BAL Assessments

What is a BAL Assessment?

A Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment determines the potential exposure of a building to bushfire attack including ember attack, radiant heat and direct flame contact. The BAL rating your property receives dictates the construction standards your build must meet under Australian Standard AS3959 - Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas.

If you're building a new home, extending, renovating, or constructing a shed, garage or studio in a designated bushfire-prone area in Victoria, you'll almost certainly need a BAL assessment before you can get a building permit.

Who Needs a BAL Assessment?

  • If you are building a new dwelling in a bushfire-prone area

  • If you are extending or renovating an existing home (depending on the scale of works)

  • If you are building a shed, studio, garage, carport or other Class 10a building in a bushfire-prone area

  • If your building surveyor has requested one as part of the building permit process

Not sure if you need one? Call us on 0400 081 073 and we can check your property's bushfire status and let you know in a few minutes.

BAL Levels Explained

BAL-LOW Minimal bushfire risk. No specific construction requirements beyond standard building practices.

BAL-12.5 Low risk. Protection against ember attack required.

BAL-19 Moderate risk. Increased construction standards for ember and radiant heat protection.

BAL-29 High risk. Significant construction upgrades required.

BAL-40 Very high risk. Major construction requirements for radiant heat and flame contact.

BAL-FZ Extreme risk (Flame Zone). The most stringent construction requirements apply.

The higher your BAL rating, the more expensive your construction will be. Part of our role is to help you understand your rating and, where possible, identify practical ways to achieve a lower rating through vegetation management or building placement.

Diagram showing different levels of ember attack and fire severity in homes as ember attack levels increase from BAL-12.5 to BAL-FZ, with increasing ember attack, windborne debris, radiant heat, and flames

How a BAL Assessment Works

We visit your property and assess the key factors that determine your BAL rating:

  • The type and classification of vegetation within 100 metres of your proposed building

  • The slope of the land between the vegetation and your building site

  • The distance from the vegetation to the building

  • The relevant Fire Danger Index for your area

What You Get

When we complete your BAL assessment, you receive a professionally prepared report that includes:

  • Your BAL rating determination

  • The methodology and data used in the assessment

  • A site plan showing assessed vegetation and measurement distances

  • The corresponding construction requirements under AS 3959

  • Recommendations for improving your BAL rating where applicable