Floors and subfloors

Guiding principles

When retrofitting, efforts should be made to prevent flames and embers from entering into subfloors and burning any combustible materials stored in underfloor spaces. Several measures should be considered:

• If possible, fully enclose any raised floors with non-combustible materials.
• Protect (cover) all combustible flooring elements using non-combustible coverings.
• Remove any combustible objects (such as woodheaps and gardening equipment) that have been stored in open underfloor spaces.

Replace combustible enclosures with a fully-enclosed non-combustible alternative

Retrofitting for bushfire protection

The following table contains information on retrofitting a floor system. These measures will provide some protection against most bushfire hazards, however they may not protect against prolonged direct flame contact from burning vegetation or consequential fires.

If you have identified a source of Consequential fire, consider removing or relocating the source or installing a barrier between the house and the source (see Screen plantings). The risk of a consequential fire (e.g., fire spreading from a neighbouring house) is often not economically viable to mitigate. For example, mitigating this risk completely may require drastic changes in building materials and design. As such, it is important to acknowledge the risk of a consequential fire, and include it as a factor in your bushfire survival plan.

Even the most well built home is vulnerable to bushfire if there is a weakness or flaw in the buildings design or maintenance. No home is guaranteed to be 100% bushfire safe.