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Ban on smoking fuels demand for decking
June 2005
The Timber Decking Association (TDA) is predicting that legislation in the UK to ban smoking will result in significant growth for quality timber decking and associated structures. The ban becomes effective in Scotland in 2006 and in the rest of the UK in 2008.
The owners of commercial and leisure properties such as pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels are now looking at ways they can continue to meet the needs of customers and prevent the legislation having a detrimental effect on their business.
The TDA says that when smoking was banned in Ireland in March 2004, many businesses turned to decking to create outdoor rooms where customers could eat, drink, smoke and relax without breaking the law. "As a consequence demand for commercial decking increased dramatically," says Steve Young, Director of the TDA who predicts that demand for commercial installations will see strong growth over the next three years in the UK too. Commenting on the potential boom Young said: "Decking is the ideal way for property owners and developers to blur the boundary between indoors and outside and is the quickest and most cost-effective way of creating an unenclosed space for customers to enjoy."
Young also points out that there is no such thing as a standard deck design and individual structures must be tailored specifically to their use. "This is vital for commercial decks where the deck must be safe and sound and fit for purpose at all times," he said.
The TDA provides guidance on the standards required to create high performance deck structures and operates DeckMark™, a quality assurance scheme for decking materials and professional contractors.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
1. The government plans to restrict smoking in enclosed public spaces serving food, comes into force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2008. In Scotland, an outright ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces becomes law in March 2006.The Irish government introduced a ban on smoking in the work place and enclosed public spaces in March 2004.
2. The Timber Decking Association (TDA) is a technical and advisory organisation that provides guidance on the materials and practices required to create high quality decks and associated structures. The TDA is the voice of authority on decking in the UK and is recognised as setting the standard for all that's best in design, construction practices.
3. DeckMark™ is a quality assurance scheme intended to help all those engaged in the specification, design, installation and purchasing of decking ensure that the products they buy or the contractors they commission from a TDA registered firm will be of the highest quality.
4. The National House-Building Council (NHBC) now requires all decks built on new houses in the UK to comply with TDA quality guidelines.
5. The TDA publishes a manual for professional designers priced at £32.
The owners of commercial and leisure properties such as pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels are now looking at ways they can continue to meet the needs of customers and prevent the legislation having a detrimental effect on their business.
The TDA says that when smoking was banned in Ireland in March 2004, many businesses turned to decking to create outdoor rooms where customers could eat, drink, smoke and relax without breaking the law. "As a consequence demand for commercial decking increased dramatically," says Steve Young, Director of the TDA who predicts that demand for commercial installations will see strong growth over the next three years in the UK too. Commenting on the potential boom Young said: "Decking is the ideal way for property owners and developers to blur the boundary between indoors and outside and is the quickest and most cost-effective way of creating an unenclosed space for customers to enjoy."
Young also points out that there is no such thing as a standard deck design and individual structures must be tailored specifically to their use. "This is vital for commercial decks where the deck must be safe and sound and fit for purpose at all times," he said.
The TDA provides guidance on the standards required to create high performance deck structures and operates DeckMark™, a quality assurance scheme for decking materials and professional contractors.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
1. The government plans to restrict smoking in enclosed public spaces serving food, comes into force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2008. In Scotland, an outright ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces becomes law in March 2006.The Irish government introduced a ban on smoking in the work place and enclosed public spaces in March 2004.
2. The Timber Decking Association (TDA) is a technical and advisory organisation that provides guidance on the materials and practices required to create high quality decks and associated structures. The TDA is the voice of authority on decking in the UK and is recognised as setting the standard for all that's best in design, construction practices.
3. DeckMark™ is a quality assurance scheme intended to help all those engaged in the specification, design, installation and purchasing of decking ensure that the products they buy or the contractors they commission from a TDA registered firm will be of the highest quality.
4. The National House-Building Council (NHBC) now requires all decks built on new houses in the UK to comply with TDA quality guidelines.
5. The TDA publishes a manual for professional designers priced at £32.
