BAL 29 tiny homes: what the level does not tell you
The short answer
BAL 29 is a high-risk bushfire construction level, covering increasing ember attack, windborne burning debris and radiant heat. Our Urban homes are built to BAL 29 Bushfire Resistant standards. That does not make a home fireproof, and it does not confirm that BAL 29 is the right level for your particular site.
Last updated 3 October 2026
Bushfire language can sound like a product badge. It is more useful to treat it as a site-and-construction question. The Bushfire Attack Level for a property reflects vegetation, slope, distance and other site conditions, and the level that applies can change from one proposed position on a block to another.
This page explains what BAL 29 is, what we mean when we say our homes are built to it, and what it cannot tell you. For the detail of what is built differently, see Built to BAL 29.
The short version
BAL stands for Bushfire Attack Level, and BAL 29 sits in the high-risk band: increasing ember attack, burning debris and radiant heat. A construction level reduces defined risks under defined conditions. It does not make any building safe in a bushfire, and it does not replace a bushfire plan, defendable space or an evacuation decision.
We say our Urban homes are built to BAL 29 Bushfire Resistant standards. We do not say they hold a building’s bushfire certification. Whether any bushfire requirement attaches to your home on your land is a question for your council, and it depends on your zone. Built to BAL 29 sets out what is built differently; this page is about what to ask.
Four things BAL 29 does not tell you
- It does not determine the BAL for your site. That is assessed for your property, not by us.
- It does not mean a home is fireproof.
- It does not replace planning, building or bushfire-overlay requirements, which vary by council and zone.
- It does not guarantee that the proposed location or access route is acceptable.
Questions to ask before choosing a home for a bushfire-prone property
- Is the property in a designated Bushfire Prone Area or a Bushfire Management Overlay?
- Who will determine the site’s BAL and the planning or building requirements that apply, and will your council confirm them in writing?
- Which parts of the home have been designed and built for BAL 29 construction, and what evidence supports that?
- Are decks, stairs, service penetrations and additions included in that scope?
- What water supply, access, vegetation management and defendable-space requirements apply?
- What evidence will be supplied at handover?
The Victorian Building Authority publishes guidance on bushfire areas and overlays, which is the place to start for the first two questions.
Why first-hand evidence matters
A claim like this should be tested, not taken on trust — ours included. Ask any builder to show the exterior system, windows, vents, gutters and penetrations up close, and to explain what changed to reach the construction level. If you visit our Chelsea Heights factory, ask to see exactly that.
The practical next step
Start with the property, not the product claim. Confirm the site controls and the required BAL with the appropriate professional, then compare that requirement with the documented specification of the home you are considering. The people to ask about your own fire plan are your state fire authority, and your council about what applies to your land. We’ll tell you what the home is built to and what to ask them; we don’t make either assessment.
Before you rely on any of this: bushfire construction levels are defined by Australian standards that are revised over time, and the level for a particular block comes from a site assessment rather than from the home. Nothing here is a fire-safety assessment or a substitute for one.