Fencing For Bushfire Prone Areas

Australian summer temperature can, and usually does get quite high. Hence, depending on your location, you may need to consider fencing for bushfire-prone areas. If you are surrounded by grass and forests, they may dry during summer, making your home vulnerable to the threat of bushfires.

Understanding the importance of fencing suitable for bushfire-prone areas, this fencing blog will focus on some of the fencing types that can withstand bushfires without significant damages.

Fire-proof fencing

When it comes to bushfires and fencing in areas susceptible to bushfires, you need to consider, firstly, the material that the fence is made of. Simplistically, you can classify them into three categories.

Non-combustible materials: concrete, stone and masonry.
In between combustible and non-combustible: metal.
Combustible materials: wood and plastic.

However, you also have to be aware of the fencing style used. Fences with gaps should be avoided. Why? Because embers can get trapped in those gaps, further igniting the fencing.

grey colorbond fence Melbourne fencing for bushfire

Fencing for bushfire prone areas – Colorbond steel fencing

As mentioned, material and whether the fencing has gaps determines how well the fencing can withstand the fire. Thus the most suitable fencing styles in bushfire-prone areas are stone, brick and concrete walls. However, you do have to be mindful of the cost associated with the installation of such fences.

There is other option available – Colorbond steel fencing.

Colorbond steel fencing has been tested against bushfires, and extensive research has been conducted to support that claim. After the simulation, there was no structural failure of the fencing system, showing that Colorbond steel fencing is suitable for bushfire-prone areas. Not only will that fencing style stand tall from a structural point of view after being in contact with fire, but it will also resist the progress of the fire.