Dublin Fire Brigade tackle mid-rise balcony fire, balcony manufacturers in Ireland are urged to seek non-combustible decking alternatives

The Grenfell disaster had far-reaching effects within the UK, with the ongoing Building Safety Crisis unfolding in its aftermath. In the wake of the 2017 tragedy, all high-rise multi-occupancy buildings at risk of fire have been subjected to strict new requirements, with thousands needing fire-safety remediation works.

While regulations and legislation have undergone major change within the UK, the situation in Ireland is quite different. With regulations regarding fire safety and construction materials lagging behind the UK, the danger of a large-scale fire in Ireland is very real.

A balcony fire this weekend has underlined the concern that this poses. The fire resulted in serious damage to a 7^th floor multi-occupancy building in Dublin destroying a residential balcony and spreading fire across the adjacent cladded wall. Although no cause is yet known, the charred and melted remains of the composite decking is a stark reminder that combustible materials used within the external wall systems must be replaced with non-combustible alternatives.

We have no doubt that balcony manufacturers in Ireland have taken immediate note of the ongoing difficulties the UK construction industry is going through post-Grenfell. We have spoken to many Irish balcony manufacturers and designers and they are keen to future-proof their projects and protect life with the use of fire safe materials.

A convenient way to include year-round outdoor living space, balconies in Ireland have seen increased consideration in new build projects with thousands of new balconies planned in the years ahead. Historically, Ireland has had relatively few multi-storey buildings but future master plans for urban areas in the Republic feature many mid to high-rise buildings, all of which feature balconies for outdoor living amenity.

As stated above, building regulations in Ireland are currently lagging behind the UK in terms of fire safety. We hope action is taken soon to bring more stringent rules into place, such as requiring non-combustible balconies in Ireland, to ensure that the likelihood of an “Irish Grenfell” is as low as possible until remediation work is complete. We don’t think that such proactive measures will be met with much resistance as, from speaking with our friends and customers in Ireland, they are only concerned with building safe and functional balcony systems.

The balcony in Dublin that was destroyed in this weekend’s fire was constructed of composite decking with timber batten joists. These materials are no longer fit for purpose and pose a huge fire risk. Timber decking components are not only combustible but also are susceptible to the elements, leading to rot and decay weaking the structural integrity of any deck they underpin. Composite decking is also prone to contributing to the spread of fire, as it contains highly combustible wood and plastic material.

From the images released by Dublin Fire Brigade we can see that the fire spread to the wall and burned away a large area of the cladding, revealing timber plywood and timber battens underneath the cladding panels. It was lucky that this fire was contained as well as it was, there was a very real danger of a serious fire taking hold here due to the number of combustible materials present in all aspects of the external envelope.

Many balcony fires are caused through human error. Leading causes include the discarding of ignited cigarettes and the use of disposable barbecues onto and around combustible materials.

Our annual AliDeck Balcony Fire Report where we gather data from fire services across the country can be used to educate leaseholders and building owners alike about the safe use of balconies and how to limit the risk of fire.

Balcony manufacturers in Ireland must seek futureproof alternatives for decking materials and balcony components, with AliDeck already supplying a range of non-combustible balconies in Ireland, including aluminium decking, soffit cladding and balustrades. Aluminium is widely regarded as the new de facto standard for balcony decking, the fire-safe design is capable of passing any fire safety survey. Ultimately, though, any property owner should be entitled to enjoy the safety benefits of a non-combustible balcony in Ireland.

Resistant to the elements and Fire Rated to A2-s1, d0, aluminium decking and balcony components remove a vital fuel source within the external walls. Robust and durable in design, low maintenance is required outside of regular cleaning. The 60-year life span with 30-year manufacturer guarantee allows for a fully compliant and futureproof balcony.

If you would like to discuss non-combustible balconies in Ireland, please contact our technical support team on 01622 235 672 or email us via info@alideck.co.uk.