How does AliDeck Testing benefit you?

AliDeck is committed to manufacturing fully compliant balcony component systems. Our high-performance decking and balcony solutions provide off-the-shelf compliance with all relevant building regulations and legislation, and we have data to prove it.

We design, we test, we manufacture, we supply. Testing is at the heart of everything we do, and we are proud to publish and share the results of our extensive product testing on fire safety, slip resistance, wear resistance, heat performance and wind uplift.

Rigorous scrutiny by UK testing facilities has confirmed full compliance with current UK and European standards, and a full suite of detailed technical datasheets and test certification is available to download from our website.

1) Fire Performance

Following legislation changes in the aftermath of Grenfell, all materials in the external envelope of a building must be non-combustible. AliDeck has submitted its product range to independent fire testing at Warrington Fire, achieving Euroclass A2-s1, d0 and A2fl-s1 ratings across the range.

AliDeck systems are proven to be:

• Non-Combustible, with no contribution to fire
• Producing no or little smoke
• Producing no flaming droplets

This means that all AliDeck materials are fully compliant with regulations and are a guaranteed route to a successful new build or remediation project. This gives architects a clear compliant pathway, removing sign-off risk for developers and contractors, supporting EWS1 assessments for housing associations, and enabling steel fabricators to offer a fully fire-compliant balcony package with confidence.

2) Slip Resistance

All AliDeck decking boards have been tested in accordance with BS7976 Part 2 using a calibrated Pendulum instrument, in both wet and dry conditions, across 3 directions. Every board in the range achieved a ‘Low Risk’ classification, with:

• All boards scoring greater than 35 PTV in all conditions
• The Senior and Junior balcony board recording a mean of 84 wet and 100 dry
• Micro Roughness (Rz) results of 37-38 micrometres, well above the 20µm threshold for Low Slip Potential.

This is part of our ongoing drive to deliver excellence aluminium decking products to the market and to ensure absolute peace of mind for all of our customers.

3) Wear Resistance

Independent accelerated wear testing simulated 100,000 footfalls on AliDeck boards, which is the equivalent of taking 10 steps on their balcony every day for 27 years. The two tests that were conducted were:

• Accelerated Footfall Test – no wear of the board surface was recorded at all, with only ‘Very Slight’ sole marking observed after 100,000 footfalls
• Chair Leg Test – dragging 70kg and 100kg masses across the surface recorded no effect other than ‘Very Slight’ brass transfer

We are proud to be able to supply to our customers a wide range of physical testing data to provide total peace-of-mind, and wear resistance testing is a key part of that commitment.

4) Heat Testing

Does aluminium decking get hot? AliDeck put this question to rest with practical testing during the record UK temperatures of summer 2022, comparing AliDeck aluminium boards directly against timber and composite under identical conditions. Two tests were performed:

• Reflective Surface Temperature – aluminium averaged 46.65°C in direct sunlight versus 54.15°C for timber and 55.95°C for composite
• Material Core Temperature, all three materials performed at essentially the same level, with aluminium returning to ambient temperature faster than both alternatives

The data speaks for itself: aluminium decking does not get significantly hotter than timber or composite decking, and it cools down faster too!

5) Wind Uplift

Wind uplift is a critical safety consideration when high winds meet vertical building surfaces, particularly affecting balconies and terraces. This demands special attention for:

• Buildings over six storeys
• Structures exceeding 50m in height
• Coastal locations
• Urban areas with wind tunnelling effects

AliDeck systems are engineered with this in mind, offering a range of technical solutions including Z-bracket connections, ballast systems, mechanical fixing, and inverted roof solutions. All installations comply with BS 8579:2020, with wind uplift resistance between 0.6 and 0.8 kN per m². With a service life exceeding 60 years and a 30-year manufacturer warranty, AliDeck systems provide exceptional long-term value.

This is an extension on our innovation across AliDeck. We are investing across technology, product development, market intelligence, channel partnerships and operational efficiency. These aren’t just growth initiatives, they’re improvements that make us more credible, responsive, reliable, and capable of handling your projects more effectively.

Get in contact with our team today so we can support your next project, from the very start until the very end! Call us at 01622 534044 or email info@alideck.co.uk