Risk of bushfire!

Our number one risk on the property is bushfire. We are on the top of a ridge with Eucalypt forest on either side. The slope is at least 20% in some places and obviously fire prone (blackened trunks evident). So in the design we have aimed at using fire resistant materials and have a sensible design.

1. Fire resistant materials- Straw bale walls. Believe it or not the straw bale wall is one of the most fire resistant materials around. It's ecological foot print is low and it's insulation properties are fantastic. Alot of manual labour is also on the cards but is already looking satisfying. The lack of oxygen and air flow is a key and the cob and render on the outside also add to the fire integrity of the product.

2. New hardie materials, hardiflex or masonite like panels are easy to put up, no spaces between sheeting and fire resistant, will still need to put insulation and framing up.

3. Rokcore roofing (colourbond with poly infill)- A1 fire rating, low cost for structural support and easy to put up. Can take a low pitch design and easily rendered up to easves.

4. No gaps or spaces and limit ember catches.

5. Steel mesh guttering and window shutters.

6. Inbuilt sprinkler system.

For starters this is our main physical defense with 40,000 litre concrete tank and protected fire fighting pump in housing with cooling mechanism.

The last thing to think about is a fire plan which we are developing. Anyway food for thought....

Toilet drivers

The toilet choosen is a compost toilet. It is important for the positioning of the toilet to be north facing for maximum heating capability. Orginally the toilet was west facing and would only get afternoon sun. Now we have a north facing toilet to maximised decomposition rate and limit the amount of power used by the fan to initiate air flow. An example of the type of installation on the left, can be a glass (or perspex) window to the north with heat rocks on the floor with a vent. This addition took a slight alteration in the slab too. Next, to minimise fire risk!