Hardwood Vs. Composite: Best Hardwoods For Bushfire Areas

Andrewlope25 May, 2026Business

If you are in a BAL-rated zone, you will not get wiggle room at all. The Australian Building Codes Board and standards such as AS-3959 dictate which materials can be used. The good thing is that some hardwoods, like spotted gum and Blackbutt, naturally meet higher BAL requirements. According to CSIRO research, denser timbers generally perform better under radiant heat exposure. This is something rarely mentioned in sales pitches. This is where it gets practical because not all timber types offered by hardwood suppliers behave the same way.