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    Non-Combustible Decking

    Article Overview

    Non-combustible decking materials, crucial for safety in high-rise buildings and wildfire-prone areas, prevent ignition and burning. Dura Deck Aluminium, with an A2fl-s1 fire rating, is strong, lightweight, and anti-slip, ideal for tall buildings. Dura Deck Inspire, with an A1 fire rating, resists flames and scratches, suitable for luxurious, safe environments. Both products comply with BS EN 13501-1:2018 standards, ensuring verified fire resistance.

    Non-combustible decking materials, sometimes referred to as incombustible or fireproof, are incapable of lighting and burning.

    Non-combustible decking and terrace flooring can be beneficial in a range of scenarios, but there are certain applications where fireproof properties are particularly advantageous:

    • High-rise buildings – balconies on buildings that meet certain requirements must legally be constructed out of non-combustible materials to ensure fire safety
    • High-density urban areas – fire can spread easily between buildings that are in close proximity
    • Commercial buildings, such as hotels and restaurants
    • Public infrastructure, such as schools, universities and healthcare facilities
    • Industrial buildings, such as factories, warehouses and energy facilities
    • Transport infrastructure, such as train stations and airport terminals
    • Areas prone to wildfires

    Non-combustible decking materials: Aluminium

    Dura Deck Aluminium has an A2fl-s1 fire rating, making it compliant with EU and UK government recommendations, and ideal for buildings over 11 metres in height. The boards are lightweight and strong, with an anti-slip surface, and are available with an in-built drainage system, or a free draining system for smaller surface areas. There are three matt-finish colours to choose from, all with a sleek, contemporary finish.

    Dura Deck Aluminium has a minimum 60-year life expectancy, but get additional peace of mind with a 30-year warranty for material and manufacturing defects.

    Chosen to meet both style and safety requirements, Dura Deck Aluminium was installed at a 6-storey residential apartment building, 11 Goulston Street. Its long design life, low slip potential and attractive aesthetics made Dura Deck Aluminium an appealing choice for this project, but its A2fl-s1 fire rating really sealed the deal, meeting all of the safety protocols necessary for the construction, whilst creating a pleasing visual design for the building.

    Non-combustible decking materials: Porcelain

    Dura Deck Inspire, our porcelain decking range, has an A1 fire rating, the highest level available. It’s completely impervious to open flames and extreme temperatures, with exceptional strength and anti-slip performance. The boards are anti-scratch, as well as being resistant to frost and ice, with little to no water absorption. Available in four elegant colours, each Dura Deck Inspire plank has a variegated wood grain finish, giving the appearance of luxury timber.

    Dura Deck Inspire has a 60-year life expectancy and a 10-year structural warranty.

    New Acres, a luxury set of apartments in Wandsworth, chose Dura Deck Inspire for its residential pool area. With 554 residential apartments to accommodate, safety is of utmost priority, so Dura Deck Inspire was chosen not only due to its incredible aesthetics, but its safety properties too, including its A1 fire rating and anti-slip texture, making it perfect for communal use areas.

    Fire testing non-combustible decking

    Finding a decking product that makes fire-resistant claims is great, but it’s important to make sure these claims are proven.

    Non-combustible decking products should have an official classification, assessed against BS EN 13501-1:2018. This standard requires a combination of tests, targeting a range of characteristics, including combustibility, heat levels, flame spread and smoke release. Your manufacturer will be able to provide certifications for each product, proving its completion of relevant fire testing.

    When it comes to safety, don’t leave anything to chance.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Non-Combustible Decking

    For a material to be classed as ‘non-combustible’, it must not ignite, burn, or release flammable gases when exposed to high temperatures or flames, maintaining its structural integrity without significantly contributing to the spread of fire.

    Completely non-combustible materials will have an A1 fire rating, confirming that the material does not progress fire in any way. A2 materials can be classified as ‘non-combustible’, but can have slightly higher combustibility than materials rated A1. While A2 materials will not fully ignite, they may produce a small amount of smoke when exposed to flames. This is usually due to a coating or painted surface, rather than the material itself.

    In construction, the most commonly used non-combustible materials are concrete, brick and masonry, steel, certain types of glass, stone, and ceramics. Aluminium and porcelain are our preferred non-combustible balcony decking materials due to their appearance, long life expectancy and low maintenance requirements.

    Despite its widespread use in construction, wood is not a non-combustible material. It’s known for its ability to ignite, burn, and contribute to the spread of fire when exposed to high temperatures or flames. Wood is not a suitable material for high-rise applications where fire safety is of high importance.

    Our composite timber decking has a Class B fire rating, designed and tested to meet the demanding specifications (high-rise or multi-occupancy buildings) of BS EN 13501 Class Bfl-s1 as part of a Broof(t4) scheme. However, it is not entirely fireproof.

    Many composite decking products from other suppliers are class Cfl-s1 or Dfl-s1 which are not suitable for high rise applications.

    No. MDF (medium density fiberboard) is made from wood fibres that are bonded together with resin under heat and pressure. Since it is primarily composed of wood, MDF can ignite, burn, and contribute to the spread of fire.

    Both our aluminium and porcelain decking ranges comply with EU and UK government recommendations for fire safety.

    Our non-combustible decking products are a great choice where sustainability is a priority. Dura Deck Aluminium has a long lifecycle, and when its end of use does come, it’s completely recyclable. Our Dura Deck Inspire (porcelain) is made from 60% post-consumer recycled content and can be further recycled at the end of its long lifecycle.

    Other decking materials that may be more sustainable, such as products composed of wood, are unsuitable for many applications, including high rise, due to their combustibility. Therefore, aluminium and porcelain are a great choice for sustainability where fire safety guidelines need to be met.

    Fire-treated wood is classified as fire-retardant or flame-resistant, meaning it is designed to slow down the spread of fire and reduce its combustibility. Despite this, it’s still capable of burning under certain conditions, so cannot be classed as non-combustible.

    A non-combustible material does not ignite, burn, or release flammable gases when exposed to fire or high temperatures. On the other hand, fire-resistive materials have been treated or constructed in a way that resists burning and can withstand high temperatures for an extended period of time. Fire-resistive materials may still be combustible.

    Our Specialists

    Talk to our experienced team about how you can tap into our specialist knowledge and engineering capability for your project.

    • I specialise in futureproof technical and commercial decking and cladding solutions for tall buildings. My career highlights include creating some of Dura’s most innovative patented decking products & accessories.

      07590445665

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      Lee Cavalier

      Decking & Cladding Sales Manager

    • I specialise in non-combustible decking and cladding solutions, with a professional focus on improving education and specifications across the industry. My favourite project of recent times would have to be The Lock.

      07970437452

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      Chris Rose

      Decking & Cladding Sales Account Manager

    • I specialise in helping clients choose the right decking and cladding systems for tall buildings. It’s rewarding to work with great-looking and highly engineered products that adhere to the highest safety standards.

      07779772184

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      Jack Francis

      Decking & Cladding Client Success Manager

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