Modular Homes Made for Bushfire Areas
We need to rethink how we build affordable homes throughout Australia, that are both sustainable and in this case bushfire ready.
Modular homes have excelled tremendously since their inception. They are now proving to be a smart choice in the Australian housing market for many reasons. The one-size has to fit all approach has been replaced with architecture design, flexibility and sustainability.
In addition, the construction time is far quicker. There are limited site problems and you won’t have the potential problem of lack of local builders or trades to meet the demands of each community. Which could delay you getting back on your feet faster!
As a part of our series about rebuilding Australia after the fires, today we look at the affordable option of modular homes. The builders we have picked for this series are making exceptional modular homes and offer special site specifications with BAL ratings that work within your zone.
Bushfire Prone Modular Homes
Here is our selection of modular home designs with sustainable and affordable credentials! Please note this is an editorial and we advise talking directly with your builder and council regarding your exact site BAL specifications.
Our Features include designs from:
Archiblox
MODE homes
MODSCAPE
iBuild
Modscape
Ecoliv
Architect Mark Fullgar
Archiblox
Available Australia Wide
Archiblox is a multi-award-winning architecture and building company. They proudly create a wide-range of architect-designed prefabrication and modular homes that are carbon-positive!
Their simple, quality homes focus on using healthy materials, sustainable designs and products that can be adapted for bush blocks.
- Some Materials and Features
- Can supply 40,000L rainwater tank.
- Passive design principles.
- Respectful to its footprint.
- Sustainable features including water-efficient fixtures, high-grade insulation to the walls, floor and ceiling.
- Low embodied energy.
- The impact on the local biodiversity and surrounds is minimal.
- Sustainably sourced Australian timbers with Colorbond corrugated sheet cladding.
- Health features include low VOC paints and soy-based glues.
- Other Considerations:
- Designs can be modified for small and steeply sloping sites.
- Can be built in 12 to 20 weeks depending on design, allow extra weeks for custom projects.
For more information click here: Archiblox
MODE home
Available on the East Coast of Australia
MODE homes are making an impact in the affordable, architecturally designed modular home market.
Founder and registered architect Matthew Dynon devised a ‘fold pack’ home system in 2012. This enables easy and cost effective transporting, set up time and delivery to even the most demanding of locations.
Matthew Dynon told design-estate that MODE homes have specially designed a range of one to four bedroom homes that sit comfortably in the most extreme fire hazard locations like BAL 40 and BAL FZ.
‘The main difference with going up to BAL 40 and BAL FZ is the window shutters’ he explained, ‘these have an effect on the appearance of the building. Most other measures relate to the cladding materials and the wall and roof detailing’.
It’s also worth noting, he said, if you are wanting to build in a high-level BAL location the council will refer you to the RFS, Rural Fire Service. They don’t like the boxed parapet look and prefer a gabled roof to easily remove leaves. Therefore MODE homes will use their specially design gable roof for BAL 40 and FZ zones in these circumstances.
MODE homes have a standard series and can adapt plans to work within your needs
Some of their homes with BAL ratings include:
Manyana = BAL – 29 house close to Lake Congola (currently being constructed)
Smiths Lake = BAL FZ (currently being constructed)
Elizabeth Beach = BAL 29
Bundanoon = BAL 29
Charles St = BAL 19
All these homes can be found here – MODE homes
Ecoliv
Ventnor 2
Ecoliv has a number of sustainable prefab homes that can be constructed to meet a low to extreme BAL rating.
They have designed a range of home which were constructed to different BAL ratings.
These include:
Ventnor 2
French Island
Callala Beach – BAL FZ Flame Zone
Some of their works below.
French Island
Callala Beach – BAL FZ Flame Zone
Other designs within their range can be adapted. See here: Ecoliv Homes
Fairweather Homes with Modus Architects
Available in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.
Sustainability and energy efficiency are integrated components to all Fairweather projects.
By investing in carefully curated choices from flow of space, planning, orientation to materials you can achieve a sustainability, effective and energy efficient home.
Fairweather projects apply these smart principles as well as passive design, renewable energy and water, plus thermal mass to their low-impact homes.
Fairweather projects also collaborate with architect Modus for a more individual approach. Fairweather Homes and Modus Architects
Modscape
Available in Victoria and NSW.
A Modscape home has proven successful in surviving a bushfire first hand.
On Christmas Day in 2015 fires ripped through Wye River and the Separation Creek regions. Over 100 properties with roughly 80% of buildings in the fire area were lost this Modscape survived – see picture 2.
“The house’s steel support structure and non-combustible subfloor, cladding, window frames and doors were effective in resisting ignition in combination with aerial suppression activities.”
• “The decking and support structure appeared to be effective in retarding flame development from the ember attack.”
• “The inclusion of gutter guards and a simple roof profile also appeared to limit the likelihood of a roof ignition.”
• “The deck was supported by galvanised steel bearers and posts, which were effective in supporting the decking structure and building throughout the fire event.”
Our design picks from Modscape.
A 2013 CSIRO report from the site highlighted:
Here are two great articles:
CSIRO Post Bushfire Case Study
Modscape has written a great article on ‘What You Need to Know About Building a Modular Home in a Bushfire Prone Area’.
RAL Homes
RAL Homes are designed to withstand a bushfires attack up to Level 40.
These kit homes can be supplied Australia wide and can be shipped overseas.
It’s signature curved roof results in a contemporary feel, energy-efficient and incredibly effective in a bushfire situation.
The curve also aids in the reduction of debris and embers during a fire.
This design system allows for additional components to extend the home if required.
- Key Materials & Features
- A fire resistant BHP (Stramit) Colorbond exterior cladding and cement sheet cladding. The roof extends to the base of the house which makes it highly energy efficient in terms of heating and cooling.
- Concrete slab
- A steel sub-floor and the underside of flooring is lined with insulation and cement sheet.
- The windows and sliding doors have a minimum of 5 mm toughened glass and stainless steel mesh screens. Their fire resistant to BAL 40 kw/m² and supplied by Stegbar. You can order additional protection by fitting protective bushfire shutters.
- To reduce the build up of leaves and flammable foliage recessed steel rainwater gutters have been applied.
- 12 weeks – maybe longer for special additions
- The size is 121m² (13 squares) excluding decking.
- There are three bedrooms each with built-in-robes, one bathroom, study nook, kitchen, and an open plan living area.
