lots or roads or if rezoning or modifications are proposed to existing envelopes or environmental considerations.
WA Fire & Safety or your local council (LGA) will advise if they require a bushfire management plan and WAFS will understand how detailed that document needs to be.
Your local council will advise if they require a bushfire management plan and how detailed that document needs to be.
For example, they may ask for a (BMP) BMP Simple or a (BMS) Bushfire Management Statement.
A BMS is typically needed for single lots or single-house non complex developments. This document outlines bushfire mitigation measures and ongoing maintenance that must be carried out to both achieve and maintain the best result.
A BMP is a more detailed document and may be required for more complex developments where environmental, strategic or other issues come into play.
We at WA Fire & Safety understand that navigating bushfire regulations can be a complex and daunting ordeal. The maze of rules and terminology can overwhelm anyone.
As a professional, customer-focused business, we will take the time to listen to your needs, break down the complexities and guide you through the process with clear communication and personalised advice. We are seasoned fire safety consultants who know this important field like the back of our hands — let our knowledge be your advantage.
If you're ready to safeguard your project and get rid of compliance headaches, browse through our services or reach out to us for concerns. Get a quote now and join our long list of happy clients. Start building with confidence and peace of mind today.
FPAA Bushfire Attack Level Assessor Course & Fire Protection Association Australia Accredited Practitioner, Level 2
CPP20511 Certificate II Fire Protection Inspection and testing
BSB30504 Certificate III in Business (Frontline Management)
UEENEEP026A Conduct in service safety testing of electrical cord connected equipment and cord assemblies LIC: TTT24805
PUA30601 Certificate III in public safety (Firefighting and emergency operations)
