There is no such thing as an official "BAL-29 gate" certificate. The Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) is a rating for your site and your building, and the standard behind it does not set requirements for gates. In practice, a gate on a bushfire-prone property should be built from non-combustible materials, and your planning rules or council may add conditions. This guide explains what the rating means, what the rules say, and how to specify a gate that suits a bushfire-prone site.
TL;DR
- A BAL rates a site's bushfire exposure, from BAL-LOW up to BAL-FZ. It is assigned to the property, not to a gate.
- AS 3959:2018 states that it gives no requirements for fencing and screen walls, so gate rules come from state planning controls, local councils and good practice.
- Non-combustible materials, such as steel and wrought iron, are the sensible choice for gates and fences on bushfire-prone land, especially in BAL-29 or higher.
- Rules differ by state. Confirm your BAL and any permit conditions with your council or a bushfire assessor before you order.
- Emergency vehicle access matters as much as material: the gate must let fire crews in.
Table of Contents
- What a BAL rating actually measures
- Is there such a thing as a BAL rated gate?
- Where gate rules do come from
- Which gate materials suit each BAL level
- Access for fire crews is part of the brief
- How to specify a gate for a bushfire-prone property
- Our perspective
- Talk to us about a gate for your site
- FAQ
- Sources
What a BAL rating actually measures
BAL stands for Bushfire Attack Level. The National Emergency Management Agency describes it as a system used in Australia to assess a property's bushfire risk. New homes in bushfire-prone areas need a BAL assessment, while an older house may never have had one.
The rating considers the slope, the type of vegetation and how close the building is to it. The Western Australian Government confirms a BAL assessment looks at slope, vegetation and proximity to other buildings or structures, and the assigned level drives the building's required construction.
The levels are measured in radiant heat. The Queensland Reconstruction Authority's guidance sets them out as follows:
| Level | Radiant heat exposure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| BAL-12.5 | Up to 12.5 kW/m² | Ember attack is the main concern |
| BAL-19 | 12.5 to 19 kW/m² | Higher ember attack and some heat |
| BAL-29 | 19 to 29 kW/m² | Heavy ember attack and more radiant heat |
| BAL-40 | 29 to 40 kW/m² | Flames may intermittently contact the house |
| BAL-FZ | Over 40 kW/m² | Flames likely to engulf part or all of the house |
BAL-LOW sits below these and carries no special construction requirements. Western Australia lists all six levels, from BAL-LOW to BAL-FZ, with construction detail in the relevant sections of AS 3959.
Is there such a thing as a BAL rated gate?
People search for "BAL rated gates" and expect a product label. The reality is more nuanced, and understanding it helps you buy well.
AS 3959:2018 does not provide requirements for fencing and screen walls. It notes that how well a fence performs depends on its resistance to ember, radiant heat and flame attack, its ignition potential, its height, its structural design and the site layout. The standard's own foreword adds that it cannot guarantee a building will survive every bushfire, because survival also depends on landscaping, water supply, access, design and maintenance.
The National Construction Code works the same way. Part 3.7.4 applies to Class 1 buildings and Class 10a buildings or decks within 6 m of a Class 1 building in designated bushfire-prone areas. A freestanding driveway gate or boundary fence is a different kind of structure.
So when a supplier talks about a "BAL-29 gate", the sensible meaning is a gate built from materials and details that suit a BAL-29 site. It does not mean a gate carrying a formal BAL certificate.
Where gate rules do come from
The requirements most owners meet sit in state planning controls and in the conditions attached to a permit or a bushfire report.
New South Wales. The state's fence fact sheet says that on bushfire-prone land fences must be non-combustible or hardwood, metal parts must be low-reflective and factory pre-coloured, and gates must not open outwards. A bushfire protection assessment lodged in 2025 for a NSW project states that fencing and gates within 6 m of a building, or in BAL-29 or higher areas, should be non-combustible only.
Western Australia. A site assessed at BAL-40 or BAL-FZ generally needs a development application addressing bushfire protection criteria, with the aim of getting down to BAL-29 or less.
Queensland. Additional requirements, including construction to AS 3959 or the NASH Standard, apply in bushfire-prone areas.
Victoria. Rules depend on your council, your planning overlay and any bushfire management statement attached to a permit. Your planning permit conditions, or a registered bushfire assessor, are the place to confirm what applies to your fence and gate.
The pattern is consistent: the further up the scale, the stronger the push towards non-combustible construction.
Which gate materials suit each BAL level
Because gates are not covered by AS 3959, the best guide is the logic used for doors and for fences.
For vehicle access doors, such as a garage door, AS 3959:2018 Section 7.5.6 requires non-combustible material, bushfire-resisting timber, fibre-cement sheet at least 6 mm thick, or a combination. The CSIRO's bushfire guide goes further: exposed components should be non-combustible, and fixtures and fittings durable and resistant to heat and corrosion. For doors in BAL-29 it lists non-combustible material with a non-combustible frame.
For fences, CSIRO advises solid non-combustible materials such as brick, stone, concrete or galvanised iron, keeping fences clear of overhanging trees and creepers, and avoiding combustible materials like timber and brushwood.
Translated into a gate specification:
| Site rating | Sensible gate approach |
|---|---|
| BAL-LOW | No bushfire-specific requirement. Choose for security and style. |
| BAL-12.5 and BAL-19 | Steel or wrought iron is the simplest choice. Hardwood may be accepted in some states, subject to local rules. |
| BAL-29 | Non-combustible only: steel or wrought iron frame and infill, with a non-combustible post and fixings. |
| BAL-40 and BAL-FZ | Non-combustible construction, and expect your council or assessor to look closely at the whole site, including access. |
This is a guide to good practice, not a substitute for your permit conditions.
Details that matter beyond the material
- Finish. In NSW, metal parts on bushfire-prone land must be low-reflective and factory pre-coloured, so check the coating as well as the metal.
- Infill. CSIRO warns that porous designs, such as chain link and gapped pickets, are ineffective as a barrier. Solid or tightly spaced infill does more against embers.
- Fixtures and fittings. Hinges, latches, motor housings and covers should be durable and resistant to heat and corrosion. Plastic components near a fire path are a weak point.
- Swing direction. NSW requires that gates do not open outwards on bushfire-prone land, so plan the swing before you design the posts.
- Surroundings. Keep mulch, garden waste and climbing plants away from the gate line.
Access for fire crews is part of the brief
A gate that keeps people out must still let firefighters in. The NSW Rural Fire Service application kit states that access roads must be all-weather roads able to carry fully loaded firefighting vehicles of up to 23 tonnes, with a 4 m minimum carriageway width and 4 m vertical clearance. Those figures apply to NSW property access, and your own state or council may set different ones, but they show why opening width and overhead clearance matter on a bushfire-prone driveway.
For gates, that points to a few design questions: how wide is the clear opening, can the gate be opened if power fails, and can crews get through it without delay? Our guide to emergency vehicle access for gates covers this for Victorian properties. If your gate is automated, the automatic gate safety standards in Australia are a separate set of rules that apply as well.
How to specify a gate for a bushfire-prone property
- Find out your BAL. Check your planning permit, your bushfire report, or ask your council whether the land is in a designated bushfire-prone area. Older houses may never have been assessed. If you are unsure, ask local government and consider a bushfire assessor.
- Read your permit conditions. Look for anything on fencing, gates, driveway width and clearances.
- Choose a non-combustible material. Steel or wrought iron is the usual answer for the sites where the rules are tightest.
- Decide on the finish and fittings. Ask for low-reflective, factory-applied colour where your state requires it, and heat- and corrosion-resistant hardware.
- Plan access. Confirm clear width, height clearance, swing direction and what happens in a power failure.
- Keep it documented. Hold your BAL report, permit and the gate specification together. They help if a certifier or council asks later.
Our perspective
We build gates every day for Victorian properties, and the most common mistake we see is treating "BAL rated" as a sticker on a product. The rating belongs to your site. A good gate for that site starts with the right material, the right details and a clear way in for emergency vehicles.
That is why we make our gates and fencing in-house, from Australian-made, locally sourced materials, and why we like to start with a design conversation rather than a catalogue page. Wrought iron and steel are non-combustible, they last, and they suit the heritage and modern styles our clients ask for.
Tell us your BAL, your permit conditions and how you use the driveway. We will design around those facts, from the first rendering through to installation and ongoing maintenance.
Rhys
Talk to us about a gate for your site
Victorian Gate Automation is a family-owned business with over 30 years of experience designing, making and installing custom gates, fencing and access control across Victoria. Our wrought iron gates and fencing are handcrafted in-house, and you can request a design consult to talk through your site, your BAL and your permit conditions. If you want automation as well, see our automation and access control options, or browse our residential gates and fencing.
For a home on a long or sloping driveway, our guide to long driveway gate access also helps you work out the opening width you need.
FAQ
Does a gate need to meet a BAL rating by law?
Not directly. AS 3959:2018 provides no requirements for fencing and screen walls, and the NCC bushfire part applies to buildings and nearby Class 10a structures. However, state planning controls and permit conditions can require non-combustible gates and fences, as NSW does on bushfire-prone land. Check with your council.
What is the best gate material for a bushfire-prone area?
Non-combustible materials are the safest choice. CSIRO recommends solid non-combustible options such as brick, stone, concrete or galvanised iron for fences, and the same logic applies to gates. Steel and wrought iron are the common choices for gates.
How do I find out my property's BAL?
Check your planning permit or bushfire report, or ask your local council whether the land is in a bushfire-prone area. New homes in these areas need a BAL assessment, while older homes may not have one. A bushfire assessor can prepare one if needed.
Does the gate affect fire truck access?
Yes. Access requirements such as width and vertical clearance are set by state fire authorities and councils. NSW, for example, specifies a 4 m minimum carriageway and 4 m vertical clearance for property access roads. Plan the gate opening and its operation during a power failure with this in mind.
Sources
- Protect your house from radiant heat, NEMA
- Bushfire Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes, QRA
- Building in bushfire-prone areas, Government of Western Australia
- AS 3959:2018 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas
- AS 3959:2018 Section 7.5.6 extract
- NCC Part 3.7.4 Bushfire Areas
- Fences: rules for exempt and complying development, NSW Planning
- Bushfire Protection Assessment, NSW Planning Portal
- Fact sheet: building a house in or near a city or town, WA
- Windows and doors, Bushfire best practice guide, CSIRO
- Fences and walls, CSIRO
- NSW Rural Fire Service single dwelling application kit