2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission interim report 2 : priorities for building in bushfire prone areas.

"In August and September 2009, the Commission heard evidence from a range of witnesses, including experts and lay witnesses, about construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas. This evidence explored in detail the designation of bushfire prone areas for the purpose of building controls and the requirements for construction in bushfire prone areas imposed by the Building Code of Australia (BCA), including the development and adequacy of Australian Standard AS3959 ? Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-Prone Areas (AS3959), which is adopted by the BCA. The majority of the issues arising from this evidence will be considered in the Commission?s final report. However, a number of critical matters emerged that require urgent attention, well before the Commission presents its final report in July 2010. On 21 September 2009, the Commission indicated its intention to make interim recommendations on the following urgent issues: the regulation of bushfire bunkers; revision of some aspects of Australian Standard AS3959-2009 ? Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas; revision of the Standards Australia Handbook HB36 ? Building in Bushfire Prone Areas." -- p. 4.