Free tool Bushfire BAL guide
Bushfire planning · NSW & Victoria

Estimate your Bushfire Attack Level

A free guide that walks you through the BAL assessment process used in NSW and Victoria, before you engage a certified consultant.

Before you continue

Read this and confirm before you proceed.

What this tool is. A free educational tool that walks you through the BAL assessment method described in the NSW RFS Single Dwelling Application Kit and the equivalent AS 3959 method used in Victoria. It is provided by PERREM Design & Construction as a public resource.

What this tool is not. A certified BAL assessment. The result is an estimate with no legal standing. In NSW, a single dwelling BAL assessment forms part of the RFS Single Dwelling Application Kit, which the owner can lodge with their development application or have prepared for them; it is referred to the RFS for concurrence and may be adjusted. More complex sites, and Victoria, use a BAL assessment by a BPAD-accredited consultant. Either way, get a proper assessment before you rely on a number.

State-specific. Currently supports NSW (Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019) and Victoria (Bushfire Management Overlay, BAL contour map). Other states use the same AS 3959 method but with different planning overlays and Fire Danger Indices.

Scope. This tool estimates the BAL only. It does not assess Asset Protection Zones (NSW), defendable space (VIC), water supply, access, gas, or landscaping. Those are part of a full assessment.

Where is your property?

Bushfire planning is set state by state. Pick the state your property is in.

Other states use the same AS 3959 method but with different Fire Danger Indices and planning overlays. We'll add them if there's demand.

Bushfire planning

Estimate your Bushfire Attack Level

A free guide that walks you through the six-step BAL assessment process, before you engage a certified consultant.

How this tool works (and what it does not do)

For each of the four sides of your future building (north, east, south, west) you describe the worst-case bushfire vegetation within 100 m, the distance to it, and the slope under it. The tool combines that with the relevant Fire Danger Index and returns the BAL for each side. Your final BAL is the worst result across all four sides. Properties more than 100 m from any bushfire vegetation, or more than 50 m from grassland, are typically BAL-LOW with no construction requirements.

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First, is the property on bushfire-prone land?

Check the map →

Opens in a new tab. Return here once you've confirmed your property's status.

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Where is the property?

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The vegetation around your site

For each side of the building (north, east, south, west), describe the worst-case bushfire vegetation within 100 m, the distance to it, and the slope under it. Pick "Managed land or no hazard" if there is no bushfire-prone vegetation on that side.

Understanding slope. Slope is measured under the vegetation, looking from your building toward the bush. If the ground falls away from your building toward the vegetation, that's downslope and fire runs uphill toward you (the dangerous case). If the vegetation sits at the same level or uphill from the building, that's flat or upslope (the slope works in your favour).
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Vegetation type reference

From the NSW RFS classification chart (the same vegetation categories apply across AS 3959). If your site has a mix, use the type that poses the greatest bushfire risk (usually the densest, tallest, or most fuel-rich vegetation).

Your result

Indicative BAL

Fill in the questions above and your result will appear here.

PERREM Design and Construction

What to do with this result

Talk to us about your project