An Asset Protection Zone (APZ) is an area surrounding a built asset or structure with a reduced fuel load. Including both residential buildings and majoring buildings and APZ provides:
- A zone used to create segregation between assets and bushfire hazards.
- A zone where a bushfire cannot find a fuel load, suppressing the fire.
- A zone where you are able to conduct back burning
- A zone which allows easy access for emergency services, and provides a relatively safe area in which firefighters and home-owners can defend the property.
By minimising the potential bush fire fuel loads in an Asset Protection Zone (APZ) you do not provide a path for the transfer of fire to the asset, from ground level or through the tree canopy.
If correctly maintained an Asset Protection Zone (APZ) will reduce the risk of direct flame contact with the assets, reduce the risk of damage from intense radiant heat and reduce the risk of damage from ember attacks.
An Asset Protection Zone (APZ) is commonly used in a Bushfire Management Plan (BMP) to counteract bushfire danger. An accredited Bushfire Management Plan (BMP) assessor is required to complete a Bushfire Management Plan (BMP) which are frequently required by local council’s when a building is situated within a Bushfire Prone Area and receives a high Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating or is part of a subdivision.
