MAKING EPE DECKING SLIP-RESISTANT

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Author Message Wayne Yancey Senior Member Username: wayne_yancey Post Number: 504 Registered: 01-2008 Posted on Thursday, December 22, 2011 - 02:02 pm:    Does anyone have a solution to retrofit EPE wood decking to make it slip-reistant? Location is Seattle WA. Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1355 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 22, 2011 - 02:26 pm:    I haven't heard of a problem with the slip-resistance (and spec'd it for exterior use by Lake Michigan). Is there an issue? Or is it perception? Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: rlmat Post Number: 471 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Thursday, December 22, 2011 - 02:43 pm:    Wayne, Are you talking about the "Trex" product? We had an issue about it at a local high school in California, but I don't know the outcome. It had to do with the deck getting wet, and apparently a school employee allegedly "slipped". Wayne Yancey Senior Member Username: wayne_yancey Post Number: 505 Registered: 01-2008 Posted on Thursday, December 22, 2011 - 02:46 pm:    Richard, Deck boards are true Epe. New construction. Two slip-falls have occured. Ellis C. Whitby, PE, CSI, AIA, LEED® AP Senior Member Username: ecwhitby Post Number: 127 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Thursday, December 22, 2011 - 03:06 pm:    Are you referring to “Ipe” wood? I though Ipe had superior slip resistance? Was the deck coated or stained? anon (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, December 22, 2011 - 03:00 pm:    what the heck is "epe" decking? Do you mean ipe? Ellis C. Whitby, PE, CSI, AIA, LEED® AP Senior Member Username: ecwhitby Post Number: 128 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Thursday, December 22, 2011 - 03:26 pm:    Some more info; Ipe (Tabebuia of family Bignoniaceae) Some resources to check: http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2001/willi01d.pdf http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2003/mille03a.pdf http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr67.pdf http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fpl_gtr190.pdf http://www.woodsthebest.com/ipe_decking/ipe-wood.htm http://www.advantagelumber.com/ipedecking.htm Steve Taylor Senior Member Username: steveatwi Post Number: 44 Registered: 07-2008 Posted on Thursday, December 22, 2011 - 05:36 pm:    Is there a hard finish on the Ipe? Or moss growing on it? I would expect Ipe to weather to a fairly rough surface with no help. Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1357 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Friday, December 23, 2011 - 09:13 am:    One suggestion: Ipe decking is used throughout the Milwaukee River boardwalk and where there may be an incline or steps, the deck boards have been incised with grooves (2 per 5-1/2” wide board , equally spaced), parallel to the long dimension. The boards are installed perpendicular to the general direction of travel. Otherwise they are left unfinished. The grooves, plus the natural spacing between the boards, provides additional slip resistance (or the perception of it, anyway, which may be more important). Any wood or composite, when installed parallel to the direction of travel, will most likely be more slippery (going with the grain of the wood, rather than across the grain). ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 120 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Friday, December 23, 2011 - 11:46 am:    In the same vein, has anyone come across a non-wood decking product with good slip-resistance? We have a client who slipped on a "Trex"-type deck (we're not sure if it was Trex or another product) and wants to make sure that none of their projects have the same issues. Still, they're not willing to let us use Ipe and don't want to maintain any other type of natural wood decking. Any suggestions? Based on the client's perception, Trex is definitely out of the running (so to speak).