When Is Class A Decking Essential?

When Is Class A Decking Essential?

Decking for balconies and roof terraces has become very popular. On older buildings, decking can transform neglected or unsightly areas into oases of calm and beauty, while on new construction it can create a flow between natural and built environments.

The important fact to remember is that while there are many decking products available on the market, not all are suitable for commercial or public buildings and will not meet the fire-rating standards required by the UK’s Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018.

These regulations, introduced in the wake of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, govern the types of materials used on the outside of high-rise residential buildings that are 18 metres or higher. Predominantly focussed on external cladding – which was a major factor in how quickly the fire spread, claiming 72 lives – the regulations also cover materials used on balconies and roof spaces.

To comply with the regulations, materials must comply with Euroclass Class A fire rating standards?

What is a Class A material?

For a material to be Class A fire rated, when exposed to high temperatures and naked flame it must be non-combustible, not emit fumes or smoke and not contribute to the spread of fire. For this reason, natural timber or composite decking are not suitable for high-rise buildings, although there are currently no regulations barring them from being used on the balconies and roof terraces of low-rise buildings (five storeys or less),or at ground level.

Some natural materials such as stone and concrete, porcelain, steel and aluminium comply with Class A, and these are widely used for decking and terrace systems. Care needs to be taken with costed metals, however. Paints containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are unlikely to meet Class A standards. Powder coating contains no VOCs and such products will still achieve Class A2 rating.

What is a Class A decking subframe?

Balcony or roof terrace decking often requires a subframe to create a level platform for the deck, raise it above the base surface to allow for drainage or span protrusions such as drains and vents.

To comply with regulations, this subframe must also be manufactured entirely from Class A fire-rated materials. This extends even to any packing material used between the subframe pedestals and the roof to level and stabilise the frame.

All components of our Raaft Terrace System modular terrace subframe system are Class A rated. Raaft extruded aluminium joists are supported by height-adjustable pedestals that eliminate the need for additional shims and packers.

What are the Class A decking surface options?

As we mentioned above, stone and concrete, aluminium and porcelain are all non-combustible, so they comply with Class A regulations. They are also popular materials for decking surfaces.

• Stone is a traditional material for hard landscaping such as patios. It blends well with traditional and modern architecture, and offers a wide variety of surface textures and colour variations.
• Concrete is a more cost-effective alternative to stone if the decking covers large areas. Today’s manufacturing methods can create very realistic natural stone effects or modern sculptured designs.
• Aluminium is a lightweight material which makes it easier to bring to site and install, but has a high strength to weight ratio. Aluminium decking can be powder coated to RAL colours that make it blend or contrast with other architectural features and soft landscaping.

Porcelain is probably the best material for decking. Here’s why:

• Stone and concrete require greater thickness – and therefore increased weight – to achieve the same strength as aluminium or porcelain. This increases the cost of transport to site and installation, and may require additional roof strengthening to take the weight.
• Stone and concrete are also porous. This makes them more prone to staining, and retained water can result in cracking at low temperatures and growth of moss and lichen which will make the surface very slippery when wet.
• Powder-coated aluminium looks stunning when newly installed, but offers less resistance to scuffing (particularly in high-traffic areas) and fading due to UV exposure from sunlight.
• Porcelain has an extremely durable, scratch-resistant surface. Despite being non-porous it is also very slip-resistant.
• Porcelain has a high strength to weight ratio, making it easy to install.

Our Atria tiles and Farrino porcelain decking features elegant design and world-class porcelain manufacturing. With a wide selection of tiles and planks, and realistic wood- or stone-effect colours and textures you can create decking on balconies and roof spaces that is both fire-safe and will look attractive for many years to come.