Bushfire consultants · the BAL assessment
Find a Bushfire Consultant in NSW (BPAD accredited)
On land the RFS maps as bush-fire prone the state fast-track routes switch off and every application needs a bushfire assessment. The consultant measures the vegetation and slope around the lot, sets the BAL and tells you what the design and construction have to include.
Type your suburb or your address.
What they do
A BAL assessment under Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019 and AS 3959: the vegetation type and distance in each direction, the effective slope, the resulting BAL (12.5 to Flame Zone) and the asset protection zone, access and water requirements. Subdivisions and some dual occupancies also need a bushfire safety authority from the RFS, which the consultant prepares.
When you need one
As soon as the bushfire chip on your result is anything but “none mapped”. The BAL decides the construction standard and the cost, and a Flame Zone finding can rule a second home out — you want that before the drawings, not after.
How to choose
Use a consultant accredited under the FPAA BPAD scheme (Level 2 or 3 for subdivisions). Ask whether they have taken applications through the RFS for your council and whether the fee covers the RFS liaison.
Are you a bushfire who works here? Apply to represent your suburb — one bushfire is listed per suburb, chosen on local track record.