Key elements of this design are:
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•the use of structural recycled composites for pilings. This allows for the use of extremely long pilings, which are not available from wood. To withstand future storm surges, pilings should be perhaps 50’ or longer. Typical wooden pilings are usually between 25 – 35’.
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•the use of structural recycled composite I-beams for pile caps. These shape of these elements renders them stronger than square elements, while using less material, thus costing less. These have been used extensively in bridges installed by the US Army that accommodate 71-ton tanks and 125-ton locomotives.
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•the use of stainless steel fasteners to affix the pile caps to the pilings and the stringers to the pile caps. Many of the boardwalks destroyed by Hurricane Sandy were not attached to the piling-pile cap structure.
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•a deck made from a choice of durable, sustainable domestic woods or recycled plastic lumber (RPL). While the RPL will last far longer than any wood material (estimated to last 200 years), many designers still prefer wooden boardwalk decks. The woods chosen are estimated to last between 25 and 70 years and would be affixed using stainless steel screws.
Click on the image above to download a PDF of the image. For a high-resolution drawing or more information contact Earthbilt™ by phone at 917/543-4064 or by email.
