Building for the future A new initiative backed by NRMA Insurance sets out ways to build weather-resilient homes By Bernice Han
N
amed after the Latin word for strong, FORTIS House is the latest insurer-backed initiative aimed at helping Australians weatherproof their homes as natural catastrophes strike more regularly, and with more intensity. The project is the brainchild of the Bushfire Building Council of Australia (BBCA), an independent, not-for-profit organisation working to find research-based solutions that will reduce climate and disaster risk for households, communities, governments and industry. BBCA worked on the project in collaboration with NRMA Insurance and other stakeholders over several months, and unveiled it in April as New South Wales and Queensland began mopping up from the February/ March floods, the country’s costliest flood event with insured losses of at least $4.3 billion. The idea for FORTIS House came about after the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires and subsequent floods, in response to affected communities seeking help on ways to rebuild homes that are better equipped to withstand future blazes and other catastrophes, says the BBCA. BBCA is contacted by thousands of people asking for help to make their homes more resilient to bushfire and other disasters. As the number of disasters has increased, reflecting the impact of climate change on weather patterns, says the BBCA, so have the calls to the non-profit body asking for building resilience tips. “Australia is exposed to increasing extreme weather and disasters, yet less than 10% of our houses are resilient to local risk,” Chief Executive Kate Cotter says. “We just have to do something better.” Dwellings constructed according to FORTIS principles are designed to be “self-defending” in a disaster so
22 insuranceNEWS
June/July 2022
that occupants are encouraged to evacuate, stay safe and have a home to return to once it is safe to do so. Non-combustible materials are widely used in a FORTIS home, from steel framing to cladding, decking, gutters, insulation and internal flooring, as they last longer and are low maintenance. Features that “measurably” reduce the risk of building loss and damage from extreme weather and disasters, including flood, cyclone, bushfire and heatwave define a typical FORTIS home. A FORTIS House has a protective outer layer of high-performance steel mesh bi-fold screens that protects glazing and decking, which are highly vulnerable to disasters. Glazing is set back from the screens to reduce radiant heat transfer, thereby increasing the likelihood that glazing survives extreme weather and disasters. This will provide a functioning home even if the screens are damaged. Sub-floor structures are built from non-combustible materials and screened with a mix of steel mesh and concrete blocks. The removable, perforated mesh screens allow airflow, water escape and protect services. A FORTIS home has a roof form that is designed to be aerodynamic so that debris accumulation is minimised and uplift forces are reduced during high winds. On the sustainability front, a FORTIS house is water self-sufficient, 100% electric and solar powered. To help as many Australians as possible, BBCA has provided free FORTIS House architectural drawings, specifications and handbooks to make it easier and more affordable for them to build sustainable houses that are disaster-resilient. Pre-fabricated FORTIS Houses are available for purchase, from $300,000 to $700,000, and can be
