B&D has released the B&D BAL-Maze which is the only CSIRO tested and compliant BAL-rated garage door system in Australia.

Up until now, building homes in bushfire-prone regions around Australia has been complex and confusing. B&D have solved one element, the home’s garage door.

“To ensure Australian homes are built to code and can withstand extreme conditions, in this case bushfires (the relevant standard AS 3959 – Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas code), buildings are graded on a ‘Bushfire Attack Level’ or BAL rating,” B&D global product and portfolio manager David Adams says.

“Our new B&D BAL-Maze range is the only garage door system in Australia to have been independently tested and received a compliant grading for bushfire protection to a BAL-40 rating by the CSIRO.

“In simple terms, our B&D BAL-Maze door system has been designed and developed to maximise a garage door’s defence system against flying embers and burning debris entering a home. Amazingly, we’re the only manufacturer to recognise this significant issue and develop a leading solution. Innovation is in our DNA, the development of BAL-Maze is yet another example of that.”

Testing regimes undertaken by the CSIRO revealed that other garage door manufacturers commonly use a plastic bristle seal system, which melts when exposed to temperatures of BAL-29 and higher. Once these parts are severely damaged or destroyed by the heat, this literally opens up gaps around the door, allowing flying embers to easily pass through, putting everything and everyone inside the house at great risk.

Embers can penetrate these weaknesses and cause damage David says: “We believe it’s simply not good enough – and that’s why we have developed a brand new, essential solution.”