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2018 July August Marina World

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The magazine for the marina industry

PONTOON/DOCK SYSTEMS &

PONTOON/DOCK SYSTEMS & DECKING Ultra Deck in ‘teak’ on a Middle East boardwalk. More ‘green’ rules fuel greater choice of decking products With the first half of 2018 now behind us, it’s clear that there is no end in sight to the growing list of international regulatory requirements and strict standards for green development affecting the marine industry. On World Oceans day last month, the UK Government announced plans to designate an area of Britain’s coastline nearly eight times the size of Greater London as protected under the expansion of the “Blue Belt” scheme which aims to safeguard our oceans from avoidable plastic waste - and there are indications that many of Britain’s fellow G7 nations have plans to follow suit. products playing a pivotal role in a range of high profile projects in the Middle East, UK and Europe. “With new marina, harbour and waterfront developments often restricted due to geographical limitations and environmental and planning rules, the demand from our customers for flexible decking products has never been greater,” says Burns. “The tropical hardwoods and preservative treated timbers which were widely in use 20 years ago are no longer seen as the most viable option due to their expense and high maintenance requirements. These days, we’re seeing marina construction companies and developers opt for more sustainable and innovative solutions which tick a wider range of boxes and can adapt to the needs of changing climates.” The past few years have seen composite products revolutionise the marine industry as the advantages of GRP and composite timber (also sometimes known as WPC) materials have become clear to both end clients and contractors. Dura’s market-leading Dura Grating and Ultra Deck are suitable for new build projects, (or as a replacement for degraded timber decking where With ambitious new waterfront developments in the pipeline in places such as Dubai, Latin America and the Caribbean, the industry as we know it is transforming at an unprecedented pace. Whilst those who work in the maritime sector will no doubt welcome any chance to protect our marine environments from further damage, when it comes to encouraging new build and refurbishment marinas, docks, and other waterside projects, how can marine businesses ensure that they find the balance between maximum profitability and going green? Stuart Burns, managing director at Dura Composites - a leading supplier of composite marina and pontoon decking - believes that now is the right time for developers to seize the opportunity to find smarter ways to reduce their costs whilst promoting sustainability. The company has more than 22 years’ experience in the marine industry and has seen its business operations continue to flourish despite the increased challenges of the sector – winning a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2017. The award has proved to be a springboard for further success both at home and Natural overseas Look – with Dura Composites’ GRP (glass reinforced plastic) and composite timber marina and pontoon decking Wide Choice of Colours 23mm Pontoon Rebate Ultra Deck in ‘charcoal’ at Ocean Village, UK Needs Maintaining NATURAL WOOD NATURAL WOOD GRP Natural Look Wide Choice of Colours 23mm Pontoon Rebate Needs Maintaining Maximum Durability Maximum Spans Standard Mini & Micro Mesh Colour Stable & Anti-Slip 46 www.marinaworld.com - July/August 2018

PONTOON/DOCK SYSTEMS & DECKING safe anti-slip qualities are required), thanks to their innate ability to withstand the harsh side effects of marine conditions, and the option of co-extruded composite decking adds yet more choice to the marketplace. But with such an array of materials on offer, what are the key pointers? Stuart Burns (SB) comments on three key considerations: 1. Location and climate SB: The impact of the prevailing climate should not be underestimated. When installed in a rainy climate, hardwood decks are subject to water absorption and can become slippery and prone to mould and mildew, so may not be the wisest choice in areas of heavy foot traffic or where access for regular maintenance will be a problem. In the Middle East, summer temperatures can reach a blistering 50°C – so it’s critical to choose a product such as a composite timber decking with both excellent UV stability and the ability Natural Wide Choice 23mm Pontoon Look of Colours Rebate to withstand the high levels of salinity found in the Arabian Gulf. If you need a heavy duty anti-slip product which can span greater distances, then GRP in standard mesh, mini mesh or micro mesh finishes may be a better option, and if fire resistance and durability are critical, then a PVC deck might be your Maximum Maximum Standard Mini best Durability bet. Spans & Micro Mesh 2. Environmental credentials SB: Illegal logging of the ipe tree (which is often used for traditional hardwood Needs Maintaining Colour Stable & Anti-Slip Above: GRP Mini Mesh in ‘sand’ at a marina in France. Right: Dura Grating standard mesh installed at Harwich Port, UK. decking) and scandals surrounding yachts for the luxury market built with illegitimate teak from Myanmar have made headlines this year, and have understandably made many deck builders wary of using tropical hardwoods for their projects. Complete transparency needn’t be a problem however if you opt for a composite. Composite decking is a hybrid product that’s made from a mixture of hardwood waste and recycled plastic. Many of the leading brands such Natural as Dura’s Wide Choice Look of Colours Ultra Deck are made from materials that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill. The result is a weather and stain-resistant deck board that won’t splinter, warp, rot or split, (unlike traditional NATURAL wood which can succumb WOOD to all these problems). At Dura Composites, we were Maximum the world’s first Maximum Durability Spans composite timber supplier to achieve Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certification in 2011, as part of our commitment to lead the industry in sustainable practice – so our composite decking boards are just as good for your GRPproject as they are for the future of the environment. No Need to 3. Lifecycle costPaint or Stain SB: It’s not just the initial outlay costs that you should consider when deciding on your decking material. It’s important Natural Wood Look to consider the whole lifecycle of the material and all its associated costs, including installation, how long it will last and what kind of maintenance (if any) it will require to keep it functioning and looking its best. GRP decking products offer considerably lower life cycle costs due to their low maintenance, corrosion-resistant and impact-resistant characteristics compared with traditional materials, and market leading products such as Dura Grating come with a reassuring 25 year warranty. What’s new? Good news: innovation doesn’t have to cost the earth. SB: If it’s the wood look you really want, then composite decking has come a long way in the past few years, with today’s composites reflecting the beauty of natural and exotic hardwoods. NATURAL When keeping labour costs down WOODis a key priority, there are some innovative products 23mm Pontoon out there Needs that can help. Ultra Rebate Maintaining Deck type 295 from Dura Composites (which has recently been installed in Charcoal colour at the Ocean Village development) is a double width board with the appearance of single boards which can halve installation times GRPand enhances long term performance. It is Standard available Mini with Colour matching Stable & composite & Micro Mesh Anti-Slip timber fenders which have a rebated edge and can be used with or without LED lights and duct covers. And also brand new for 2018 is Ultra Deck Resist - a co-extruded composite deck board with a 360°outer armour. This is used COMPOSITE to protect the core of the deck DECKING from the elements allowing it be virtually Enviro-Friendly Spans up to colour & Anti-Slip fade free and 600mmfire resistant to BS EN 13501 Class B, making it a game changer in the marine market. E: enquiries@duracomposites.com COMPOSITE DECKING CO-EXTRUDED COMPOSITE DECKING No Need to Paint or Stain Natural Wood Look Enviro-Friendly & Anti-Slip Spans up to 600mm Resists Fade Resists Stains Resists Fire Resists Slips & Falls www.marinaworld.com - July/August 2018 47

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