Choose the Right Composite Decking Walkway for Your Commercial Project

FRP composite decking walkway solutions have emerged as a leading choice for architects, engineers, and contractors seeking durable, low-maintenance, and aesthetically pleasing solutions for a wide range of outdoor projects. From residential decks and boardwalks to commercial applications, Fibergrate offers a diverse portfolio of composite decking materials designed to meet the unique demands of each project.

Dynaplank is Fibergrate's premium decking product, meticulously engineered to mimic the appearance of wood while surpassing its performance in key areas. This pultruded product offers a classic wood-like aesthetic, making it a popular choice for projects where visual appeal is paramount. This product offers exceptional durability and resistance to moisture, rot, insects, and harsh weather conditions. Unlike wood, Dynaplank will not rot, splinter, or succumb to insect infestation, ensuring long-lasting performance and minimizing maintenance requirements. This makes it an ideal option for demanding applications in coastal environments, pool decks, and other outdoor spaces exposed to the elements.

Case Study: Kawaihau Elevated Boardwalk

The Kawaihau Elevated Boardwalk project in Kauai, Hawaii, addressed a critical need for a safe and accessible pedestrian and cyclist path. The existing route was hazardous, and the alternative, Kawaihau Road, was congested and lacked sidewalks. To address these concerns, the community embarked on a project to construct a safe and accessible boardwalk. Fibergrate's Dynaplank, with its wood-like aesthetic and exceptional durability, was chosen as the ideal decking material. Dynaplank's resistance to saltwater corrosion and its ability to provide a safe and slip-resistant surface made it an ideal solution for this coastal environment. Furthermore, the lightweight nature of Dynaplank facilitated easy installation, minimizing logistical challenges and ensuring a timely project completion. The completed boardwalk stands as a testament to the versatility and durability of Fibergrate's composite decking solutions.

Fibergrate offers a range of both molded and pultruded grating products, each providing exceptional strength, durability, and slip resistance for a variety of walkway applications. These versatile products are ideal for projects where safety, performance, and long-term durability are paramount.   

• Molded Grating: Known for its high strength and impact resistance, molded grating offers a robust and durable solution for demanding applications.   
• Pultruded Grating: Pultruded grating provides a balance of strength and flexibility, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.  

Case Study: Tanner Springs Park Pontoon Boardwalk

Fibergrate's Safe-T-Span® for pontoon boardwalk

The Tanner Springs Park pontoon boardwalk in Portland, Oregon, presented unique challenges. This urban wetland park required a decking material that was not only safe and durable but also environmentally sensitive. Fibergrate's Safe-T-Span® ISOFR pultruded T2515 grating emerged as the ideal solution. The lightweight nature of the grating made it suitable for the pontoon structure, while its open grid design allowed light and water to penetrate the surface, minimizing the impact on the underlying wetland ecosystem. The slip-resistant surface of the grating ensured visitor safety, and its durability ensured long-term performance in this challenging aquatic environment.

According to Brad Gornik, Executive VP of Sales at Fibergrate, grating walkways made of FRP composite are in high demand in the data center sector right now. “We’ve done a really nice project that is now an ongoing opportunity with Span Construction, a General Contractor for a major data center client. We’re creating decking walkways that serve as access platforms on the second story of these data centers. The deck is used to access the louvre blades to replace them for the data center air intake. They put a deck up there and it’s 1200 linear feet on one side and the same length coming back on the other side.” 

Gornik is excited about this growing opportunity as more data center designers and construction teams learn about FRP. “These data center buildings are like row houses, repeated one after another on these plots of land that have as many as 12 different buildings. It’s a fantastic chance to show what fiberglass reinforced plastic from Fibergrate can do. Every time this type of application is specified with FRP, we have beaten our competition on quality and service.”

Selecting the Right Fibergrate Composite Decking Walkway Solution for You

Choosing the right composite decking solution depends on a variety of factors, including:

• Aesthetic Considerations
• Performance Requirements
• Environmental Factors
• Maintenance Requirements
• Accessibility

Need help with product selection? Contact Fibergrate today to explore our diverse range of decking solutions and discover how we can help you bring your vision to life.

Want to Keep Reading?

• The Benefits of FRP Bridges for Pedestrian and Vehicle Traffic
• How to Use Industrial FRP Products to Engineer Durable Work Environments

Learn more about Fibergrate Decking Products below...