At BAL-12.5, masonry, brick veneer, rendered and fibre-cement walls generally comply; some timber cladding needs specific detailing.

At BAL-19, timber cladding restrictions tighten and fire-resistant cladding becomes the mainstream choice.

At BAL-29, timber cladding is generally not acceptable except for specific rated products; masonry, metal or fibre cement dominate.

At BAL-40 and BAL-FZ, only rated masonry, concrete or steel-clad systems are acceptable and timber elements are essentially eliminated.

Roofs need ember-proof detailing at penetrations, valleys, ridges and gutters; tile roofs need sarking and metal roofs need gasketed fixings.

Boxed eaves with fibre-cement soffits are the mainstream compliant detail; open eaves are generally not compliant above BAL-12.5.

Windows and doors are the highest-priority breach points: screens at BAL-12.5, toughened glazing from BAL-19, and certified bushfire-rated products at BAL-29 and above.

Certified rated window and door products have a smaller supplier pool and longer lead times, so specify them early.

Decks and subfloors must resist ember attack; at higher BAL levels, bushfire-resisting timbers or non-combustible framing and screening are required.

Evaporative cooling units, vents and weep holes all need ember-proof mesh.

Water and gas service penetrations need fire-rated detailing where they pass through the building envelope.

The transition junctions between elements are where AS 3959 compliance most often fails, so use a builder who details them as routine.