Timber decking on balconies has been recognised as no longer fit for purpose. We spoke with Richard Izzard, managing director of AliDeck, about a recent fire-safety remediation project in London where aluminium decking provided a compliant solution.
With the monumental change in building regulations for multi-storey developments over recent years, new-build use of combustible materials such as timber or composite decking on balconies has fallen to zero.
However, there are countless existing buildings across the UK that have already had timber decking installed. Property managers and building owners have increasingly faced the prospect of undertaking fire safety remediation across their portfolio, and progress to a fire-safe future has been a challenge to achieve.
A good example of this challenge being met and overcome is a recently completed project in the heart of London, where balconies on a medium-rise building were in dire need of refurbishment. Not only a fire risk and causing concerns regarding EWS1, the timber decking was also generally very tired and unattractive.
Richard Izzard, managing director of AliDeck, said,
“Our Approved Installer, Alu-Installations, completed the removal of the rotten timber decking and replaced the boards with our aluminium decking boards. At a stroke, this action resolved a highly visible eye-sore for the tenants and to passers-by in the street, and achieved the required level of fire-safety.”
Aluminium decking proves ideal replacement for timber
Timber decking has an expected lifespan of around 10 years, if looked after correctly. However, timber requires regular maintenance which, if missed, can lead to the wood quickly degrading and beginning to rot. Without regular reapplication of wood treatment or paint, timber decking loses its beauty quickly.
Timber also carries safety risks such as helping fire spread across external walls of buildings, especially so when balconies are stacked. AliDeck publish an annual Balcony Fires Report which consistently shows that most fires on balconies are caused by the careless disposal of smoking materials, along with a significant incidence of fire caused by barbecues on balconies.
Richard continued,
“The building owner specified the use of our 30mm Senior Decking Board, which is A2 fire-rated and non-combustible, and chose the ridged form of the board for additional slip prevention. Finished in RAL 7039 Quartz Grey, the new aluminium boards transformed the balconies for the residents while also ensuring safety. A simple aluminium angle trim was used to conceal the board edges for the neatest end result.”
By carrying out these works and moving away from timber, this conscientious building owner has future-proofed their balconies and will avoid any subsequent costly remediation. The new aluminium decking has created a pleasant outdoor living space for the tenants while also creating additional value for the property.
PAS 9980, FRAEW, EWS1; an alphabet soup of problems for property mangers
With PAS 9980 now in force all multi-storey, multi-occupancy buildings must undergo regular Fire Risk Assessments to External Walls (FRAEW). PAS 9980 is based around the risk of fire occurring but lenders and their surveyors are continuing to take a cautious approach on buildings of any height, but particularly so for buildings above 11m.
Richard concluded,
“The AliDeck System has received rigorous testing and is fire-rated to A2-s1, d0 and A2fl-s1 for full compliance. Consequently, our products are non-combustible, do not contribute to fire, and are a one-stop-shop guarantee that fire-safety remediation works on balconies will be successful.”
The installation company on the project, Alu-Installations, have a great deal of experience of fire-safety remediation of combustible balconies and have been Approved Installers for AliDeck for several years. The peace-of-mind that comes from engaging trained professionals on these crucial and complex remediation projects must be highly valued, with a successful and hassle-free outcome all but assured.
If you would like to discuss your timber decking replacement requirements, please call the AliDeck team on 01622 534 085 or email info(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)alideck.co.uk.