21/11/2025
CFS staff member: “You’ll need a BAL rating.”
Homeowner: “A bowel… rating?!”
CFS staff member: “No, no - Bushfire Attack Level rating. Not your intestines.”
BAL or bowel? It's easy to mishear - and it turns out 'BAL rating' has become such a buzzword that it’s even in the running for Macquarie Dictionary’s 2025 People’s Choice Word of the Year. Not bad for an acronym that sometimes gets mistaken for digestive health!
But when our Development Assessment Services team says you need a BAL rating, they're not giving medical advice - they're talking about bushfire safety. BAL stands for Bushfire Attack Level, and it’s one of the most important safety assessments for anyone building or renovating in a bushfire-prone area.
So, while the acronym might make you giggle, the rating itself could save your home — and your life. Learn more 👉 https://ow.ly/sWv950XvePS