Unfortunately, many parts of Australia are prone to bushfires; it seems that there isn’t a state that could be spared from the dangers of fire raging out of control, caused by natural circumstances (such as lightning strikes) or man (such as fire bugs). Statistics have shown that we are more prone to these risks during the summer when our land is dry and the sun is scorching. If you live in an area that is particularly bushfire prone, however, it is possible to help protect your home with the addition of aluminium shutters.

Whilst there is no way that shutters can prevent a fire from taking hold of your home, they do provide you with a valuable line of defense against bushfires that pass close by. In extreme heat conditions, for example, windows are know to crack or even explode, causing the glass to fall out of the frame and leave the opening unprotected against sparks and embers. Shutters that have been designed to be bushfire resistant are able to withstand these conditions and will, therefore, help to prevent the glass from breaking.

On top of this, many aluminium shutters feature a baked enamel paint finish and have been injected with polyurethane foam, which helps to make them resistant to flames. This means that they will resist melting and succumbing to the heat of the bushfire, preventing it from gaining entry to the fabric and structure of your home. You must keep in mind, however, that these shutters will not stop your verandah or roof from catching fire, so it is important that you have taken other precautions that will help to protect your livelihood.

There are a number of manufacturers within Australia who have produced extruded shutters that have been designed specifically for use in areas that are prone to bushfires, especially after the disaster that was the Black Saturday bushfires in February 2009. Many of these shutters have been tested by the CSIRO and have been proven to be able to handle the impact of a ‘simulated extreme bushfire attack’. They were exposed to a maximum radiant heat of 40kw/m2 for an hour and signs of ignition were recorded.

Another great feature of aluminium shutters that makes them ideal for use in bushfire prone areas is that many of the remote control ones can also operate via solar power. This means that, even if the mains power has been cut due to a fire, you will still be able to close your shutters and protect your property from any burning debris in the air. A solar tubular motor can be attached to the pelmet, on a nearby wall or even on the roof of your home; they are relatively unobtrusive and small in size, designed only to be used in an emergency.

If you live in an area of Australia that is especially prove to the threat of bushfires you should consider the installation of aluminium shutters on all the windows of your home. At the end of the day, you should take every precaution that you possibly can to ensure that your home is protected during the extreme bushfire season at the height of the summer. This is also why you should only purchase shutters that have been created by Australian manufacturers who have tested their products to comply.