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How to choose a bushfire sprinkler system

Outdoor bushfire sprinkler system.

Overview

If you live in a bushfire prone area a sprinkler system can help you to protect your home. We take you through the different sprinkler systems you can use, why it's important to buy the right equipment, and how you can still protect your home even when there's no power. 

Steps

1Make a plan for your backyard

Before setting up your sprinkler system there are several things you need to consider. Work out how much land and property are you looking to protect, what the terrain is like, how much water you have available and how long that supply will last.

You should also talk to a plumber to make sure you have enough water pressure and the right equipment to help protect your home.

One of the most important things is to always buy good quality metal fittings and sprinklers. During a bushfire, plastic ones will melt and your home won't be protected.

Outdoor bushfire sprinkler system.

2Start by wetting around your home

During a bushfire, one of the most effective ways to protect your home is to use the garden hose to wet the vegetation and grass around your house. The damper it is, the more it will help to reduce the intensity of the fire. Also, keep buckets of water and other large containers full of water to help extinguish spot fires.

3Have sprinklers on the ground

You can create a curtain of water by placing sprinklers around your home. This will help to reduce flying embers. Be sure to use metal sprinklers with chrome or galvanised fittings. 
Sprinkler spraying lots of water in green outdoor environment.

4Putting sprinklers on the roof

Putting sprinklers on your roof can reduce the impact of radiant heat, ember attacks and direct contact with the fire. Mount sprinklers at the gutter line and angle them to spray outwards. This way, they will spray water onto the roof and onto the walls below. Butterfly sprinklers can be joined together with galvanised pipe to make a series of them to cover the length of your roof. 

Outdoor bushfire sprinkler system.

5Have a back-up generator

During a bushfire, you may lose power and mains water pressure. If you need to defend your home, a generator and an independent water supply will ensure that you can continue to access water. Pumps and generators should be able to pump 400 litres per minute. Hoses from the pump should be long enough to reach all corners of your home. They should also be durable, flexible and able to withstand high temperatures.

Make sure that other family members know how to start and operate your generator. For this reason, generators with a push-button start are preferable to a pull-start.

Outdoor bushfire sprinkler system.

6Be prepared and have a plan

Your local fire authority can help you make the decision early whether you want to leave or to stay and defend your property. If you are planning to stay, having access to power and water and the right equipment will help you to protect your home.

Ground sprinkler whizzing a lot of water around.

7Visit your local fire authority website

For more information about being prepared, visit your local fire authority website:

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.