Keeping your home safe involves more than simply securing it against intruders. Throughout Australia, fire safety is a crucial aspect of building design and compliance. Bushfires and grassfires are commonly occurring natural disasters, with areas such as the Gold Coast Hinterland at high risk. Fire attenuation screens are specialised mesh barriers that are cost-effective, lightweight and continue to allow airflow and visibility.
You may wonder how fire attenuation screens differ from other forms of security screens, especially those designed with the purpose of protecting against bushfires. Goldco® Security has the answers for you and can help you find the screen best suited to your home.
A socially responsible company that has been supplying security screens to people in the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads region since the 1980s, Goldco® Security can equip your home with high-grade fire protection. Here is the Goldco® Security guide to how fire attenuation and bushfire screens measure up and how to know which one to invest in.
What are fire attenuation screens?
To attenuate something means to reduce its force or effect. Fire attenuation screens are specialised mesh screens designed to reduce radiant heat from a fire. While they are not fireproof and do not completely block fire, they do significantly reduce the amount of heat transferred from an external source. This reduction in heat reduces the risk of fire spreading between buildings, helps prevent ignition of building materials and gives people extra time to escape safely.
What are bushfire screens?
Bushfire screens are mesh screens specifically tested to withstand high temperatures and prevent flying embers from entering your home. Made from metal mesh, they maintain airflow and visibility while providing a secure barrier. In areas designated under the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating system, bushfire screens are mandatory for new builds and renovations.
Fire attenuation and bushfire screens: similarities and differences
Fire attenuation screens and bushfire screens have the same goal of fire risk reduction but some crucial differences as well. The main points of difference include:
Main purpose
Bushfire screens are specifically designed to guard against bushfires by reducing ember entry and reducing radiant heat. Attenuation screens are not exclusively designed for bushfires and instead built to diffuse radiant heat and reduce the risk of building-to-building ignition. While Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings play a role in the purpose of both types, fire attenuation screens also reduce high levels of radiant heat transfer between close buildings.
Construction
While bushfire screens are primarily constructed from metal mesh, attenuation screens are often multi-layered (mesh and frame etc.). These extra components contribute to its engineering for higher performance.
Affordability
Compared to fire attenuation screens, bushfire screens tend to be on the more budget-friendly side. Of course, this is variable and it is often worth investing in a pricier screen for the sake of safety.
Which one should you buy?
So which type of screen is the best option when it comes to protecting your own premises? Your choice depends heavily (but not entirely) on your BAL and your distance from the hazard or boundary.
The National Construction Code (NCC) requires openings (including windows) to have attenuation screens fitted whenever they are a certain distance from the boundary. This applies to class 1a buildings (single dwellings) with an external wall less than 900mm from a side or rear allotment boundary or less than 1800mm from another building on the same allotment, and class 2 buildings (multi-unit) with an external wall less than 900mm from a side or rear allotment boundary or less than 1800mm from another building on the same allotment.
There are six BAL categories and a bushfire screen is crucial for BAL 12.5-19 (low to moderate risk). If your BAL is higher than 19, a fire attenuation screen generally provides more comprehensive protection. Ultimately, however, a combination of both is the most secure form of protection.
Protect your home from fires with Goldco® Security
Whether you’re investing in fire attenuation screens or bushfire security screens, Goldco® Security provides you with the highest level of protection. With 35+ years’ experience providing quality manufacturing and reliable installation of security screens on the Gold Coast, Goldco® Security can blend our screen solutions seamlessly into your property.
Our Amplimesh® fire attenuation screens are subject to two hours of rigorous testing by the CSIRO in accordance with the Australian Standards AS1530.4 – 2014, Appendix B7. During testing, the Amplimesh® SupaScreen® was subjected to an irradiance heat of 40kW/m2 for two hours and demonstrated a substantial reduction in radiant heat by up to 59%.
Whether you choose Amplimesh®, SupaScreen®, IntrudaGuard® or PrivacyGuard®, our bushfire screens provide protection from intruders, clear outward visibility with no bars and grilles and the best of both worlds: ventilation while maintaining safety.
To find out more about Goldco® Security’s screen safety options, call us on (07) 5572 2628 or send us an e-mail.