I am interested in the answer to this too. Hope someone can help.

Hide the roller shutter cassette in the eaves. Bit of work for the carpenter but cheaper than the windows you've suggested. You will only see the runners which won't be that bad if colour coded to the wall colour. Remember NSW has different BALFZ regs to Vic and Qld......

We have this problem too, we are renovating and adding to our older home which is opposite bush. Our home currently has timber colonial windows. The only BAL 40 and FZ windows we can find are aluminium and can't have colonial style glazing.

My question is, can we use standard aluminium windows with colonial ovolo bars, with the bushfire shutters over them?

Do you have an area under eave outside the house (alfresco) you can add shutters too rather than treat these windows?

We do have space under the eaves for some of the windows, but not all, and we want to be as consistent as possible. I think we will probably end up with solid shutters that hinge and lie against the adjacent wall for some of the windows. For others, we will have to pay for the really expensive FZ glass: either because there is no space for a shutter or for the high north facing windows where we want the sun to enter the house for passive solar heating in winter even when we are not there. But we are still working on it....

Try Rylock for the windows. I believe they now have a range that are tested to FZ.

If you are considering an 'out of the square' solution you should talk to your certifier first, having to change the approach later is always more expensive, you may also need to go back to Council for approval again (not sure which state you are in).

Good luck

Many of my clients use their shutters as sun protection not just for fires. Hence I would aim for the roller type shutters as they work like a roller blind. Good for west (and east) facing windows in summer for example.

Firefly have a good range of shutters that are well made and good value for money.

Even though they don't need to be CSIRO tested Firefly have done so, unlike many others that are just a basic roller shutter......

We are in NSW. Thanks for the news about Rylock, I will check them out. Our north facing windows are shaded by eaves or the roof of the porch in summer, we have no east or west facing windows and but quite a lot of south facing windows as that is where the view is. This means we have no need for sun control, but if we did, we would be far more favourably inclined towards shutters, it's a good double purpose for them.

I got a quote for roller shutters on the whole house, they did it, but then refused the job, they said they didn't want to install because our fibreboard might have asbestos in it! I have designed shutters to get made, for us to self install, Board style but made with a fibre cement planking (not Hardie, when I read fine print, they don't promise fire resistance.)

The specs for the fibre cement boards are all in here

http://www.bgcinnovadesign.com.au/sites/default/files/BGC_Fire&acoustic.pdf

It's important to only have very narrow gaps between the planking, to not admit sparks.

Shutters also offer storm protection, if affixed well.

Another idea I came up with was to make hinged shutters out of Colourbond. You could use gates from Colourbond fence systems. I would drill holes in them neatly here and there for ventilation.

Sadly, Stegbar actually only go to BAL 40.... It's a shame

The best shutters we have found so far are http://www.sonnenschutz.com.au/bushfire-shutters/flame-zone-shutters/

But we haven't got a quote yet....

Try TBA Firefly. Good value and have had full certification by CSIRO. They may do custom styles if I recall.

Also which certifier does all this need to be acceptable to? Building certifier or bushfire?

Ah yes, they are just describing the Bal system, sorry.

I think the windows are certified by the building certified to meet the standard that the bushfire people set, FZ in our case.

Vantage windows also make BAL 40

http://www.awsaustralia.com.au/vantage/bushfire

And so do Trend.

And the company in my area, Dowell. Looks like you need to check out TBA Firefly, from jbantick,If you need flamezone.

We do need flame zone. But where we decide to use shutters, we can have any toughened 6mm glass with a metal frame, so we have lots of choices!

Well, as said, shutters have multi benefits. There seem to be more high wind events these days.

We built in a high risk area in southern NSW and were told we'd have to have shutters along the west side of the house, which overlooked bush and spotted gums. In the end, our designer got council approval to install security screening over the windows and sliding doors to the deck. The screens are heavier than ordinary screens but still see through, and prevent embers getting into the house in the event of a fire. For us, it was the ideal solution because we still had our views but protection as well.

Good point, jmm. That mesh should also be used to screen apertures like vents.

I think we need to have screens as well as shutters... I'm getting used to the idea of shutters, and warming to them now I have got over my earlier distaste. As you say, they have lots of advantages, including security.

How did you go int he end? I am just starting on this research. We are in a flame zone in suburban Sydney, looking at our options for windows on the western side.

We are going with Sonnenschultz shutters on the larger windows and sliding doors, with ordinary aluminium framed Windows with integrated fly screens behind them. The shutters will bifold back from the centre of the windows so we don't have ugly rollers above the Windows, and anyway, there is not really space under the eaves. We are also happy with the extra security for when we are not there. See http://www.sonnenschutz.com.au/bushfire-shutters/flame-zone-shutters/

We have a few small high windows that we want to keep un-shuttered so they can get all the winter sun, including when we are not there. They are going to be Paarhammer, as the other options for flame zone Windows don't seem to do double glazing, and so fail our Basix requirements.

Either way is expensive, it's just the cost of building in the bush. Good luck with your project.

Hi Emma, we went with Mid City Windows, using their 'Magnum' range, specifying BAL 40. They look fantastic! No need for shutters, as windows are BAL40 rated. The windows are awning style and have metal fly screens inside. The screens are very discreet and look fine. French doors don't require screens.