BAL 29 Decking

There are times where getting new decking installed is necessary – and in these situations it’s important that you don’t choose a product that’s not up to the standard or of a lesser quality. There are so many different things that need to be considered when creating stylish, durable and safe decking, and all of these things are worth finding out about when you’re searching for the ideal setup for your home.

One of the many factors that individuals should carefully consider is the BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rating of the area they’re in and what kind of decking is most suitable for them.

The Importance Of The BAL Rating

Those who are building a deck in bush fire zones will need to be mindful of the board that they’re installing. This rating measures the risk of the area and can determine how resistant the decking needs to be in terms of bushfire attack, heat radiance, flame contact, etc. Paying mind to the sub floor space can also be important too, particularly in more dangerous areas.

It’s vital that regardless of price or preference, you look for quality decking that can withstand the danger of bushfires, especially if you’re in a high risk location. Here are the different ratings, from the lowest to the highest that are applicable in bushfire prone areas:

BAL LOW

BAL 12.5

BAL 19

BAL 29

BAL 40

BAL FZ

Each level of bushfire risk has its own different restrictions and requirements, and depending on where you are, you may have to comply with these for the deck you build.

The Importance Of The BAL Rating

The building code of Australia does have some rules in place that you’re going to need to know and follow when building a deck or even replacing the decking of a current part of your home. Here’s what you need to know about BAL29 construction requirements for decking:

Decking materials must be non combustible

There needs to be non combustible or bushfire resistant timber supports where the subfloor space is unenclosed

You must have enclosed sub floor spaces for any decks

Each of these factors are important to think about, but the good news is that there are actually a number of great options across Australia for you to choose from.

It’s crucial to consider things like deck structure, what kind of board you’re going to need, fire authority requirements and more; but by the end of it, you’re likely to find that it’s more than worth it.

It’s also worth noting that when it comes to deck size and space, you’ll often have free-reign over what you decide to build, but it’s always best to ensure that everything you’re planning complies with the regulations.

Other Factors That You Should Be Considering When Choosing Decking

Fire safety and choosing a solid, bushfire resistant decking material is of course an important thing to think about, particularly in high risk areas, but it’s also worth keeping in mind some of the other factors that could be important for this part of your home. For example, choosing decking that’s low maintenance can be ideal for essentially anyone, and there are many great BAL 29 decking options out there that offer this.

Spacing between deck boards should also be considered. Typical board spacing varies from 2mm openings to 6mm and it is generally advised to use the minimum spacing allowed to reduce the risk of burning embers lodging between your deck boards.

Our BAL 29 composite decking is an excellent example of what you need for your home, especially if you’re in one of the more high risk areas that require a heavy-duty, non combustible, bushfire resistant decking option.

Why Not Take A Look At Some Of Our Quality Decking Options?

We offer some of the best board and decking materials in Australia, allowing you to make durable and fire resistant decks for any home that’s in a BAL 29 area (or even at lower levels). So whether you are Queensland, NSW, SA, Victoria, WA, ACT or Tasmania, it’s better to be safe than sorry, particularly if you’re looking to protect your home and the new deck that you’re building. Our product is suitable for the following BAL Ratings: BAL Low, BAL 12.5, BAL 19 and BAL 29.

At Futurewood, we care about our customers and this shows from the choice of material used to make our decking boards, to the customer service and friendly advice from your initial enquiry right through to the final delivery and installation; we care about helping you to create a deck of high quality, value and safety. This is why we are continually told that our value and service is so popular.