DECKING
4. Evaluate the longevity of slip resistance. Some systems rely on surface textures that polish, wear or clog over time. Others incorporate abrasive elements designed to offer longer-term stability. Understanding how a system performs after years of exposure is as important as knowing how it performs when new.
5. Align maintenance expectations with client capability. Slip resistance should not depend on unrealistic cleaning regimes. If specialised or frequent maintenance is required, this must be part of the design dialogue.
How Product Choice Influences Outcomes Materials and manufacturing methods have a profound effect on slip behaviour. Timber decking incorporating high-friction inserts can deliver consistently high wet PTV values when engineered correctly. High-density bamboo and certain composite boards can also perform well, but only when slip resistance is a central design consideration rather than a latestage enhancement. The market contains products that vary widely in performance, making rigorous evaluation essential.
A Call for Professional Consistency Landscape architecture has matured significantly in its approach to sustainability, drainage, lighting, accessibility and biodiversity. Slip resistance deserves the same level of professional discipline. Designers are not expected to accept vague structural claims, unverified environmental data or unsupported product lifespan assertions— yet the industry continues to tolerate imprecise information on a parameter that directly affects user safety.
The profession has an opportunity to lead by insisting on verified, transparent and independently tested slip-resistance data as a standard requirement. Doing so will not constrain creativity; rather, it will ensure that beautiful public spaces remain safe, inclusive and reliable long after installation.
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