composites

Success on an Ol for UK-based Com

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Vannplastic Limited, based in Saltney, Wales, is a UK small business enjoying an Olympicsized success story after being chosen to supply 3900 m2 (approx 110 tonnes) of its Ecodek composite decking for use in the VIP area of level 02 of the Olympic Stadium. The British-made wood polymer composite was chosen due to its ecological and sustainability credentials which fit in with the ethos for the 2012 Games. Together with the specifiers, Vannplastic designed a bespoke decking profile to meet stadia design regulations that allowed for drainage, but stopped litter falling through the gaps and therefore becoming a fire hazard. According to the company, the decking had to undergo stringent testing for slip resistance, load testing and burn resistance before it could get approval for use on the stadium. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), the public body responsible for developing and building the new venues and infrastructure

Over 100 tonnes worth

Credit London 2012

for the Games and thei so impressed with the p their CEO, John Armitt, factory for a tour and p

h of Ecodek decking on the right hand side of the stadium in this picture

r use after 2012, was product that they sent down to the Ecodek presentation.

Leanne Taylor caught up with Alex Collins, Director of Vannplastic Ltd, to discover more about the project and what it means for the company as a UK small business. >

BP&R: As a small business, what does it mean to you to be awarded a contract to supply the Olympic games with your composite decking material? AC: Being approved as a supplier to the Olympic Stadium has given us even more credibility with large construction companies and architects alike. The ODAs flooring specification for the stadium was far in-excess of any standards we have had to meet in the past and as such, we had to subject our composite decking to some very rigorous testing procedures. All the testing was done on our standard Ecodek decking product and it passed with flying colours. Passing these stringent tests has given us and our customers even more faith in the qualities of our product. >

The bespoke decking profile has been designed to meet stadia regulations that allowed for drainage but stopped litter falling through the gaps

BP&R: How long was the process from initial specification to the completed project? AC: We were first contacted by the Stadiums specifiers in May 2009. We then had to get the product approved for visual appearance and price. The physical and slip testing started in July 2009, followed by factory inspections and audits from the ODA and its approved contractors. The profile design (mildly modified from the standard Ecodek deck board to include an overlap) was approved early 2010. After this, we had to write up installation guidelines and approve fasteners etc. The actual product did not commence supply until winter 2010. All 110 tonnes of Ecodek were then taken over a very short period of about eight weeks. BP&R: Can you explain more about composite decking, what its benefits are and how it measures up against traditional decking? AC: We never suggest the composite decking is there to replace wood, rather that it is an alternative, in the same way that stone or slabs would be. Good quality composite >

Alex Collins with John A

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Armitt, CEO of the ODA at the Ecodek factory

decking offers many advantages over timber, the most obvious ones being reduced maintenance, no painting or staining, improved slip resistance, 95 percent recycled and 100 percent recyclable, smarter appearance, no splinters, available in custom lengths and in a range of colours. BP&R: How big an opportunity for UK businesses is having the Olympic games held in London? AC: I suspect that it is a fantastic opportunity for business based in the south of England, but the further North you go, the less of an opportunity it seems to have been. We are one of the very few companies in Wales to benefit from the games so far, and I feel thats a shame for the Welsh economy as a whole. BP&R: Were you up against a lot of competition to supply the material for the stadium? AC: Initially, I naively thought that we would easily get the contract due to the lack of other UK manufacturers of composite decking. I was soon put right on that and told that the country of manufacture was immaterial. In the end we were competing

against four or five othe manufacturers from all

BP&R: Can you explain up of the decking and particular materials ar

AC: Ecodek has full FSC and is made up from re fibres and recycled HDP ingredients are the pigm additives that improve s resistance, durability an absorption. Ecodek is a that gives a lot of bene composite decking. We fibres as these give bett properties, improved ap reduced fade when com based composite produ content is HDPE; we us very tough, has good lo resistance, excellent scr readily available in recyc BP&R: At the end its l recyclable?

AC: Yes, its 100 percen fully sustainable constru

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er decking over Europe.

n the material maked why these re used?

C & PEFC certification eclaimed hardwood PE. The other ment system and strength, UV nd reduce moisture solid decking board fits over hollow e only use hardwood ter mechanical ppearance and mpared to softwood ucts. Our polymer e this polymer as it is ow temperature impact ew retention and is a cled form.

even buy off-cuts and scrap back. However, because we make to custom lengths for no extra charge, there is always minimal waste on site and the customer is not paying for material that would end up as off-cuts.

Alex Collins

BP&R: Is the Olympic decking being used for any other applications? AC: The Olympic profile has now been relabeled as our Stadia profile, as the overlapping profile of the board prevents flammable media from falling through the gaps and building up in any enclosed areas underneath. This was required in order to meet the ODAs fire safety requirements. It is not a profile that we run often, as you can imagine, there arent that many stadiums being built, but it is also available for other projects where an overlapping board is required.

ife, is the decking

t recyclable making it a uction material. We

www.ecodek.co.uk