Having ticked all the regulatory boxes for high-rise residential use with flying colors:

• CE marked (UKCA mark on its way)
• Third party certified
• A2,s1-d0 non-combustible
• Durability tested
• Slip resistance PTV 36+ in ALL directions in wet and dry

One of the unique advantages of Blazeboard has always been that it could be cut and shaped like hardwood and screwed through like traditional decking.  This is handy when you want that traditional hand laid look, and for refurbishment projects where it’s safer to exchange one board at a time.  This was enabled by Blazeboard unique ability to remain impervious to water and corrosion even when screwed right through.  We love the aesthetic of the colour-matched stainless steel self-drilling screws.

But Architects were calling for a system that had no visible fixings, for a clean look, and installers wanted even faster installation.  Now this has been achieved.  The Engineers at Blazeboard have come up with a board profile which fits a stainless-steel black clip.  This sets the board gaps during installation at a consistent 6mm gap, and the black stainless-steel clip is virtually undetectable between the board gaps.

After testing and refinement, this optional system is available now and is already being used for a valued client in south London.

In this article we are going to be explaining what blazeboard is why you should choose it for your decking. Over the last few decades blazeboard has become increasingly popular in the United Kingdom and there are many talented craftsperson’s out there who master in creating you the best-looking blazeboard balcony decking.

Combining the natural beauty that you can see in real wood with the strength and durability of polyurethane. You can rest assured that your blazeboard decking will not warp or rot like you experience with natural wood. Maintaining that highly attractive decking for your home for many years to come.

Contrary to popular belief, Blazeboard decking is actually safer than most wooded decking as it has exquisite anti-slip properties. Also being wood-free this means that it has a high resistance to algae growth.

You will also find that Blazeboard is a lot stronger than wood decking in general as the core of blazeboard is a blend of natural minerals bonded with a polymer resin and long fibre reinforcement which adds to the strength of material.

As Blazeboard is the number one choice in the United Kingdom for non combustible decking, you can imagine that is it high time that we talk about the benefits of non-combustible decking.

Contrary to popular belief, there are many different types of non-combustible decking but the type we wish to talk more about today is blazeboard. But before we get into blazeboard, let’s talk about the general benefits of non combustible decking here at Blazeboard.

Like most non combustible decking there are some benefits that might be known or might not be such as:

• Anti-slip
• Rot proof
• Anti-corrosion
• Anti-static
• UV retarded
• Easy clean
• Mould resistant
• Low Maintenance

However, there are some benefits that you might not know of, these sorts of benefits you will only find out if you gave us a call or enquiry but we will let you know these little secrets. As we believe it is imperative that everyone is knowledgeable about the product that they are purchasing, as non-combustible decking is a great product and perfect for your home balcony.

With our Blazeboard decking you can find that there are a couple of extra benefits that come with this as well as the benefits mentioned above. These include but are not limited to the following:

• Algae resistant
• Hardwearing
• Looks like real wood, without the drawbacks

As you can tell, Blazeboard is the most popular type of non-combustible decking and comes in a variety of different colour options. So, you can chop and change what blazeboard decking you would like whenever you feel like it. As Blazeboard gives our clients the freedom to choose what ever they wish when it comes to our incredible non combustible decking.

If the benefits above aren’t enough to entice you then think about the endless barbeques in the summer, hot tub parties in the autumn and winter as well as the kids in their paddling pools at the end of spring.

Other than that, you have the ability to sit outside in the evening and watch the sun set with a glass of red and know that your non-combustible decking isn’t going to go up in flames!

But in all seriousness, blazeboard is the perfect decking for a family as you or your kids won’t be slipping and sliding everywhere on a hot summers’ day, as well as, in winter the only problem you will get is ice. Which as you can imagine is a normal weather in the British winter, salt is always a good choice when it comes to protecting your blazeboard balcony decking in the winter.

Being a perfect choice if you have a swimming pool or hot tub you really cannot go wrong when it comes to your blazeboard decking as it is also algae resistant as we mentioned previously. But, there is nothing worse than getting out of a pool a slipping half way down the deck. But with blazeboard, you won’t find that problem at all, as it is non-slip and comfortable when you walk on it barefooted.

There are a few ways that you can get on touch with us here at Blazeboard. The first way would be to use our inquiry form on our website and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Sometimes, depending on a busy day it might take us 24 hours to get in touch or if it is a weekend then expect to hear back from us on the following Monday! A reminder that we don’t work bank holidays either!

The second way to get in touch would be to give us a call on 01442894965 and one of our helpful team members will answer any enquiries you may have. If we don’t answer then we will give you a call back as soon as possible. As we might be expecting a high volume of calls or might be a peak time in the business.

The third and final way to contact us would be to email us directly at info@blazeboard.co.uk and we will reply to your inquiry with as much information about our services, or business as possible. We usually reply within a few minutes, however, if we are experiencing a peak time in the business as we said previously, then we might take a while to get back to you but we will eventually!

So, let us get your non combustible blazeboard decking today and never look back, as our service is one of a kind. We like to make sure all of our clientele are happy with the service and product that we provide here at Blazeboard.

Following a number of advice notes regarding flammable cladding, the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Advice Note 21 was published to address issues with balcony decking.  This was released after a residential fire in Barking in June 2019 where timber balcony decking for highrise were a substantial factor in the spread of the fire.

The government updated the Building Regulations on 29^th November 2018 to ban the use of combustible materials on the external of buildings over 18 metres. Within this update, the ban extends to any “specified attachment”, which means that it also applies to balconies and decking.  Some buildings completed after this date may still have combustible materials in the external walling or balconies if they were started before the 29^th November 2018. This ban does not apply to existing buildings or non-combustible decking.

Existing buildings of any height need to be examined on an individual basis.  This is done via a risk-based approach, using the Advice Notes published by the MHCLG as guidance.  Mortgage companies and building owners did not have the knowledge or framework to consistently apply this guidance, and the competent experts with the knowledge were in short supply.  Therefore, RICS created the External Wall Fire Review.  This provided a standard form called EWS1, which provides mortgage lenders with information in a consistent format which explains the extent of remedial works required.

Within the EWS1 inspection, the inspector will inspect the cladding and insulation to identify the materials involved including any woodgrain decking, shera decking and fire-retardant decking. The inspector will also inspect cavity barriers, fire-stops and cavity closers.

With cavity barriers, fire-stops and cavity closers, the materials involved are key, but the quality of their installation and their condition are also critical. Hence some decking having the A1 rated decking and A2 rated decking certificates.

The inspector will inspect the balcony decking for the materials involved and should also inspect the installation of the fire-stops around the balcony connections.  It must be noted that the elements here are fire-stops (not cavity barriers) and therefore they must be rated at the same rating as the floor to which they connect (this will be at least 60minutes but most commonly 120minutes).  Due to congestion in this area, and complexity the quality of installation here is often lacking which can lead to breaks in the integrity of the fire-stop.  Also water ingress can damage the fire-stops over time which means that they may sag and expose combustible insulation attached to the balcony decking connector.

Combustible materials on the balcony decking present a high risk of contributing to the spread of fire. The EWS1 process will identify combustible materials involved in the balcony construction, most commonly the decking may be flammable material such as timber balcony decking, plastic composite decking, wood plastic composite decking (WPC) and other composites such as blazeboard.

It is important to note that there are a range of retail products which could have been fitted to balconies by the resident themselves like non-combustible decking, shera decking, alideck, fire retardant decking, fire proof decking, woodgrain decking.  Some of these products are advertised as “Fire Rated” but not achieve the non-combustible requirements necessary to be identified as low risk in the EWS1 process.

The balcony decking will often be fitted to combustible joists or support structures, these will usually be treated softwood or recycled plastic.  More recent buildings may have aluminium joists installed.

It is important to note, that even tiled balconies and terraces, will usually include plastic pedestals.  The plastic decking pedestals are usually made from PE plastic which is highly flammable.

It is also important to look for components of the balcony decking which may include resin-based materials, adhesives and materials which are painted over with oil-based coatings.

The balcony decking balustrade, soffit and any attachments on the balcony will also be assessed to the same criterial.  Essentially any material which is not non-combustible will be assessed and usually identified on the EWS1 form as requiring removal.

It is common for surveyors to specify the replacement of timber of plastic composite decking with aluminium decking such as Alideck or Mydeck.  Surveyors may not be aware that Blazeboard offers a unique and compliant solution to meet and exceed the requirements set out in EWS1 by providing a non-combustible solid mineral-based decking board which has the look and feel of wood.