https://icfserp.org/index.php/download/proceedings-of-the-international-conference-on-fire-safety-engineering-research-and-practice-icfserp-2024-isbn-978-1-7636843-0-0-2/

Increasingly, Australia’s vulnerability to extreme weather conditions and the frequency of major natural and man-made fires are major risks to new and existing homes in bushfire-prone areas. A suite of innovative fire protection technologies is currently being developed that will better safeguard homes and effectively minimise exposure to fire threats. Firstly, a type of intumescent paint, which has passed the stringent Australian standard test (AS 3959) that simulates a bushfire attack, has been created, expanding due to heat exposure, providing insulation and preventing the penetration of heat. The paint, accredited with a BAL-40 rating, produces a thick layer of char, which offers an insulating barrier and effectively deflects the fire’s heat away from the structure. After a fire event, the charred paint can simply be scraped off, and the walls reapplied with a fresh coat. Secondly, a new automated gutter block, which reduces the impact of bushfire ember attacks, is set to become a new standard for fire prevention in bushfire-prone areas. The Fire Prevention System (FPS) consists of a battery-operated electrical motor that can raise and lower a moving stopper to block the downpipe gutter flow inlet. The FPS can be activated via a smartphone app from any location, and once activated, the gutters can be filled with water manually or with an automated filling system. The system also includes a camera to view the water level and sensors to detect the surrounding temperature and humidity. Thirdly, a new integrated AI and IoT platform for early fire is proposed. By utilising critical measurements of toxic gas concentrations and temperatures via gas and infrared sensors that would fit to surveillance drones, the platform will analyse data sources in real-time and apply predictive analytics. This will facilitate emergency services in making rapid and informed decisions to establish safe evacuation routes from approaching bushfires.