The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is looking at options regarding the regulation of private bushfire shelters. In this consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) the ABCB investigates the following options:
- maintaining the status quo where there is no government construction guidelines;
- introduction of non-mandatory guidelines;
- introduction of mandatory performance requirements for private bushfire shelters, without any mandatory requirements for the installation of shelters; and
- introduction of mandatory performance requirements and mandatory requirements for the installation of private bushfire shelters in high risk bushfire areas.
The ABCB released the RIS for public consultation over 11 August 2010 to 22 September 2010. The information provided in the submissions received during consultation will help guide the development of the decision RIS and the Building Code. The ABCB will need to provide the OBPR with the decision RIS for approval before it decides on the proposed changes. The OBPR has approved the consultation RIS.