Description

University of Canterbury (UC) has been researching the flammability of timber building envelopes – part of an MBIE-backed programme into wildfires and their impact on communities.

Climate change has been directly linked to the increased risk of wildfires. While wildfires in Aotearoa New Zealand are generally less frequent and less severe compared to other parts of the world, these events have sparked the question – are we truly prepared for what the future may bring?

Scope

This article includes:

• Understanding how wildfires enter communities
• Designing for wildfire defence
• Preparedness starts with research
• The vulnerabilities of the built environment
• The testing process