What is the opinion of members on fire rating of (small) external balconies?
The example is a commercial building with a small (say 1 - 1.2m deep) balcony off a mezzanine floor, although it could be a separate firecell. There is no sleeping accommodation and it is all under one title and the deck isn’t needed to be fire rated as an apron and is not an external safe path such as a bridge to outside stairs or a similar case that needs fire rating as of right. The wall underneath may or may not be fire rated and may or may not have something combustible under the balcony such as carpark or garden or may be empty paving.
The client wants to use open mesh or timber decking, as this doesn’t need downpipes or waterproofing decking
It is my own opinion is that it is the same as a floor which should be fire rated as someone may be standing on it, including the fire service, or it may be used for external rescue, but I would be interested in other’s opinions and what is accepted or common practice. Am I overthinking this?
This would not apply to an SH townhouse or domestic house – if only because the floor it is attached to doesn’t need to be fire rated.