Australia’s plantation pine industry is promoting the species’ use in construction to counter claims that new homebuilders are being advised to use non-timber framing in bushfire-prone areas.
The Plantation Pine Framing Campaign, which represents some of Australia’s largest producers, processors and merchants of plantation pine products, believes some people have been “erroneously” advised to use other materials because of a perceived fire risk of timber.
Campaign spokesperson Nick Livanes said: “There are good reasons why 95% of the frames that underpin new homes in Australia are timber, and these apply regardless of whether a house is at risk of being exposed to bushfire.”
He said most homes catch fire from flying embers igniting debris around the home or through window openings where the flammable house contents are set ablaze.
Mr Livanes said construction standards for bushfire zones make no reference to framing materials and that timber framing will char and behave predictably in a fire, allowing occupants time to escape.
The campaign has listed a range of measures homeowners can take to prepare for the bushfire season, including clearing dead leaves and undergrowth around the house, growing fire resistants plants, ember-proofing, preparing firebreaks and screening roof vents with fine wire mesh.
