Neil Windas of Alideck explores how aluminium balcony systems are becoming an integral part of safer building design, supporting robust fire and smoke protection strategies in high density
residential developments.
In today’s compliance-driven landscape, the balcony is no longer simply an external feature, or a design-led aesthetic amenity. With the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) now firmly embedded, the safety performance of balconies, particularly their role in limiting fire and smoke spread, has become a priority for architects designing multi occupancy and high rise buildings.
Following recent changes to building regulations, including updates to Approved Document B and the ban on combustible materials in and on external walls, on buildings over 11 m in England, the pressure is on to specify components that contribute positively to overall fire safety. Balconies, historically a route for fire escalation due to the use of combustible decking, now play a critical role in resident protection when specified correctly.
Risks of Legacy Balcony Design
Several high profile fire incidents over the last decade have highlighted how quickly flames and smoke can spread vertically and horizontally via balconies. In many past cases, balconies were constructed with combustible materials such as timber or polymer based composite decking, which acted as fuel in external fire scenarios.
Once ignited, these materials are difficult for fire services to contain the blaze. Even when the fire itself is managed, smoke inhalation, responsible for the majority of fire related deaths, remains a serious threat to occupants. This reinforces the need for materials and balcony configurations that resist combustion and actively reduce smoke production.
Reasons for Aluminium
Material choice is central to mitigating these risks. Aluminium, increasingly used across decking, soffits, and balustrade systems, offers a non-combustible alternative that meets A1 or A2-s1, d0 Euroclass ratings depending on finish and coating. Crucially, aluminium doesn’t burn, melt, or emit significant levels of smoke, offering a safer specification for architects working on buildings subject to new fire regulations.
In high rise and high density housing schemes, the adoption of aluminium systems is helping create a more consistent, fire safe envelope. It also offers long term durability and ease of maintenance, an important factor in lifecycle cost assessments and environmental performance considerations.
Designing for Safety
While combustibility remains a key consideration for balcony components, overall system design can also support better safety outcomes. For example, the way decking and drainage are specified has implications for long term durability and maintenance, two factors that contribute indirectly to resident safety and compliance.
Balcony systems that allow for efficient water drainage help prevent pooling and the buildup of organic debris, which in some legacy designs has contributed to faster surface deterioration or maintenance challenges. Selecting balcony profiles that reduce water retention also supports structural longevity, particularly when paired with noncombustible soffits and cladding that are engineered for durability.
Although fire performance is primarily dictated by material selection, choosing well ventilated, robust systems that minimise degradation can help ensure the balcony continues to perform safely throughout its lifecycle.
Facade Fire Strategies
Balconies are now considered an extension of the external wall system under UK Building Regulations. This means architects must ensure complete alignment between facade and balcony components in terms of combustibility, fire stopping, and drainage.
Where aluminium is used across multiple balcony elements, it contributes to a unified approach to compliance, particularly important when developing fire strategy documentation or demonstrating due diligence during the Gateway Two application process. As a result, balcony design must now be discussed early in project planning, with input from fire consultants, engineers, and specification partners.
One example of a fully integrated, fire safe balcony system in action is the Manor Road Quarter project in Canning Town, London. This large-scale residential development features hundreds of balconies across multiple buildings. The design team undertook a comprehensive approach to fire safety, specifying a complete aluminium system from deck boards and drainage to soffits and balustrades.
By using non-combustible components across all visible and hidden balcony elements, the project addressed both regulatory obligations and long term safety goals. The system was designed to meet Euroclass requirements, while also supporting a visually cohesive and low maintenance external finish. The Manor Road development highlights how fire compliance and high design standards can go hand-in-hand when specification is led by safety from the outset.
Protecting residents
As the Building Safety Regulator continues to influence the construction process, particularly the accountability of designers under the new Dutyholder roles, architects are expected to demonstrate that every component contributes to the overall safety of the building.
By approaching balcony design as an extension of the fire strategy, and by specifying noncombustible materials such as aluminium, landlords can play a key role in limiting risk and improving resident protection. From initial concept through to installation, material led decisions now have the power to prevent tragedies, and reassure both building owners and tenants.
Neil Windas is commercial director at Alideck