Bushfire Areas

 

The AS3959:2009 bushfire std comprises two components (tests).

1.       AS3837 which determines the fire resistance level.
2.       ASTM D2898 which is an accelerated weathering test
 
The standard AS3837 test also known as the Cone Calorimeter test, has been around for some time and used in the commercial building sector. A group rating is usually the result reported. For bushfire, the same test method and equipment is used, but the indices required for the bushfire test report are different, therefore a standard AS3837 test is not acceptable.
 
If the product only has the AS3837 component, the product can only be used in what is deemed to be “unexposed areas”. An unexposed area is any surface area inside 30deg’s of any overhang.
If it has both components, it can be used in full weather exposed areas however, coating solutions can only be used up to BAL 29 bushfire zoning.