Data collection for our third annual AliDeck Balcony Fires Report for 2022 will begin next week.
It’s the time of the year again when we begin to prepare our annual AliDeck Balcony Fires Report. As of August 1st, AliDeck will once again request data from all UK fire services using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). From the responses and data gathered, we will build a detailed report of the number and causes of balcony fires that occurred between 1st August 2021 and 31st July 2022.
In the midst of the ongoing Building Safety Crisis, the AliDeck Balcony Fires report is an important tool that raises awareness for people across the UK. Crucially, it highlights the causes of fires on balconies so can be used to directly influence effective preventative actions.
What have we learned from previous reports?
The UK has experienced record temperatures this summer and balcony fires have occurred in London and other parts of the country in recent weeks. We have learned from our previous Balcony Fire Reports that these fires are frequently caused by human error.
The most common of these are smoking-related causes, such as cigarettes not being properly disposed of. These cigarettes are often dropped into combustible materials as make-shift ashtrays or flicked onto balconies belonging to unsuspecting homeowners while still ignited.
The use of disposable barbecues and candles also cause fires. High-rise building balconies in particular are susceptible to spontaneous fires due to direct sunlight hitting combustible materials, refracted through glass objects. Additionally, electrical faults occur when electrical appliances are used in an unsafe manner on balconies.
What can be done to make balconies safer, and less likely to be involved in a fire?
A cost-effective solution can be taking the proactive decision to replace combustible materials before an incident can occur.
We manufacture fire-safe, non-combustible balconies at AliDeck. Providing solutions to the construction industry is our goal as a trail-blazing innovator. Decking boards, soffits and balustrades are among the balcony components we offer.
In contrast to timber balcony components that often need to be replaced every 10 years or even less, our aluminium decking has a 60-year expected life span and a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty. In addition to creating additional value, the use of non-combustible construction materials prevents fires from taking hold on the balcony, let alone spreading to the interior of the building/home.
We hope to publish our third annual Balcony Fires Report around October, so keep your eyes peeled for our updates and announcements.
