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PURPOSE OF WRITING THIS 4
- WHY A FIRE BUNKER? 4
- RECENT LESSONS 5
- BUNKER SURVIVAL STORIES 5
- YOU’RE INTERESTED IN BUILDING A FIRE BUNKER - WHAT TO DO NOW? 6
- READING MATERIALS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE 7
- DANGERS 8
- WHY THE DISCLAIMER? 8
- DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS 9
- DUAL USE vs MAIN PURPOSE and 9
- LOCKED vs UNLOCKED 9
- WHEN WILL IT BE USED? 10
- HOW LONG AFTER THE FIRE WILL IT NEED TO BE USED FOR? 11
- BUILD IT UNDER THE HOUSE? 11
- SIZE 11
- ENTRANCES / DOORS 12
- FIRE DOORS, DOOR JAMBS (IE SURROUNDS) and DOOR SEALS 13
- THE IMPORTANCE OF DOOR MAINTENANCE 14
- DOOR LATCHES 14
- AN ALTERNATIVE TO DOORS IN JAMBS/SURROUNDS 14
- MORE THAN ONE ENTRANCE 15
- PROTECTION FROM ENTRANCE/S AGAINST FALLING TREES, BRANCHES ETC. 15
- WINDOWS 15
- VENTILATION 15
- FAN FORCED VENTILATION UNITS 16
- SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PETS 18
- DESIGN FOR LATER EXPANSION? 18
- LOCATION – WHERE SHOULD YOUR BUNKER BE BUILT? 19
- CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS 20
- ABOVE GROUND, IN-GROUND, TOP DOOR OR SIDE DOOR/S? 21
- HOW FIRE-PROOF DO I HAVE TO MAKE IT? 22
- WHAT ABOUT A BURIED STEEL CONTAINER? 24
- THE USE OF SOIL AS A BARRIER 24
- DRAINAGE 24
- POTENTIAL FOR GROUND SLIPPAGE / COLLAPSE and EROSION 25
- MOULD AND MICROBES 25
- SPIDERS AND BUGS 25
- SOIL TYPES 26
- POWER AND LIGHTING 26
- FLOORING AND FLOOR COVERINGS 27
- DÉCOR 27
- BUNKERS AND CHILDREN 27
- BENCHES, SHELVES AND HOOKS 28
- COMMUNICATIONS 28
- SIGNAGE 29
- MAKING YOUR FIRE BUNKER BLEND IN / LOOK GOOD. 29
- OXYGEN / AIR SUPPLY TANKS & COMPRESSORS 29
- COUNCIL PERMITS – AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF IGNORING THEM 31
- ONE DIY FIRE BUNKER BUILDER’S EXPERIENCE WITH COUNCIL 32
- LIABILITY AND INSURANCE ISSUES 32
- BUILDERS 32
- WARRANTIES 33
- THE IMPORTANCE OF ADEQUATE INSURANCE ON YOUR HOUSE & OTHER ASSETS 33
- COSTS and TIME 33
- MAINTENANCE 33
- THINGS YOU MAY WISH TO PUT IN YOUR BUNKER TO BE FULLY PREPARED 34
- THINGS YOU SHOULD LEAVE OUT OF YOUR BUNKER 36
- THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DO IN YOUR BUNKER 36
- PREPARATION FOR BUNKER USE – YOUR FIRE BUNKER PLAN 36
- WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU HEAD INTO YOUR BUNKER 36
- WHAT TO DO AS YOU HEAD INTO YOUR BUNKER 37
- AFTER THE FIRE HAS PASSED 38
- CLOTHING 38
- IF YOU THINK THE RULES NEED TO BE CHANGED, OR MORE RESEARCH IS REQUIRED– DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT 39
- BUNKER BUILDING STORIES 40
- LINKS 40
- New building codes 41
- NEWS ARTICLES 42
- BUSHFIRE TALK 42
- COMMERCIAL BUNKERS AVAILABLE FOR SALE 42
- OTHER PRODUCTS & USEFUL EQUIPMENT LINKS 45
- SAMPLE DESIGN, WITH 2 DOORS AND PROTECTED ENTRANCES 47
- ROOFING - POSSIBLE CONSTRUCTION METHOD. 48
- ROOFING – CONSTRUCTION METHOD IF TWO WALLS 49
- DIAGRAM OF SAME STRUCTURE WITH LOCKABLE STORAGE AREA FOR WINE OR OTHER ITEMS. 50
- EXAMPLE OF MODIFIED CONCRETE TANK. 51
- BEST POSITION ON THE SITE (also see next page) 52
- BEST POSITION ON THE SITE (continued). 53
- LOW VOLTAGE VENTILATION SYSTEM 54
- SIGNS 55
- THE HIDDEN IMPACTS OF BUSHFIRES 56
- EQUIPMENT AND OTHER HELPFUL STUFF 56
- THAT’S IT. 57
- AGE ARTICLE 59
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