What’s what

Balconies and decks are both outdoor areas adjoining your house. There are some general rules on safety that you must comply with whether you have a deck or balcony.

Balconies and decks are both outdoor areas adjoining your house. There are some general rules on safety that you must comply with whether you have a deck or balcony.

Whereas some decks and balconies are open to the elements and have open framing with timber slats, others have waterproof coating or membrane on the floor area and cladding underneath, so the framing isn’t visible. These are commonly known as waterproof decks. A waterproof balcony or deck can function as the roof of a room underneath.

All waterproof balconies and decks should be built with a slope to allow for water to run off to a collection point such as a down pipe. Preferably there should also be a secondary drainage outlet, such as another down pipe or an overflow, positioned below floor level. This is in case the primary water outlet becomes blocked.

A balustrade is a low wall around the deck or balcony designed to prevent people from falling over the edge. A balustrade or some other barrier is required on any deck or balcony where people could fall one metre or more.

The balustrade or barrier has to be one metre high to prevent falls and of adequate strength to cope with people pressing against it. You also need to make sure that there is nowhere on the balustrade where a child can get a foothold between 150mm and 760mm above the deck surface to climb over the balustrade or fall through it.

The NZ Building Code Compliance Document B1/AS2 gives descriptions of suitable barrier types and limitations. If there is a handrail on the balustrade it should be fixed to the side of the balustrade, not through the top where it could cause a leak more easily.