Building Fabric


Balconies Feature


Remediation of balconies is often still recommended. The removal of combustible material, such as timber or composite decking, and replacement with non-combustible alternatives significantly minimises the risk posed by balconies


with a firm program of outreach and education, the human factor in balcony fires will be immensely difficult to mitigate. Flammable materials such as timber or composite decking can be ignited


by one carelessly discarded cigarette, stubbed into a plant pot, say, or dropped through a deck. Tere are even fires each year started by still-ignited cigarettes landing on balconies, flicked from floors above and destroying innocent residents’ homes. Te cost of rectifying these fires is oſten many tens of thousands of pounds, yet the truth is that these are entirely avoidable.


THE WAY FORWARD Following the introduction of PAS 9980 in January 2022, a risk-based format was introduced to fire safety appraisals. Intended to introduce more pragmatic decision making than was possible under the withdrawn Consolidated Advice Note, PAS 9980 has been a positive step forward for the housing sector. Balconies are classed as “specified attachments” to the external envelope


and are considered one and the same with the external wall system for new build construction with regards safety requirements. PAS 9980 also highlights balconies as posing a particular danger for fire spread and guides risk assessors to closely examine their construction and position before reaching conclusions on fire risk. Remediation of balconies is oſten still recommended. Te removal of


combustible material, such as timber or composite decking, and replacement with non-combustible alternatives significantly minimises the risk posed by balconies. Looking again at the stark data in the latest balcony fires report, the conclusion must be that remediation is the most effective way to prevent dangerous fires from taking hold and spreading into or across buildings. Whether it is by strict implementation of rules on use or by remediation


of combustible materials, action must be taken to stop these fires. Te large increase in balcony fires year-on-year simply isn’t acceptable. A minor positive note, though, is the reduction in fires on balconies caused


by barbecues, dropping to 15 from 22 in the year prior. During the summer’s heatwave, the London Fire Brigade issued stern warnings to the public on the use of barbecues and several major retailers removed them from sale, so we might conclude that this message began to make an impact. If so, maybe a similarly zero-tolerance attitude to smoking on balconies


could result in a major reduction in these avoidable and dangerous fires? Tere seems to be little to lose from making such an effort, and we would applaud any landlord or local authority that does so. Te Balcony Fires Report is available in full on the AliDeck website.


Richard Izzard is managing director at AliDeck 28 | HMMDecember/January 2023 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


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