How to ensure Accessibility with Non-slip Decking

Accessibility is an important consideration for any architectural project or build and can determine how useful decking is by making the design more inclusive. Accessibility is particularly important for public and commercial uses of decking such as walkways or ramps because they are used frequently by a wide variety of people.

Improving accessibility is important for the elderly, physically or visually disabled people and anyone with mobility issues. In this blog post we’ll discuss why accessibility and inclusivity is important for these groups of people and how you can ensure that your next outdoor project or architectural design can be enjoyed by, and benefit everyone.

According to the Office for National Statistics; in 2021, 17.7% of the total population in the UK were considered disabled or had a long-term health problem that limited their day-to-day activities. Although this percentage has decreased since the 2011 census, there are around 9.8 million physically disabled people in the UK.

This calls for a more effective approach to increasing accessibility in outdoor spaces such as paths, bridges, walkways and decks. According to a government report on building for equality; the British Standards Institution is developing new standards to help provide more comprehensive guidance on “increasing accessibility in the external environment and buildings”.

The same report identifies that the latest version of BS8300 (Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people) would be the most up-to-date guidance and does not cover all considerations for accessibility; especially for outdoor structures.

Accessible outdoor spaces and accessible decking structures take into account that some people have mobility issues and consider the needs of wheelchair users so that everyone can make use of the decking structure with peace of mind that it’s safe and useful for its intended purpose.

The UK-based charity Paths for All has published extensive guidance on outdoor accessibility for boardwalks, ramps and decks which is extremely useful for architects, builders and designers looking to improve the accessibility of a project.

We have summarised parts of this guidance to help give you an idea of what is required to make boardwalks, ramps, decks and other outdoor structures more accessible

In addition to the specific design recommendations that we’ve outlined below, Paths for All emphasise the importance of proper maintenance of boardwalks, walkways and bridges to reduce the likelihood of accessibility issues. Regular checks and proper maintenance work are therefore necessary, especially for bridges.

Design Guidance:

• The width of boardwalks, walkways and bridges should consider the width and condition of connecting paths, the amount of traffic on the decking boards and whether or not it will be one-way system.
• A minimum width of 2000mm between handrails or edging boards
• For areas with lower traffic, a width of 1200mm and space for ‘passing’ every 100m (depending on visibility).
• The threshold between the boardwalk, walkway or bridge should avoid a level change of 5mm high
• Decking ramps should be used as opposed to decking steps
• To allow drainage, there should be a gap that is not greater than 12mm between each non-slip decking board
• Edge boards should be at least 75mm high or the railing should be at least 75mm above the decking boards.
• Handrails and rest points should be used where possible
• Chicken wire should not be used to improve the grip of decking boards as it increases the chances of tyre punctures or injuries to pets. Instead, non-slip decking or anti-slip decking inserts should be used.

As mentioned above, ramps are recommended over decking steps and provide far greater accessibility, although accessible steps are also possible.

Design Guidance:

• A gradient steeper than 1:20 (5%) is classified as a ramp
• A ramp should not have a gradient more than 1:12 (8%)
• There should not be significant changes in gradient, and it should be as gradual as possible
• An anti-slip surface is essential for safety, especially in wet conditions
• Ramps should not be longer than 10m and need a level platform if they are more than 500mm off the ground.

For additional guidance on ramps and specific guidance on raised timber decks, please refer to the code of practise for raised timber decks from the Timber Decking and Cladding Association. This information is based on a variety of standards and regulations, so it is comprehensive and covers everything from joist spacing and beam size to safety parapets and balustrade systems.

Effective non-slip decking solutions are essential for making an outdoor structure like a bridge, boardwalk or ramp more accessible. There are other ways to increase the slip resistance of surfaces like anti-slip timber coatings, and of course the dreaded chicken wire technique. However, as we mentioned earlier, these approaches are not reliable, long-term solutions that can ensure accessibility without regular maintenance.

By using purpose-built, non-slip decking or anti-slip decking inserts, you can ensure that the slip resistance of each surface is sufficient enough to support even high-traffic outdoor spaces. This doesn’t mean the non-slip decking boards won’t need to be maintained at all.

It is important to make sure that the decking boards remain structurally sound, the surface is clean and regular checks for trip hazards are carried out to guarantee that the structure is accessible.

With a unique 15-year guarantee that our boards won’t fall under a PTV (slip resistance rating) of 55, you can trust our non-slip decking boards to serve as an effective solution for your outdoor project and ensure that it is accessible by everyone.

Our wide range of softwood non-slip decking, bamboo non-slip decking, hardwood non-slip decking and modified timber decking ensures that you will be able to find the best choice of decking boards for your project.

Get in touch today to find out how we can help you find the right decking boards that will enhance the accessibility of your raised deck, boardwalk, walkway or ramp.