Building Safety Act Deadline Looms as Extension of Regulations Set to Include buildings Below 18 metres in Height | Aluminium Decking Solutions

The Building Safety Act is a landmark piece of legislation that aims to make buildings in England safer. One of the key changes introduced by the Act is the expansion of regulations to cover balconies in buildings under 18 meters in height.

This is a significant change, as it means low-rise buildings will now be subject to the same fire safety requirements as mid and high-rise buildings 18 metres and above. This includes the use of non-combustible materials, such as aluminium. The expansion of regulations to balconies is a direct response to the continued developments of the Hackitt Report, an independent review of Building Regulations and in particular their impact on Fire Safety.

It is the first and most important aspect of the new regulations that all occupied high-risk buildings must be listed on a register established by the Buildings Safety Regulator from 6th April 2023. Registration must be completed by October 1st, 2023.

With the deadline of Building Safety Act looming and a government-mandated deadline on the horizon, there is a need for Steel Fabricators, Balcony Manufacturers, Developers, and Specifiers to be aware that existing regulations are set to expand towards buildings under 18 meters in height.

While this has always been an important factor for those involved in high-rise projects, legislation surrounding materials used within the external envelope remain a pressing concern. Balconies are now regarded as part of the external façade, and the regulations regarding use of non-combustible materials should be applied.

It’s therefore essential that designers consider these regulations when considering incorporating balconies into their plans – or else face difficult fines or even criminal prosecution if they don’t comply with the new requirements.

Fortunately, our team here at AliDeck are on hand to support with aluminium decking and balcony component solutions, with vast experience working on complex compliance issues – and we’re more than happy to share our knowledge so you can guarantee project success before time runs out!

AliDeck work with Steel Fabricators, Balcony Manufacturers, Developers, and Specifiers to ensure cost-effective and futureproof solutions are found, with our range of aluminium decking and balcony component solutions available off-the-shelf. All systems are designed with BS 8579:2020 in mind while our drainage systems have complete NHBC approval.

If you would like to discuss the content of this article or the requirements for an upcoming project in more detail with us, please contact us on 01622 235 672 or email info@alideck.co.uk.