Bushfire Compliance Terms

Understanding bushfire planning and risk management can be complex, especially with all the technical terms and acronyms involved. To help you navigate this field, we've compiled a list of helpful and commonly used glossary terms. Whether you're new to bushfire assessments or simply need a refresher, these definitions will provide clarity on key concepts and terminology that are essential for anyone involved in bushfire risk management, planning, or development.

Terms and Definitions

Term	Definition
All-weather surface	Compacted gravel surface (or similar pervious material) to Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology standards. Does not need to be sealed.
Ancillary dwelling	A building that is ancillary to the main single house e.g. granny flat.
APZ	See Asset Protection Zone.
AS 3959	AS 3959 is the Australian Standard for Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-Prone Areas. It outlines the requirements for building design and construction to improve the resilience of structures against bushfire attacks.
Aspect	The four cardinal (N, S, E, W) or intercardinal (NE, SE, NW, SW) directions a site is exposed to.
Asset Protection Zone (APZ)	An Asset Protection Zone (APZ) is a managed buffer between assets, like buildings, and surrounding vegetation. It reduces bushfire risk by maintaining low fuel loads, removing flammable vegetation, and creating a defensible space to protect lives and property during a fire. An APZ should be maintained as per Table 9 of the Guidelines.
BAL	See Bushfire Attack Level.
BCA	Building Code of Australia, a set of guidelines and regulations for building construction and safety.
BMP	See Bushfire Management Plan.
BPAD	Bushfire Planning and Design, involving measures to mitigate bushfire risks in urban planning and building design.
BPAD Accreditation	The Bushfire Planning and Design (BPAD) Accreditation Scheme is administered by Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) to formally recognize professionals who provide bushfire assessment, planning, design, and advisory services. BPAD Accreditation confirms a practitioner's skills and gives confidence that bushfire services are provided by qualified professionals.
BPAs	See Bushfire Prone Areas.
Broader landscape	Refers to the area surrounding a given development, usually 2 km around a site. The landscape characteristics (e.g. vegetation, slope, access) within that area influence bushfire risk and intensity.
Building Classes	Classification system for buildings based on their use and occupancy, with Class 1a being a type of house.
Building Code	Refers to the Building Code of Australia (Volumes 1 & 2 of the National Construction Code), as amended.
Building envelope	Area of land where all buildings and effluent facilities on a lot must be located, as per local planning regulations.
Bushfire Attack Level (BAL)	Bushfire Attack Level, refers to the level of bushfire risk for a property, typically denoted by a rating (e.g., BAL 29), or to the report assessing this risk.
Bushfire Hazard	An area where there is fuel available for a bushfire. Fuel includes any material which can be ignited and sustain a fire (e.g. vegetation, leaf litter, timber and brush fencing).
Bushfire Management Plan (BMP)	Bushfire Management Plan, a comprehensive plan outlining strategies and measures to mitigate bushfire risks and manage fire-prone areas.
Bushfire Planning & Design Accredited Practitioner	A person accredited at Levels 1, 2 or 3 under WA Bushfire Accreditation Framework, qualified to assess and manage bushfire risk.
Bushfire Prone Areas (BPAs)	Bush Fire Prone Areas (BPAs) are areas that are likely to be subject to bushfire attack. BPAs are designated by the Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner under section 18P of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1998. A BPA is identified by the presence of bush fire prone vegetation (BPV) and includes the BPV and a 100 metre buffer zone surrounding it. The vegetation types considered bush fire prone are those classified in the Australian Standard 3959:2018 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas.
CCC	Certificate of Construction Compliance: A certificate of construction compliance (CCC)
Classified Vegetation	The vegetation that presents a bushfire hazard within 150 metres of the development and is classified in accordance with Section 2.2.3 of AS 3959-2018.
Clearing	Removal or modification of native vegetation, as per Environmental Protection Act 1986 section 51A.
Dedicated Water Supply	A water supply that is dedicated to the purpose of firefighting, i.e., not a domestic supply.
Defendable space	Area around a building where vegetation is managed to reduce flame and radiant heat, allowing for firefighting.
Development Site	The part of a lot on which a building that is the subject of development stands or is to be constructed.
DFES	Department of Fire and Emergency Services, an organization responsible for firefighting and emergencies.
Direct Flame	Heat and flames directly emitted from a fire source, capable of causing ignition on combustible materials.
Egress	In the bushfire context, egress refers to the safe and efficient exit routes from a property or area during a bushfire.
Ember Attack	The phenomenon where burning embers are carried by wind and can ignite fires in new locations. Ember attack is the most common way buildings catch fire during a bushfire.
Excludable Vegetation	Vegetation that does not need to be classified as part of the bushfire site assessment. It may include ‘low threat’, and ‘non-vegetated’ areas as defined by Section 2.2.3.2 of AS 3959-2018.
Habitable Building	A permanent or temporary structure on land that: a) is fully or partially enclosed; and b) has at least one wall of solid material and a roof of solid material; and c) is used for a purpose that involves the use of the interior of the structure by people for living, working, studying or being entertained.
Hazard separation	Distance between development and classified vegetation under AS 3959, often beyond the Asset Protection Zone.
Horizontal clearance	Includes carriageway and traversable verge, allowing emergency vehicles to move and operate. Non-frangible objects may be present if they do not obstruct movement.
Indicative BAL	A potential bushfire attack level based on future measures such as vegetation management.
Locally significant vegetation	Vegetation identified in a local planning or biodiversity strategy.
NCC	National Construction Code, a set of building standards and requirements adopted nationally in Australia.
No-through road	Cul-de-sac or dead-end road.
Passing bay	An area where fire trucks can pass in an accessway, which is least 20m long and have a minimum trafficable width of 6m.
Planning proposal	Any planning instrument, including strategies, subdivision applications, or development applications.
Plant flammability	Characteristics of plant species that influence how flammable they are, such as moisture content.
Radiant Heat	Heat transferred from a fire to surrounding objects through electromagnetic waves, causing ignition.
Residential built-out area	Locality with reticulated water within or near urban or town areas, including a suitable destination.
Reticulated Water Supply	Permanent infrastructure provided to deliver water to lots from a water supply external to the general vicinity of the subdivision.
Site constraints	Physical features on or near a site that restrict how bushfire measures can be applied or redesigned.
Specified Building	On occasions a local planning scheme may list certain buildings that they consider should be given special consideration.
Strategic planning	High-level planning documents like region schemes or local planning strategies (excluding detailed structure plans).
Strategic Water Supply	A strategic water supply is an additional source of water (e.g. a large communal tank) located to serve a number of properties that is maintained by a public authority or Body Corporate for firefighting purposes.
The “Guidelines” (Planning For Bushfire Guidelines)	The Planning For Bushfire Guidelines (often referred to as the 'Guidelines') in Western Australia are a key document designed to support the implementation of State Planning Policy 3.7 (SPP 3.7) and the Bushfire Management Regulations. These guidelines provide detailed advice and recommendations on planning, designing, and assessing development proposals in bushfire-prone areas.
Tolerable	Accepting a risk with the understanding it is controlled and monitored. Not the same as 'acceptable.'
Trafficable	Can be travelled by vehicles at posted speed limit.
Two-way access	Access from a site in two directions to two different destinations.
Type 3.4 firefighting appliance	A 4x4 tanker with 3000L water tank used in firefighting.
Weight capacity	Refers to the load-bearing ability of access surfaces, bridges, and culverts on-site.