CLIENT OVERVIEW
- ORGANISATION Zoological Parks Board of NSW — Taronga Zoo
- OPERATIONS Zoo & conservation facility
- RELATIONSHIP SINCE 2014
THE CHALLENGE
Taronga Zoo — located on the shores of Sydney Harbour in Mosman — operates extensive public-facing infrastructure including timber viewing platforms and thatched roofing structures at the elephant enclosure. As a major public venue welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, Taronga is required to meet strict fire safety compliance standards across all facilities.
Timber and thatched structures present a particular fire compliance challenge — inherently combustible materials in a public setting where visitor safety is paramount. The Zoo needed a fire retardant treatment that could be independently verified to meet Australian Standards, applied without compromising the natural appearance of the timber and thatch, and trusted to perform reliably in Sydney’s coastal, high-UV outdoor environment. With public safety and regulatory compliance both at stake,
only a product with credible third-party testing credentials
would suffice.
OUR SOLUTION
After investigating products available in the marketplace, Taronga Zoo selected Chemron’s Fire Retardant Liquid to treat its elephant enclosure timber viewing platforms and thatched roofing structures.
The selection was made after verifying the product met Australian Standards and had been independently tested by CSIRO — the critical third-party credential required for a public venue with compliance obligations of this kind. Fire Retardant Liquid inhibits ignition by chemically interfering with the volatile chemicals, vapours and gases that timber emits when exposed to heat and flame — suppressing the combustion process at its source.
Fire Retardant Liquid is a single-component, clear-drying treatment that penetrates timber surfaces without altering their natural appearance. Applied by brush, roller or spray at 6–9 m² per litre, a minimum of two coats is required (the second applied while the first is still wet) to achieve full protection.
At the time of application, the product was certified as a component of solutions capable of assisting structures to achieve up to BAL 29 under the Bushfire Prone Areas framework. See the compliance note on page 2 regarding current certification status.
RESULTS & OUTCOMES
- CSIRO+BRANZ Independent testing verification — meeting Australian Standards for fire compliance
- BAL 29* Assisted structures to achieve BAL 29 at time of application — see note re: 2019 standard update
- Natural Finish Timber appearance preserved — no visual impact on heritage structures
Following treatment with Fire Retardant Liquid, Taronga Zoo’s elephant enclosure timber viewing platforms and thatched roofing structures met their fire compliance requirements — achieving the certification outcome needed to operate these public facilities with confidence. The clear-drying formulation preserved the natural appearance of the timber and thatch while delivering the fire protection performance required by Australian Standards, with no visual impact on the character of the enclosure.
The Taronga Zoo deployment illustrates the value of fire retardant treatment wherever timber structures must meet compliance standards in public, heritage or outdoor settings — from zoo enclosures and hospitality venues to bushfire prone residential builds and heritage buildings. For specifiers and facilities managers working with timber in high-risk environments, the combination of third-party verified performance, clear finish, and suitability for Australian coastal and UV conditions made Chemron the right fit for a project where public safety and aesthetic integrity were equally non-negotiable.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
"Fire Retardant Liquid had the certifications we needed — it met Australian Standards, dried clear without affecting the timber's appearance, and handled our outdoor coastal environment. It gave us exactly what we were after."
Facilities Team
Taronga Zoo, Mosman NSW
Note — current certification status: AS 3837 was superseded in 2019; the updated standard requires advanced weathering testing (ASTM D2898). Fire Retardant Liquid no longer achieves BAL 29 as a standalone product. For BAL 29 certification, Chemron now offers the Chemron BAL29 Coating System — a three-component system independently tested to the current standard on Radiata Pine. We always recommend consulting your surveyor or building inspector to ensure compatability with your project.
Contact Chemron for specifications and certification documentation
