# Free Bushfire Attack Level Calculator

Quickly calculate a bushfire attack level using the simplified or complex methods in this BAL calculator to AS 3959 2018.

Summary

Bushfire Attack Level

$BAL =$

BAL-FZ

Construction Requirements Sections in AS 3959:2018

$sect_{BAL} =$

Sections 3 and 9

Description of Predicted Bushfire Attack

$desc_{BAL} =$

Direct exposure to flames from fire front in addition to heat flux and ember attack

Key Inputs

Calculation Method

Fire Danger Index

VIC: All Other Areas

Type to filter

BAL Low Threat Exclusion

None

Type to filter

Vegetation Classification

B. Woodland

Type to filter

Distance Between Site and Classified Vegetation

$d =$

$\mathrm{m}$

Effective Slope Under Classified Vegetation

$slope =$

$\mathrm{deg}$

Upslope or Downslope Under Classified Vegetation?

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## How to Use the Free Bushfire Attack Level Calculator

The ClearCalcs Bushfire Attack Level calculator allows the user to quickly find the BAL for any site in Australia with just five simple inputs, using both the simplified method and the detailed (Appendix B) method simultaneously.

Signing up for a ClearCalcs account will unlock further advanced features for design and analysis of beams and a variety of other structural elements. ClearCalcs enables design in steel, concrete and timber, according to Australian, US and EU Standards.

The sheet is divided into four main sections:

1. 'Key Properties', where all of the required inputs are entered.
2. 'Summary', where the calculated Bushfire Attack Level is displayed, along with information about the design considerations that the given BAL requires. If a simplified method calculation is valid, then maximum distances to the vegetation for each BAL are also shown in tabular form.
3. 'Advanced Parameter Overrides', where advanced users may enter overrides for values used in the detailed (Appendix B) method, such as ambient temperature, flame width and emissivity, and elevation of the receiver.
4. 'Detailed Method Results', where calculated values of interest to advanced users are displayed, including the forward rate of speed, flame angle, view factor, and radiant heat flux.

A ‘Comments’ section is also included for the user to leave any specific design notes. Clicking on any of the input/property labels gives a descriptive reference explanation.

### 1. Input Key Properties

Only five key inputs are required for most Bushfire Attack Level calculations.

• Fire Danger Index: First, select the Fire Danger Index region relevant for your design. The regions are each described in the dropdown. Alternatively, if your local council or region requires a different Fire Danger Index, the "Custom" option may be selected and an FDI value manually input.
• BAL Low Threat Exclusion: Second, review the BAL Low Threat Exclusion options, and select one if it applies. These will only apply if vegetation is particularly far away, in small/narrow patches, or of a "low-threat" type (such as maintained lawns).
• Vegetation Classification: Third, select the type of vegetation to be classified.
• Distance Between Site and Classified Vegetation: Fourth, enter the distance between the site and the classified vegetation being tested in this analysis. A more complete description for exactly how this should be measured is available by clicking on the label and/or referring to the standard at the cited clause, though in general this measurement is the horizontal distance from an outer wall to the understory of the vegetation.
• Effective Slope Under Classified Vegetation: Finally, enter the effective slope of the ground under the classified vegetation. Again, refer to the description and/or standard for more detail, but this generally means the highest notable ground slope within the vegetation area. Note that if a negative value is entered here, then the "Upslope" radio button will automatically be selected - though the radio button may alternatively be manually changed. A vegetation area is "Upslope" if its elevation is lower on the site side of the vegetation (see diagram). (The slope between the site and the vegetation does not affect whether it is "Upslope" or "Downslope").

In the simplified method, the slope between the site and the vegetation, referred to as the Site Slope, is assumed to be the same as the Effective Slope Under the Classified Vegetation. If this is not the case, however, then the Site Slope may also be changed in this section, and will affect the results of the detailed (Appendix B) method.

### 2. Advanced Parameter Overrides for Detailed Method

Most users can simply ignore this section, though advanced users may wish to override various parameters of the detailed (Appendix B) method calculations. Please refer to the descriptions for each value and/or the AS 3959 clause cited for each override for details on what exactly each means. Changing any of these values will result in the simplified method no longer being valid, and the associated results disappearing from the Summary section on the right side of the page. Clearing an input box will result in the default simplified method value being used for the parameter.

### Summary Outputs

If applicable, results from the simplified method are displayed first - with the most important value, the Bushfire Attack Level by Simplified Calculation displayed at the top of this section. A Bushfire Attack Level Distances by Simplified Calculation table then follows this value, showing the distances from the classified vegetation at which that BAL classification will change. Note that these pieces of information will not be displayed if the simplified method is not valid (such as if a custom FDI was used, or if any of the Advanced Parameter Overrides were set).

Bushfire Attack Level by Detailed Calculation: The BAL calculated by the detailed (Appendix B) method will be displayed below the simplified method results. In most cases, this will match with the simplified method result, though may differ in particular if the Site Slope is changed.

Applicable Construction Requirements Sections in AS 3959:2018: The important results of a BAL classification are the construction requirements sections that are triggered. Therefore, the section numbers required by the calculated BAL are shown following the actual BAL, along with the standard's Description of Predicted Bushfire Attack which can occur at the calculated BAL.

#### Detailed Method Results

Below the Summary, advanced users may click on the Detailed Method Results heading to see the results for the Appendix B calculations performed. These results include the following:

• Adjusted Forward Rate of Speed: The speed at which flames may advance on the site, adjusted for the Effective Slope. This is dependent upon many factors, including the type and quantity of fuel present, as well as climatic factors such as wind speed and humidity.
• Flame Length: The total length of the flame which may occur, dependent upon the type and quantity of fuel present, as well as the forward rate of speed.
• Flame Emissive Power: The energy power put out by a unit area of the flame, dependent primarily upon the flame temperature.
• Flame Angle: The angle at which the flame may form. This value is determined through an iterative solving process defined in the standard, and which may be referenced in the collapsed sections on the left side of the page.
• Maximum View Factor: This essentially refers to how much of the flame will be in direct 'view' of the site, and therefore how much of the flame's heat will affect the site. It is found through the same iterative process as the Flame Angle.
• Elevation of Receiver: This value may be overridden manually, but if it is not, then the worst-case elevation is found through the same iterative process as the Flame Angle.
• Flame Path Length: The length along the ground which may be burning as the flame advances toward the site, dependent upon the Flame Angle, Flame Length, and Distance to Classified Vegetation.
• Atmospheric Transmissivity: The proportion of the flame's heat which transmits through the atmosphere to the site. This value is based upon empirical testing and dependent upon the Ambient Temperature, Flame Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Path Length.
• Radiant Heat Flux: The amount of heat which will reach the site, per unit area of the site. This value is compared with the various limits to determine the Bushfire Attack Level (for example, "BAL-29" means that up to 29 kW/m^2 of heat flux will reach the site).