A blog written by Alfresco Floors

Quite often, balconies can be a real selling feature of an apartment, hotel, restaurant and office space.

The ability to catch some fresh air whilst in the confines of a tall building will help individuals to unwind and de-stress, whilst allowing them to admire the view, whether they’re dining or taking a break from their desk.

But when it comes to specifying material for your balcony project, it, unfortunately, doesn’t just come down to the aesthetics.

Latest Building Fire Regulations state that any building and specified attachment above 18 metres in height must utilise class A rated (non-combustible) materials. Therefore, close attention must be paid to the materials you specify for your external flooring project.

In this post, Alfresco Floors explore why aluminium decking is suited to balconies.

Aluminium Metal Flooring

As a material, aluminium is fast becoming a popular choice amongst decision makers within the construction industry due to its numerous benefits, such as being easy to transport, reducing environmental impact and cost of transportation, it can be shaped into innumerable designs, it is durable and resistant to rust and corrosion, it has an incredibly long lifespan and naturally non-combustible properties.

The green credentials of aluminium certainly make it a favourable choice in a variety of applications, which is why it is fast becoming a key product within the balcony flooring market.

1. You Can Get Non-Combustible Aluminium Decking

In its natural state, aluminium is non-combustible. However, in order for it to be used as a flooring application, it may need to undergo certain treatments to mitigate slip hazards.
As a specifier, you should be aware that certain coatings and the use of additional materials to mitigate slip hazards may compromise the decking’s combustibility.

Therefore, you should always seek fire certification.

2. Aluminium Flooring Looks Great

Once you’ve found a suitable non-combustible aluminium decking manufacturer, you should now consider your design options.

The versatility of aluminium means that it can be cut, shaped and manipulated to a variety of design specs and colour options, therefore, you’re not limited as to what you can achieve visually.

Key Characteristics to Look Out for When Specifying Aluminium Deck Boards

The market is saturated with aluminium decking solutions, so it’s crucial that you ask these key questions when carrying out product research, Is it class A fire-rated? Does it contain an integrated water management? Does it have low slip potential? Is there a guaranteed long-term performance? What are its thermal properties?

Consider the Aluminium Decking Joists

Of course, when specifying balcony materials, it’s not just about the aluminium deckboard; the whole system needs to be fit for purpose (and fire-rated).

If you can obtain the full aluminium decking system, comprising of deckboards with a fully adjustable pedestal and joist sub-frame, you will be saving time, making potential savings and streamlining your process.

Conclusion: Choose Alfresco for Your Aluminium Floor Decking

If you haven’t already, make sure you check out Alfresco Floors AR Deck: the 100% aluminium decking system.
With an infinite choice of RAL colours, non-slip deck boards and a life expectancy extending beyond 20 years, AR-Deck offers a safe, hard-wearing, sustainable solution that will complement any scheme for many years to come.

To find out more about Alfresco Floors products, call on 020 8977 0904 or visit their website www.alfrescofloors.com.