Ready Check Tool – Step 3. Your Property

DO NOT MODIFY - Ready Check Tool - Your Property

Step 3.

Your Property

Draw a mud map of your property and the immediate surrounding area on a piece of paper (or drawing tool on your computer) – just to get a rough idea of the characteristics of your place and surrounds (see example).

Include in your plan your house and any other sheds, buildings, trees, vegetation, water tank, pool, fences, gates (& if locked), decking, BBQs & gas bottles, mulch & garden waste, sprinklers, shutters, gutter guards, overhanging trees, driveway, roof material, wall material, verandahs, decks, vegetation, pet enclosures, side access, slope, road, paving, large windows, window frame material.
YOUR PROPERTY'S STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Use the information below to assess your property’s strengths and weaknesses for events such as bush fire, flood, heatwave and storms. The list will give you an indication of strengths and weaknesses of your property but is not comprehensive. Refer to the links to access more ideas on strengths and weaknesses of your home and property.

Remember a strength may improve resilience across multiple hazard types, for example fire rated storm shutters on windows facing the bushland can reduce to the impact of bushfires, storms and heatwaves as well as improve home security.

Click on the sections for the hazards identified for your property in Step 1 to check your property’s strengths and hazards for each.
Bushfire

Legend
Roof
House & roof design
- Many re-entrant corners where leaves and embers can collect; Complex roof with gables and valleys
- Additions with valleys or channels between roofs
- Simple building design with few re-entrant corners; Simple roof structure
Further information
Roof material type & age
- Old metal with gaps; Old timber shingles; Tile pre 1980 with gaps, mortar not replaced
- Tile, pre 1980, mortar replaced >15 years ago
- Metal, no gaps
- Tile, post 1980, mortar replaced within 10 years, no gaps >3mm; Roof fully sarked
Further information
Roof sprinklers
- No water supply
- No sprinkler system
- Sprinklers on mains water & power
- Sprinklers with independent water source and pump; Regular testing
Further information
Roof lights, skylights, roof ventilators & vent pipes
- No sarking; Not sealed; Open vents; Combustible material (plastic or acrylic); Missing fins; No ember guards
- Laminated safety glass; Flashing fire-retardant material; Aluminium ember guards
- Toughened safety glass; Sealed with non-combustible lining; Corrosion-resistant steel or bronze mesh
Further information
Eaves & fascia
- Eaves not enclosed
- Eaves with gaps
- Eaves enclosed with fibre-reinforced cement or aluminium sheets
- Eaves enclosed with fire-retardant-treated timber or steel
Further information
Vents, weepholes & chimney
- Open holes or broken vents; Open chimney top
- No ember guards; Unsealed chimney pot
- Aluminium ember guards; Sealed chimney
- Corrosion-resistant steel or bronze ember guards; Unused chimney sealed with steel
Further information
Gutters and downpipes
- Blocked gutters; Combustible material
- No gutter guards
- Gutter guards; Ability to seal downpipes & fill gutters with water
- Metal gutter guards; Leaf-free; Non-combustible
Further information
Walls
House external wall material
- Timber with flaking paint & gaps
- Timber well maintained & sealed; Cladding
- Single brick
- Masonry; Concrete; Rammed earth; Fibre cement (>9mm); Steel sheeting
Further information / Further information
Exposed timber
- Rotten timber; Peeling paint
- Good condition; Protective paint
- Fire-retardant-treated timber
Further information
Windows & frames
- Timber frame with flaking paint; Old glass; Large panes; facing hazard; Old; Plastic mesh or no screens
- Timber frame well maintained & painted
- Fire-retardant-treated timber frames; Aluminium frames; Laminated glass; Corrosion-resistant steel or bronze mesh screens
- Metal window frames and hardware; Non-combustible shutters; Toughened glass
Further information
External doors
- Old timber wooden doors with flaking paint; Gaps under the door; No screen on door; Plastic mesh screen
- Timber doors, no screen door; Glass sliding door without screen
- Glass sliding door with safety glass & metal screen; Screen door with aluminium mesh; Wooden door with 400mm metal kickplate on bottom
- Fire-retardant-treated timber; Non-combustible shutters; Weather strips; Tight fitting door screen with corrosion-resistant steel or bronze mesh
Further information
Garage doors
- Attached to house; Old wooden door with flaking paint; Gaps >3mm around & under door
- Roller door without guide tracks or nylon brush; Ventilation slots in door
- Easy to open without power; Gaps <3mm
- Non-combustible door; Weather strips, guide tracks, gaps <3mm
Further information
Floor
Sub floor space & posts, stumps
- Old dry timber; Unenclosed; Items stored under house
- Leaves & dry material under house
- Sub-floor space enclosed with steel mesh <3mm
- Fire retardant treated timber; Enclosed sub-floor space
Further information
Floors
- Suspended; Older, dry timber floor unenclosed; Gaps
- Suspended floor with flammable insulation
- Suspended floor with fire-retardant timber or non-combustible sheeting; Unenclosed
- Concrete slab on ground; Suspended floor with enclosed sub-floor space and fire-retardant timber or non-combustible sheeting
Further information
Verandas and decking
- Old Wooden deck; Unenclosed; Wooden outdoor furniture; Store for firewood; Leaves accumulated
- Enclosed with fine steel mesh
- Deck frame & decking non-combustible; No spaces between decking (or 3mm spacing)
- Concrete or non-combustible material; Fire-retardant-treated timber; No flammable furniture
Further information
Outdoors
Vertical barriers to shield the building
- Bulk of building oriented towards hazard with no barriers
- Partial shield <1m high
- Continuous screen of low-flammability vegetation understorey to canopy
- Solid masonry wall >2m high to shield building
Further information
Landscaping
- Trees over house; Bark hanging; Highly flammable plants; Mulch, leaf litter & dead branches against wall of house
- Vegetation & mulch within 1m of house wall
- Fire-retardant trees as a barrier blocking ember attack; High moisture content & low oil level; trees >10m away; Rock or gravel mulch
- Low plants with low flammability; Lawn kept short; Raingarden
Further information
Water supply
- No tank; Very small tank; No hoses; No taps
- Empty tank; Plastic valve fittings; Plastic tank on hazard side of building; Taps only on hazard side of building; Short hose
- Medium capacity tank (3000L); Metal tank; No SWS sign at front; Long hoses; Taps & long hoses at each corner of property; Metal connections
- Large capacity (≥5000L) tank metal or concrete; Diesel pump connected to tank; Storz fittings; SWS sign at front; Permanently installed long hose reels; Metal connections
Further information
Pool
- Pool, no access
- Pool, no pump
- Pool with diesel pump
Fence & gate
- Brush fence; High gate padlocked; No access
- Timber fence; Low gate padlocked; No access
- Timber treated with flame-retardant paint; Closed but not locked
- Brick or metal fence; High to shield house; Solid metal gate, closed but not locked
Further information
Gas bottle – house & BBQ
- Gas bottle relief valve facing house; Gas bottle on hazard side of house
- Gas bottle valve away from house; Gas bottle on non-hazard side of house
- Gas bottle stored away from house
- No gas bottles
Further information
Other
House age & standard
- Built prior to bush fire standards (pre 1991)
- 1991 – 2009 built to bush fire standards
- New house (post 2009) built to current bush fire standards
Further information
Air conditioner
- Evaporative a/c without ember screens on intake vent
- Wall mounted a/c
- Evaporative a/c with non-combustible ember screens; split system a/c
- A/c external operating temperature 50°C
Further information
Door mats
- Door mat easily ignited
- Door mat low-flammability
- No door mat, or non-flammable material
Pets & enclosures
- Permanent fixture, exposed to fire dangers; Pets not easily relocated; No shelter
- Pets difficult to relocate; Pets not compatible together for relocation; Pets can’t be handled by strangers
- Pets easily relocated; Easy to catch, handle & transport
- Pets easily relocated; Alternate safe space readily available; Pet survival plan
Further information / Further information
Bush fire attack level
- Flame zone; BAL 40; BAL 29
- BAL 19; BAL 12.5
- BAL Low
- Not in bush fire prone area
Further information
Flood

Walls
Load bearing walls
- Timber wall frame
- Steel wall frame
- Double brick
- Concrete panels; blockwork; poured in-situ
Exterior wall cladding
- Weatherboard; Fibro; Plywood on stud frame
- Brick veneer on stud frame
- Double brick
- Concrete
Internal wall material & skirting boards
- Plasterboard; Particleboard; Wallpaper; MDF skirting boards
- Wet area plasterboard; Plywood; Fibre cement sheeting
- Brick; Solid timber skirting boards
- Rendered brick; Exterior-grade sealed timber boarding
Skirting boards & architraves
- MDF
- Unsealed timber
- Solid timber screwed in (not nailed)
- None; Removable metal or aluminium skirtings
Window frames
- Wooden with PVA glues; Mild steel fittings
- Timber - fully sealed with stainless steel or brass fittings
- Aluminium or metal frames with stainless steel or brass rollers
Garage wall material/ strength
- Lower strength than rest of house
- Walls same strength as rest of house
Further information
Floor
Ground floor
- Low suspended particleboard or plywood floor
- Low suspended timber floor
- Slab on ground
- Raised concrete slab
Floor & coverings
- Particleboard; Hardboard underlay; Carpet; Grass matting; Linoleum; Cork
- Plywood flooring
- Carpet tiles & rugs
- Hardwood timber (polished); Exposed concrete; Tiles (with water-resistant adhesive)
Sub floor space
- No drainage or ventilation; Garden beds close to house blocking ventilation gaps; Low areas where water pools
- Poor drainage and ventilation
- No pooling of water; Good ventilation
- Concrete slab; Good ventilation and drainage; Evenly graded
Outdoors
Landscaping
- Garden beds blocking drainage; No plants; Clay soil
- Rock; High runoff
- Free-draining soil
- Raingarden to manage water flow and runoff; Free-draining soil
Further information
Rainwater tank
- Overflow compounding drainage issues; Unsecured – ability to float away
- Overflow nearby
- Anchored securely
- Elevated & anchored securely to footings; Overflow to stormwater or raingarden; Inlet high
Plumbing system
- History of return flow from sewer pipes
- Gully trap; Manual gate valve; Valve installed but not checked
- Sewer & irrigation backflow valves installed, checked & maintained
Further information
Hard surfaces & driveway
- Hard surfaces channelling water into/under house or neighbour’s
- Porous paving
- Pervious surfaces with good drainage & water flow is well managed
Further information / Further information
Other
Internal doors and frames
- Hollow core doors
- Solid core doors with glue not water resistant
- Solid core doors with water-resistant glue & plywood
- Solid doors; Metal door frames; Water resistant paint and varnish
Power points, switches & wiring; Electrical meter box
- Located below maximum flood level; Meter box low & open to elements
- Power points high on walls
- Wiring in the roof space; Meter box & power points above max flood level
Insulation
- Batts (fibreglass, polyester, rockwool, sheep wool) & loose fill below max flood level
- Concertina-type foil/paper laminates
- Reflective foil perforated with holes
- Polystyrene, polyurethane & closed cell foams below flood level
Joinery & built-in cupboards
- Particleboard, MDF; Boxed-in void between floor, wall & cupboard; Minimal airflow
- Hardboard & MDF; Few supports widely spaced under joinery
- Marine grade plywood; Supports to prevent distortion & buckling; Removable kickboard
- Solid timber; Cupboards on frame with legs; Flood-resistant materials; Free flow of air
Fixed electrical equipment
- Air conditioner & electric hot water at ground level
- Air conditioner & electric hot water system mounted high
Pets & enclosures / Pet survival plan
- Permanent enclosure exposed to floodwater; Pets not easily relocated
- Pets not easily relocated; Pets not compatible together for relocation
- Pets easily relocated
- Pets easily relocated; Alternate safe space readily available; Cages & equipment for relocation available
Further information / Further information
Reference: Reducing vulnerability of buildings to flood damage
Heatwave

Roof
Roof
- Dark coloured tiles; Flat roof; No sarking
- Light coloured metal; Light coloured tile
- Light coloured; Metal with reflective paint; Shaded; Roof space as buffer zone
Further information
Insulation & thermal mass
- No insulation; Thermal mass storing heat
- No insulation
- Insulation in roof only
- Bulk & reflective insulation in roof & walls; Thermal mass storing coolness
Further information
Roof lights & skylights
- Skylight not sealed; Open vents; Direct sunlight & heat gain
- Heat-absorbing tint; Insulated glazing; Low e-coatings
- Translucent or reflective insulation between glazing layers
Further information
Verandah and decks Eaves
- None; No eaves
- Narrow eaves
- Porch shading entrance
- Wide verandah & deck shading entrance; Wide eaves shading walls & windows
Further information
Walls
External house wall
- Dark colour, west facing
- South facing
- Light colour; Shaded
Insulation & thermal mass
- No insulation; Thermal mass storing heat
- No insulation
- Some insulation in western walls
- Bulk & reflective insulation in all walls; Thermal mass storing coolness
Further information
Windows; Window coverings (curtains, blinds, awning, shutters)
- Large windows facing west; Normal glass; No coverings inside or out
- Large windows facing N or NW; Light coverings inside
- Tinted windows; Metal blinds with reflective side facing outwards; Temporary car windscreen reflectors on windows; Lined curtains
- Double glazing; Reflective glazing; Heat minimising glazing; Shutters; Shaded windows (external blinds, verandahs, trees); Lined curtains
Further information / Further information
Outdoors
Landscaping
- No trees; No plants; Large areas of hard surfaces; Dark coloured driveway
- Large paved areas; Driveway storing heat
- Grass and vegetation surrounding
- Shade trees; Gardens; Plants that retain moisture around house; Shaded driveway
Further information
Other
Pets & enclosures / Pet survival plan
- No shaded shelter; Not easily cooled; Not easily relocated
- Not easily cooled
- Pets easily relocated to cool place
- Well sheltered & cool;
Further information / Further information
Ventilation & air conditioning
- Closed windows at night; No cross ventilation; No fans; Reliant on a/c; Limited airflow; Large windows facing NW & W; A/c heat blowing under house or near entrances; Outdoor temperature operating range of <45°C
- Reliant on a/c for cooling; Limited cross ventilation
- Open windows at night; No a/c; Good airflow & cross ventilation; Ceiling or pedestal fans
- Open windows at night; Security screens or grills; A/c set at 25°C; Good airflow & cross ventilation; Ceiling or pedestal fans; A/c outdoor temperature operating range >50°C; Outdoor part of a/c shaded in cool place
Further information
Storm

Roof
Roof covering type & age
- Tile, pre 1980, mortar not replaced; Cracked or missing tiles; Loose tiles; Metal with nails; Loose metal sheets; Non-standard tie-downs
- Metal with screws, no seals
- Roof condition recently checked by professional; Roof well maintained
- Metal (screws with seals intact); Tile (mortar replaced within 10 years; tiles tied down); Secondary water barrier over joints; Hail-resistant roof cladding
Roof shape
- Flat, skillion roof
- Complex pitched roof
- Gable roof
- Hip roof
Roof to wall connection method
- Warped walls; Unaligned
- Pre 1980; Rafters/trusses nailed to frame; Battens not anchored to structure
- Roof battens anchored to roof structure; Rafters/ trusses clip-connected to frame
- Rafters/trusses connected to frame with galvanised metal straps
Gutters and downpipes
- Loose or rusted gutters; Few downpipes; Gutters tilting back towards roof; Leaves and debris on roof & gutters
- No downpipes or gutters; Roof valleys filled with leaves; Vegetation covering drainage grate
- Rainwater tank to hold water; Overflow to stormwater or raingarden
- Additional gutter clips & downpipe connections; Water flow directed away from house; Gutter guards keep leaves out
Roof lights & skylights
- No sarking; Not sealed; Open vents; Plastic or acrylic; Leaking from unsealed joints
- Laminated safety glass; Polycarbonate; Flashing & curb around skylight to deflect water
- Toughened safety glass; Sealed joints
Lightning protection
- High metal objects protruding from roof; No earth protection
- No surge protection
- Surge protection system
- Lightning protection system
Solar panels
- Fixtures not secure
- Panels at different angle to roof slope; Panels at edge of roof
- Fixed securely; Panels at same angle as roof; Watertight fixings
Walls
Doors & seals
- Large panels of old glass; No seals; Large gaps around windows & doors; Do not close properly
- Large panels of safety glass; Small gaps
- Solid door with tempered safety glass panels; glass with solid screens or shutters
- No glass; Solid door (metal, fibreglass, solid wood); Seal & lock securely; Weatherproof seals
Windows & frames
- Cracked glass; Large panes of old glass; Facing storm hazard; Old, rotten timber frame with flaking paint; No screens; Plastic mesh
- Shutters not closed; Old glass
- Safety glass; Double glazing; Timber with water resistant paint or varnish; Aluminium or metal frames; Corrosion-resistant steel or bronze mesh screens
- Toughened safety glass; Impact-resistant window shutters (closed)
Garage door
- Double width non-reinforced
- Non-reinforced
- Reinforced
- Reinforced & storm/cyclone rated
Outdoors
Landscaping
- Plants holding water close to foundations; Trees overhanging house; Hard surfaces channelling water into/under house or neighbour’s
- Trees near house; Recent earthworks in root zone of trees; Hard surfaces with drainage pipes or channels
- Trees well maintained, inspected every 2-3 years
- Pervious surfaces with good drainage & water flow is well managed; Low trees & shrubs
Rainwater tank
- Overflow compounding drainage issues; Not secured
- Very small tank; Overflow nearby
- Medium capacity; Anchored securely
- Large capacity; Anchored securely to footings; Overflow to stormwater or raingarden
Sheds
- No footings; Unsecured; Door doesn’t close
- No wind rating
- Anchored to a footing system
- Anchored to a concrete slab; Appropriate wind rating; Door closes securely
Further information
Outdoor furniture & items
- Not secured; Large items (trampoline)
- Items secured
- Items put away & stored in a secure location
Plumbing & irrigation system
- History of return flow from sewer pipes
- Backflow valve installed, checked & maintained
Other
Strong room for shelter during storm
- Windows or glass door
- Large room
- No windows; Small; Ground level
Pets & enclosures / Pet survival plan
- No shelter; Permanent enclosure exposed to weather; Pets not easily relocated
- Permanent enclosure partially exposed to weather
- Safe space available for pets
- Safe space readily available for pets to access independently
Further information / Further information
Electrical meter box
- In exposed location; Open to elements
- Watertight service panels & meter box
- Located in protected area; Watertight service panels & meter box
Phone
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