DG46

Bird Nuisance

ID
Title
Compliance Level
Expand All
46.01
General
N/A
N/A

Bird infestation is a problem in some schools, causing nuisance from droppings and lice as well as causing ongoing cleaning and maintenance issues.

Where buildings are located in areas with no existing mature trees nearby, a number of elements require particular attention during design and documentation, to reduce the potential bird problems.

46.02
Exposed Structure and External Detailing
Mandatory
Mandatory

Carefully design the detailing of exposed structure and external finishes to avoid possible nesting and roosting positions, especially in exposed steel structural elements, overlapping roofs, high verandas, covered ways or eaves.

Eliminate insect and pest access to cavities in wall, roof, and structure especially at corrugated roofing or siding junctions.

Refer to DG / SAFETY (ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE) & GENERAL SECURITY

46.03
First Floor Sills
Negotiable

Provide steep slope or other detail to discourage perching or nesting on first floor sills.

46.04
Bird Roosts
Mandatory
Mandatory

Birds are attracted to buildings with designs and details which generally provide:

  • Shelter from prevailing winds
  • Shelter from the hot sun
  • Shelter and protection from other birds and animals of prey
  • Facilities for perching and nesting

To minimise bird roosting consider the following:

Roof Space

  • Prevent entry at eaves and roof junctions.

Ledges

  • Avoid exposed beams, channels and purlins forming ledges.
  • Avoid use of open trusses and struts to external covered ways, awnings and shade.
 

Transitions

  • Concrete columns: slope tops where reducing to smaller steel structure
  • Brickwork: slope top of external skin when joining to thinner metal cladding

 Structural Layering

  • Exposed roof structure: Avoid purlins laid over beams forming ledges between the purlins.
  • Overlapping Roofs: Avoid roofs overlapping so closely as to form bird havens.
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