Gutter Guard King Tas Blog

Summertime is upon us. For some, this means barbecues, days spent at the beach, and maybe even a vacation. For others, summer can be a nerve-wracking time, with the threat of bushfires always looming in the background.

Ember Attacks in Australia 

Every year, hundreds of homes in Australia are destroyed by bushfires, with ember attacks being the most common cause. The wind carries burning twigs and leaves and drops them on or around houses, starting new fires more than 100 metres away from the main blaze.

You may be surprised to learn that the main threat to your home during a bushfire is not the firefront itself but the embers it produces!

More than 85 per cent of houses that burn down during a bushfire are not the result of being directly hit by the fire. Instead, they're victims of ember attacks. If you want to protect your home, you need to take measures to defend against embers.

How Do Ember Attacks Begin?

Ember attacks happen when burning debris from a fire falls on or near your house and starts it on fire. The burning debris can easily ignite leaves in your gutters or other flammable objects near your home. It can also be drawn into your roof cavity and other parts of your home, causing internal fires.

Luckily, many measures in the Australian Standard for building in bushfire-prone areas (AS3959–2009) are designed to improve your home’s ability to withstand ember attack – including ember guards. This is because an ember attack poses a significant threat to homes.

How to Prevent Ember Attacks using Ember Guards?

As defined by AS3959–2009, an ember guard is a barrier placed over an opening to prevent burning embers from entering.

Ember guards are usually made of a metal mesh, with the largest hole being 2mm. Sheets of metal with holes of the same size are also allowed. Blue Mountain Co’s 2mm steel gutter mesh would be an example of an ember guard compliant mesh.

Additionally, ember guards are primarily used to protect areas around your home with gaps larger than 3mm. This helps to prevent embers from entering your home and causing damage.

Ember guards may help protect your home from fires from embers inside your home, but they won’t do anything to stop an ember attack from an external fire. 

Why Is an Ember Guard Important?

You have no foolproof way to ensure your home can withstand an ember attack, but taking the measures discussed in this article will improve your chances.

AS3959–2009 applies to new homes in bushfire zones, but you can also help make older homes more resistant to bushfires or homes in areas with a low risk of bushfires.

How to Choose an Ember Guard?

It’s advisable to use ember guards, particularly gutter mesh, that comply with gutter guard standards to prevent leaves from accumulating in your gutters. Leaves are a common fuel source for bushfires, so it's essential to keep them clear from your gutters.

When choosing a gutter guard for a bushfire-prone area, any non-combustible mesh is compliant. However, the mesh's aperture size should be appropriate for the leaves in your area. Generally, the smaller the leaves in your area, the smaller the aperture you should choose. For added protection, you may want to use an ember guard compliant gutter mesh.

Conclusion

Summer is the most dangerous season for bushfires in Australia. Knowing how to protect your home from ember attacks just might save it.

Remember to have an emergency plan and ensure your family has one too. If you are at home when a bushfire happens, follow your bushfire survival plan and Dial 000 if you need help. If you are not at home during a fire, you must know where family members are and where to go if your area is threatened.

To protect your home from an ember attack, use ember guards compliant gutter mesh and a gutter guard that is non-combustible and has the appropriate aperture for your area. Get these ember guards in Hobart through our store today. 

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