What You Need to Know About BAL-Rated Doors

Building in Bushfire-Prone Areas

When building or renovating in a bushfire-prone area, choosing the right entrance door isn’t just about style, it’s about safety and compliance. A BAL-rated door plays an important role in protecting a home from ember attack, radiant heat and direct flame contact. Understanding BAL ratings and the requirements helps avoid costly errors and ensures the home is safe and compliant.

What is a BAL Rating?

A Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) measures the building’s potential exposure to bushfire risk. Ratings are determined by factors such as vegetation type, distance to bushland, extent of bushland, weather patterns and slope of the site.

The higher the BAL, the greater the construction requirements from low risk to flame zone. Each level outlines specific standards for materials, seals, glazing and joinery to limit ignition points and reduce the risk of bushfire damage to the home.

Building in a Bushfire-Prone Area

If you’re working on a site classified as bushfire-prone, BAL compliance should be factored in from the design stage. The site’s BAL assessment directly impacts what products you can specify and, in most cases, increases the cost of the build. In terms of entry doors, it dictates what door frames, glazing thickness, hardware and weather seals can be used.

Key Differences Between BAL Ratings for Entrance Doors

When it comes to entry doors, the site’s assessment will inform you not only of the BAL rating but also of the extent of the protection required.

BAL-12.5

·       Protects against ember attack only. Risk of radiant heat is considered low

·       Doors and door frames must be metal, bushfire-resistant timber, timber with a density greater than 650 kg/m or metal-reinforced uPVC

·       All glazing must be 4mm Grade A safety glass

·       Weather strips, draught excluders or draught seals must be fitted

·       Door hardware does not need upgrading.

BAL-19

·       Risk is considered moderate with increasing levels of ember attack. Increased likelihood of exposure to radiant heat

·       Doors and door frames must be metal, bushfire-resistant timber, timber with a density greater than 650 kg/m or metal-reinforced uPVC

·       Tight-fitted doors to frames

·       Glazing must be 5mm toughened glass

·       Openable portions of doors are not required to be screened

·       Weather strips, draught excluders or draught seals must be fitted

·       Door hardware does not need upgrading.

BAL-29

·       Risk is considered high with increasing levels of ember attack. Increased likelihood of exposure to radiant heat

·       Doors and door frames must be metal, bushfire-resistant timber or metal-reinforced uPVC

·       Tight-fitted doors to frames

·       Glazing must be 6mm toughened glass

·       Openable portions of doors are not required to be screened

·       Weather strips, draught excluders or draught seals must be fitted

·       Door hardware does not need upgrading.

BAL-40

·       Risk is very high with increasing levels of ember attack. Increasing likelihood of exposure to radiant heat and some direct exposure to flames

·       Metal frames and door panels/ leafs

·       Tight-fitted doors to frames

·       Glazing must be 6mm toughened glass with metal mesh screens

·       Openable portions of doors are not required to be screened

·       Weather strips, draught excluders or draught seals must be fitted. Seals must be manufactured from silicone or have a flammability index of less than 5

·       Door hardware must be metal.

BAL-FZ (Flame Zone)

·       Direct exposure to flames and extreme heat

·       Only non-combustible door systems tested to AS 1530.8.2 are compliant

·       Fully sealed, metal-framed doors with heat-resistant glazing and non-combustible seals

·       All components — frames, glazing, seals, and hardware — must be tested as a complete system.

BAL-Rated Door Options at Bowens

Bowens stocks a comprehensive range of BAL-rated doors to suit BAL-12.5 through BAL-40 zones, along with compliant seals and door hardware.

Hume Entrance Door Newington XN1 Duracote BAL12.5 Clear

The Hume Newington XN1 entrance door is designed for versatility and style. Its vertical glass panel creates an aesthetic appeal for the contemporary home.

·       A minimalist glazed entrance door

·       Clear glazing to maximise natural light in the home

·       Solid core construction

·       Duracote tempered hardboard skin for a ready-to-paint finish

·       Suitable for installation in BAL12.5 areas

Hume Entrance Door BFR4 Duracote BAL29 Clear

This Hume door provides a stylish sunlit entrance to a home’s front facade. It has a smooth hardboard finish making it quick and easy to paint.

·       Entrance door with clear glazing to allow maximum light into the home

·       Solid door construction

·       6mm tempered safety glass

·       Suitable for installation in BAL29 areas

·       Duracote tempered hardboard skin for a ready-to-paint finish

·       Other glazing types available 

Corinthian External Door PBUSH4 Primed BAL40

This Corinthian external door provides a contemporary entry to the front facade. It has a smooth-tempered hardboard skin, allowing for the quick and easy application of paint.

·       Entry door with routed design on both faces

·       Solid core construction

·       Primed and ready for paint

·       Suitable for installation in BAL40 bush fire areas

Bowens supplies a wide range of external doors from BAL-12.5 to BAL-40 rated, to ensure you have more choice when selecting your entry door. For more information on BAL-rated entrance doors, visit the Bowens website or drop into your local Bowens store in Melbourne or regional Victoria today.