Gutters Melbourne

RAIN HAIL OR SHINE. COLORBOND STEEL IS OUR FIRST CHOICE FOR YOUR ROOF

Australia’s harsh environment demands a tough product. BlueScope Steel products can be used to help your building withstand floods, fire, hail, heatwaves and severe storms

It is now widely accepted that changes to the environment due to human activities, such as deforestation, industrialisation and urbanisation, have in turn affected many aspects of local, regional and global climate.

Temperature range, rainfall frequency and intensity, storm severity, cyclonic activity and bushfire frequency and intensity are all predicted to change across Australia over the coming decades.

In a report to the Australian Federal Government, BRANZ Pty Ltd noted the importance of planning for these unavoidable, and in some cases, unpredictable events across the built environment.

Steel products can be used in new construction and retrofit projects to help mitigate these expected changes.

Temperature Rise

Average temperature is expected to increase in most locations, including more frequent heatwaves, such as those experienced across south-eastern Australia in January and February 2009, where the maximum temperature in Melbourne was above 43°C on three successive days for the first time in recorded history.

In cities, hot nights are also likely become increasingly noticeable because of Urban Heat Islands (UHIs).

BlueScope Steel roofing and cladding with Thermatech® solar reflectance technology reduces the amount of solar radiation (and consequently heat) absorbed into buildings. Cool Roofs can also help reduce the intensity of UHIs.

Rainfall

Patterns of rainfall are set to change across Australia. A range of seasonal and regional differences are expected, which collectively mean that most of the top half and centre may be prone to more flood events, while the southern states may be more prone to rainfall deficits and droughts.

Rain harvesting makes sense to help maintain local supply in times of reduced rainfall. Harvesting also reduces stormwater flow during rain events, which may reduce the risk of flooding, erosion and landslides.

Flooding

When it does rain, the intensity of rainfall events is expected to increase in most locations across Australia, which means that floods are more likely. Coupled with sea level rise, coastal regions may also become increasingly prone to inundation during storm events.

High strength steel framing is less likely to be overwhelmed by floodwaters than some other materials that can be used for the same purpose. Steel structures have been found to require less maintenance post-flood.

Severe Storms

Cyclone frequency is likely decreasing, while the occurrence of severe storms is likely increasing. Most importantly, the intensity of the storms when they do form is likely to increase. This means that designing and building resilient buildings will become even more important.

The strength and durability of steel makes it a sensible choice for structural building components, while its malleability means that curved lines which reduce wind loading can be easily formed.

Bushfires

Higher temperatures and lower humidity and rainfall are likely to mean that bushfire conditions will occur more frequently.  It is also predicted that when fires occur, they will be more intense.

Independent testing has found steel products to be more resistant to fire than other materials used for the same purpose.

Hail 

Hail storms are likely to increase across the Sydney basin, but may decrease in Australia’s south-east. The Sydney hailstorm in April 1999 is still classified as one of the most expensive natural disasters in Australian history, costing the equivalent of US$1.7 billion at the time.

Anecdotal evidence and independent testing have shown that steel roofing is less likely to be penetrated than other roofing materials.

This blog post has been sourced directly from the Bluescope Steel Sustainability Website. We have published the article without making any change to the original piece.

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