DuraBond is the authorized U.S. distributor of Australian-engineered COLORBOND® steel fencing systems, bringing noncombustible steel fencing solutions developed in one of the world’s most wildfire-exposed construction environments to residential and commercial projects across the United States.
Wildfire resilience and perimeter materials
In wildfire-prone regions, the materials used around a structure can influence how fire behaves during ember storms and radiant heat exposure. Traditional wood fencing is considered a combustible material and can contribute to fire spread when ignited, particularly when it is attached to or located near a structure.
Noncombustible steel fencing systems such as COLORBOND® steel are designed to eliminate this fuel source at the perimeter, helping reduce combustible continuity between landscapes and structures.
Australian bushfire (wildfire) engineering context
COLORBOND® steel fencing originates from Australia, a country with decades of wildfire exposure and advanced building responses to ember-driven fire behavior.
In wildfire-prone regions, steel fencing is commonly selected as an alternative to wood fencing due to its:
- noncombustible construction
- resistance to ember ignition
- resistance to rot, warping, and insect damage
- performance in high heat and wind-driven fire conditions
These characteristics have made steel fencing a widely adopted material in Australian wildfire mitigation and landscape design practices.
| Colorbond® Steel Flammability Index | Verify Class A fire rating and compliance with firewise standards | [View PDF] |
Scientific context and CSIRO research
Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has conducted extensive research into wildfire behavior, including the role of building materials and external elements such as fencing.
This research has highlighted the importance of reducing combustible materials near structures and has evaluated steel-based systems as part of broader strategies for limiting fire spread pathways during ember-driven events.
| CSIRO Fire Research – Colorbond® Steel | Independent research on fire performance | [View PDF] |
Home hardening and Zone 0 strategies
In the United States, wildfire resilience strategies increasingly focus on home hardening and defensible space, including the concept of Zone 0 – the area immediately surrounding a structure where combustible materials are minimized or removed.
COLORBOND® steel fencing systems distributed from DuraBond can be incorporated into these broader strategies by:
- reducing combustible fuel continuity at property boundaries
- replacing wood fencing in close proximity to structures
- supporting ignition-resistant perimeter design approaches
- aligning with defensible space principles used in wildfire mitigation planning
Organizations such as the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety promote home hardening and wildfire preparedness frameworks that emphasize reducing ignition pathways around structures. While fencing alone does not determine wildfire performance, material selection at the perimeter can contribute to overall risk reduction strategies.
| IBHS Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood | Complete technical standards on IBHS Wildfire prepared neighborhoods | [View PDF] |
| IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Checklist | Step-by-step guide to building a wildfire-resilient home | [View Checklist] |
Important clarification
No fencing system alone can make a structure wildfire-resistant or qualify a property for wildfire certification programs such as Wildfire Prepared Home™.
However, replacing combustible fencing materials with noncombustible steel systems may reduce potential ignition sources and support broader wildfire mitigation strategies when combined with defensible space, building design, and vegetation management.
Summary
COLORBOND® steel fencing provides a noncombustible perimeter solution developed in Australia’s bushfire-prone environment and aligned with modern wildfire resilience concepts focused on reducing fuel sources and ignition pathways near structures.
DuraBond
A wildfire-resilient fencing system engineered for defensible space and modern home hardening.
DuraBond designs and delivers non-combustible perimeter fencing solutions built with COLORBOND® steel systems, helping homeowners and contractors reduce ignition risk in high fire-hazard zones.
Purpose-built for wildfire-prone regions, our systems combine durability, compliance awareness, and architectural finish for long-term property protection.
