A 45-year-old Calwell man barricaded himself and a woman in his home for more than six hours on Tuesday afternoon, police say.

Police, at the Calwell home to perform a welfare check, arrived to face physical barricades in and around the house, including steel bars, glass fragments and steel barricades.

While attempting to speak to the owner, police say they heard two loud bangs and experienced the smell burnt explosive powder.

The AFP’s Tactical Response Unit and negotiators were called.

Police say that later in the afternoon, the man threw a whipper snipper at police and presented a sword. While negotiations continued, the man refused to release the woman.

At about 6.30pm, when police forced entry the man attempted to set fire to part of the house using a flamethrower and a butane can.

Police arrested the man. The woman was physically unharmed.