Don’t slip up when choosing timber decking
By Charlotte Hughes, product manager for
timber decking, at Marley Eternit
Timber decking is becoming an
increasingly popular design trend for a
wide variety of landscaping projects. From
walkways through woods and parkland, to
outdoor eating areas, viewing platforms
and boardwalks, timber decking is being
used to complement nature and create a
sustainable aesthetic.
No longer just a means of extending
living space into the outdoors, landscape
designers and architects are increasingly
seeing the design potential of timber
decking and it is now often used as a way
of directing people’s attention, or linking
areas of a site, for example in school or
university campuses, holiday villages and
regeneration projects.
When choosing timber decking for
landscaping projects, aside from
aesthetics, there are some key
considerations - most importantly
strength, durability and safety.
One particular concern with timber
decking is that conventional deck boards
can become slippery in wet conditions,
risking accidents and personal injury.
It is therefore important to choose a
product that meets, or preferably exceeds,
the HSL’s anti-slip testing guidelines and
this should be considered at the design
stage for any application where there is a
timber deck with public access.
Our JB Antislip Plus timber decking boards
are specifically designed to provide a
durable and effective external anti-slip
surface to minimise any risk of slipping –
even in adverse weather conditions.
They are particularly suited to cycle paths,
rural footpaths, wetlands and bridges,
where the decking needs to blend in with
the landscape. We also offer non-slip
JB CitiDeck which is designed for use
in urban environments and is ideal for
creating accessible routes for prams and
wheelchair users, or as a non trip surface
for areas where there is a high volume of
foot traffic.
Both JB Antislip Plus and CitiDeck exceed
the HSL guidelines and have been
independently tested by the Health and
Safety Executive, achieving a low potential
for slip.
All of Marley Eternit’s timber decking is
manufactured from selected joinery grade
European Redwood and is the first and
only decking board in the UK to be CE
marked.
For more information and to see our
full set of Eurocode compliant and BS
5268 design span tables, visit
www.marleyeternit.co.uk/decking
Landscape & Urban Design
21