Specifications

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1.0 GENERAL

1.1 Scope

These specifications shall apply to a 75-year life non-wood pedestrian or light vehicle bridge or boardwalk system. The structure(s) shall be designed, engineered, and supplied by Eco-Pathways, LLC, 1516 Nottingham Knoll Drive , Jacksonville, Florida 32225. Contact Frank Hopf at 832-687-2147

1.2 Qualified Suppliers

1.2.1 For vertical supports (piles)

1.2.1.1      Eco-Piles piles made by Shoreline Plastics in Jacksonville Florida, a recycled

PVC product reinforced with a fiberglass skin and internal webbing in an otherwise

hollow pile.

1.2.1.2     Pure spiral wound fiberglass piles made by Pearson Pilings of Somerset MA

or a similar design by Fortress Piling of south Georgia.

1.2.1.3      Traditional wood piles covered with a PVC shrink sleeve, also manufactured

by Shoreline Plastics in Jacksonville.

1.2.1.4     PVC jackets installed over wood piles in place, with concrete injected into the

annular space.  The concrete and jacket provide some increase in strength and also

contain the CCAs, destroy anything attacking the wood pile and protect against

additional damage.  The jackets are also made by Shoreline Plastics

1.2.2 Dock or Pathways support structure and pile caps:

1.2.2.1      Pultruded fiberglass structural members (C-Channel, I-Beams, Wide Flange

Beams). With a strength to weight ration four times that of carbon steel, these provide

significant advantage where long spans (over foredunes and other sensitive area) or

large load are expected.  Those produced and machined by Bedford Reinforced Plastic

Inc.  in Bedford PA or equal are acceptable.

1.2.1.3)       Structural reinforced composites (plastic woods) like those manufactured by

Owens-Corning Wear Deck (Ocala FL) or equal to support lighter loads or to span

shorter distances.

1.2.3 Decking and handrailing materials.

1.2.3.1      Structural reinforced composites like the above-mentioned O.C. Wear Deck

materials make excellent deck boards.  Wear Deck consists of high density

polyethylene (HPDE) encased with fiberglass tape and provided an epoxy skin with anti-

slip, anti UV, and optional low heat retention additives.  A wood grain is embossed on

the skin.

1.2.3.2      PVC based 45% open surface deck boards like the Sunwalk Series 90 deck

boards manufactured by Sunwalk Docks work well at the beach end of stair or ramps

they will let the wave and wind energy through, reducing the potential to have the

boards washed away in a storm.  It also minimally disturbs sunlight and rainwater from

reaching the dune under the walkover where maintaining vegetation growth is important

1.2.3.3      Pultruded fiberglass decking boards, by Bedford Reinforced or equal shall be

specified for heavy loading

1.2.3.4    Marine grade 316 stainless steel horizontal wire railing systems, if approved

by the permitting agencies can be used with HDPE, OC Wear Deck type, or pultruded

fiberglass vertical support post can create a very clean, modern looking handrail system

with low wind resistance

1.3. Connectors

1.3.1Given the long life of these new materials and the exposure to salt spray, marine

grade 316 Stainless Steel hardware, nuts, bolts and screws are required to connect the

parts of a non-wood dune walkover.

1.4 All shop fabrication of the composite substructure shall be performed in the shops of

Bedford Reinforced Plastics, 1 Corporate Drive, Bedford, PA 15522. Shop assembly of

the composite substructure, if required, shall be performed by Carolina Waterworks,

Goose Creek, south Carolina or approved equal.

2.0 GENERAL FEATURES OF DESIGN

2.1 Span

Sections of pathways shall be manufactured and supplied in “sections” with the normal

clear-span lengths of 8’-0” 10’-0”, 16’-0”or 20’-0” long.  Different lengths may be

specified, with spans greater than 25’-0” generally being supplied in Truss bridge design

rather than a simple beam bridge. If span length is not determined by site topography or

other existing site conditions, Eco-Pathways will identify most advantageous span

length(s)

2.2 Width

Dock and boardwalk sections shall be supplied with a width specified by Owner

measured as the inside-to-inside dimension between the hand-railings at the decking

level.

2.3 Dock, Bridge, and Boardwalk System Type

Dock/Boardwalk/Bridges shall be designed and constructed as an FRP Composite

Structure or a FRP/Wear Deck combination designed by Eco-Pathways .  All members

shall be fabricated from pultruded FRP composite profiles and structural shapes or

structural composite “woods” manufactured by Owens Corning Wear Deck as

configured by Eco-Pathways

2.4 Member Components

Bridge and pathways substructure components shall be 100% FRP, structural Wear

Deck boards or combination designs of both. Curbing and/or hand-railing systems will

be made from Wear Deck boards or equal.

2.5 Profile

Boardwalk shall have a flat (non-cambered) profile from end-to-end longitudinally.  The

manufacturer shall design the fiberglass beams to meet the deflection requirements for

the load conditions specified in Section 3.0 Engineering

3.0 ENGINEERING

3.1 Uniform Pedestrian Live Load

Dock and Boardwalk sections shall all be designed for 60 PSF pedestrian live loads.

3.2 Vehicle Live Load

Boardwalk or Bridge sections 7’ or wider shall all be designed for a maximum 2,000 lb vehicle live load, or greater as specified.

4.0 MATERIALS

4.1 Fiberglass Structure

Fiberglass boardwalk structural members shall be manufactured from high-strength E-

glass and isophthalic polyester resin. Weathering and ultraviolet light protection shall be

provided by addition of a veil to the laminate construction.

4.2 Decking

Boardwalk decking shall be reinforced with Polymeric Lumber manufactured by Owen-

Corning Wear Deck.  Decking boards shall be 5/4x8” with 120 PSF live load rating. 

Color to be specified by the customer.

4.3 Hand-Railings

The hand-railing, where required shall be 36-42 inches in height and designed as

required.

5.0 DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION

5.1 Delivery

The manufacturer shall deliver the boardwalk to a location nearest the site accessible by roads.  The manufacturer shall notify the client before the expected arrival time at the site.  Boardwalks/bridgesshall be shipped pre-assembled to the degree agreed to with customer, for final completion onsite.  Unloading of the component parts shall be the sole responsibility of the client and/or contractor.

5.2 Installation

Manufacture shall deliver unassembled boardwalk sections including the curbing any/or hand-railings for installation by the customer.  Manufacturer shall provide assembly Installation Instructions necessary for erecting and building the boardwalk sections on the piling foundations.  

5.3 Site Issues and Foundation Design

The client shall be responsible for all necessary information about the site and soil conditions, and shall procure the Soil Tests necessary for the design and construction of the bridge/boardwalk section abutments, piers and/or footings.  The boardwalk manufacturer shall provide the client with information pertaining to the boardwalk reaction loads.

6.0 SUBMITTALS

6.1

Manufacturer shall submit a Submittal Package containing the CAD Drawings to the client for review after receipt of order.  The Submittal Package contents shall be sealed by a licensed Professional Engineer.

6.2 Structural Calculations

Manufacturer shall submit structural analysis and calculations to the client for review after receipt of order.  The structural analysis and calculations shall be sealed by a licensed Professional Engineer, if required

6.3 Submittal Process

The Submittal Package containing the Boardwalk drawings shall be sent for review to the client prior to fabrication and clearly indicate anchoring details, connections, material sizes, specifications, and finishes.

7.0 WARRANTY

Manufacturer shall warrant the the decking boards and composite structural wood for defects for 50 years for residcental uses, 25 years for governmental, HOA or commercial applicationss, boardwalk structural integrity of all FRP components and workmanship for a period of five (5) years. This warranty shall not cover defects in the boardwalk caused by foundation failures (if provided by Owner), abuse, misuse, overloading, accident, faulty construction or alterations, or other causes not the result of defective materials or workmanship. This warranty shall be limited to the repair or replacement of structural defects, and shall not include liability for consequential or incidental damages.

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