Ventnor’s boardwalk near the Atlantic City line has had aluminum planking in place of wood for over 35 years. The aluminum planking has been a success, and has held much longer than most durable wood can survive; due to the exposure to oceanfront rain, snow, salt, sun, and many other harsh elements. Pedestrians just recently began raising concerns about the aluminum surface being slippery while wet. They also were concerned about the electricity to the metal boardwalk, which later was tested and grounded correctly. A city commissioner said the main concern with the boardwalk was safety for the bikers and runners.
If slip resistance was added to the boardwalks aluminum surface, the aluminum planking may not have had to be removed. Depending on the certain application, there are many degrees of slip resistance that could have been incorporated for safety.
SlipNOT® Metal Safety Flooring offers a slip resistant metal coating in Grade 1 (Fine) and Grade 2 (Medium). Generally aluminum planking is coated with a SlipNOT® aluminum non-slip surface; however, if you desire maximum traction such as Grade 3 (Coarse), then a steel surface would have to be added to the aluminum planking. SlipNOT® also provides a stainless steel surface which offers chemical and corrosion resistance. The non-slip aluminum planking exceeds OSHA and ADA flooring requirements as well as ASTM / ANSI. SlipNOT® aluminum planking is available in a variety of thicknesses and styles such as unpunched and punched.
Aluminum planking provides a high strength to weight ratio in areas where durability is key. They are a strong, lightweight solution for walkways, trails, marine applications, stadiums and many others. Due to aluminums versatility and reliability, Ventnor’s boardwalk would have benefited from a SlipNOT® slip resistant coating.
