Boardwalk structural engineer

[pyro]

Hey folks,

Not quite sure where to put this, so here it goes!

I am in the process of designing and ultimately building a boardwalk in an Arboretum.
I've just been informed by out H&S manager that our insurance company needs a structural engineers report on the design prior to building, (along with a potential inspection mid construction and then being signed off) The Boardwalk is 60m long and the walking surface is 300mm~ from the ground, hand rails etc.

Has anyone encountered anything like this before, or have any advice? I started as a draftsman/engineer so I'm confident in my design, but obviously this doesnt tick the H&S box!

Thanks

Ben

[Steve Bullman]

I know stihl sponsored something very much like this at Westonbirt. Might be worth pinging them an email 

[pyro]

1 minute ago, Steve Bullman said:

I know stihl sponsored something very much like this at Westonbirt. Might be worth pinging them an email 

Indeed they did, the tree top walkway. Ours is substantially smaller and simpler, however much of the same rules apply. I'll have a word,

Many thanks

Ben

[Dan Maynard]

300mm from the ground sounds almost like decking, surely there are codes of practice for that? Not everyone gets a structural engineers report for a deck do they?

[pyro]

12 minutes ago, Dan Maynard said:

300mm from the ground sounds almost like decking, surely there are codes of practice for that? Not everyone gets a structural engineers report for a deck do they?

I agree, it sounds crackers to me. I've followed a known and trusted design, I've built similar before, much higher and carrying more weight on PROW with the btcv and North Yorks council with no sign of plans, let alone an engineers report.

Ben

[Woodworks]

Might be cheaper to use 300mm thick wood than mess about with a whole pile of regs! Worlds gone mad

 

There is a boardwalk locally on a cycle track. Sure it ticked all the boxes but got built with lousy quality wood and now has holes in it where its rotted away in just a few years 

Edited July 25, 2021 by Woodworks

[pyro]

10 minutes ago, Woodworks said:

Might be cheaper to use 300mm thick wood than mess about with a whole pile of regs! Worlds gone mad

 

There is a boardwalk locally on a cycle track. Sure it ticked all the boxes but got built with lousy quality wood and now has holes in it where its rotted away in just a few years 

Certainly worth bearing in mind, The boardwalk it self will be with in a Red Squirrel enclosure, the boardwalk being raised is fairly key in making the squirrels feel safe. But as a charity we may just have to accept this can't happen financially.

Ben

[Doug Tait]

Can I ask how the walk being raised 300mm makes the squirrels feel safe?

[pyro]

17 minutes ago, Doug Tait said:

Can I ask how the walk being raised 300mm makes the squirrels feel safe?

Sure,

Its a design based on an enclosure in Escot park, devon. Squirrels like the boardwalk, hand rails etc, but having somewhere where they can quickly get out of the way (when people are coming), ie under the walkway, reduced stress levels of the squirrels quite noticably. It also increased interaction with people, knowing that they had a safe haven.

Ben

[Steve Bullman]

Had my first attempt at decking yesterday so I’m actually ultra qualified to help as it happens 😀