Melbourne Testing Services A.C.N. 088 395 153. Unit 1/15 Pickering Road Mulgrave, Victoria 3170, Australia

Telephone: 03 9560 2759, Facsimile: 03 9560 2769, Mobile: 0419 116 733

E-mail: rodwilkie@melbtest.com.au Web Site: www.melbtest.com.au

Melbourne

TestingServices

Melbourne

TestingServices

Mechanical Testing

Tensile

Compression

Bend

Shear

Load

Structures

Fasteners

Tensioning & Staying Systems

Structural Bearings

Unit 1/15 Pickering Road

Mulgrave Victoria 3170

Telephone 03 9560 2759

Mobile 0419 116 733

Melbourne

TestingServices

Melbourne

TestingServices

Page 1 of 3

Melbourne Testing Services Pty Ltd

ABN: 71353261540

The tests reported herein have been performed in accordance with approved Melbourne Testing Services procedures. This document shall not be reproduced except in full.

IN CONFIDENCE TO THE CLIENT

REPORT NO: MT-10/594

LOAD TESTING OF REPLAS ENDUROPLANKS

CLIENT: MARK JACOBSEN

REPLAS PRODUCTS PTY LTD

27 TITAN DRIVE

CARRUM DOWNS VIC 3201

DATE OF TESTING: OCTOBER 19TH

& 21ST

2010

DATE OF REPORT: OCTOBER 27TH

2010

TEST SYNOPSIS:

Replas walkway and decking planks made from

recycled plastic materials were delivered to the

Melbourne Testing Services (MTS) laboratory for load

testing (See Fig.1). Upon arrival at the laboratory the

test items were identified as follows:

Enduroplank walkway planks of recycled material

(Grey in Colour)

The nominal dimensions of the test panels were

measured and recorded as follows:

Plank Length 1.5m

Plank Width: 196mm

Plank Depth: 53mm

At the request of the client load testing was to be

conducted on the Enduroplanks to determine if they

could support test loads commensurate with the minimum requirements of:

AS/NZS 1170.1:2002 STRUCTURAL DESIGN ACTIONS. PART 1: PERMANENT, IMPOSED AND OTHER

ACTIONS.

AS 1657–1992 FIXED PLATFORMS, WALKWAYS, STAIRWAYS AND LADDERS – DESIGN,

CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION.

AS 2156.2–2001 WALKING TRACKS. PART 2: INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN.

AS 3962–2001 GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN OF MARINAS.

TEST PROCEDURES:

Testing was conducted in accordance with the following procedures:

1. The planks were fixed to a load testing rig transversally across four rigid steel support bearers at

nominal spacing’s of 400mm (centre to centre) providing a nominal clear span of ≈350mm.

FIG.1

PLASTIC PLANKS

Report No: MT-10/594

Page 2 of 3

Melbourne Testing Services Pty Ltd

ABN: 71353261540

The tests reported herein have been performed in accordance with approved Melbourne Testing Services procedures. This document shall not be reproduced except in full.

A Simulated Uniformly Distributed Load test

(UDL) commensurate with a factored uniform

pressure of 28kPa (see Fig.2).

2. A concentrated load test to 23.52kN applied over

an area of 0.01m2 (see Fig.3).

3. A concentrated load test to 35.08kN applied over

an area of 0.09m2 (see Fig.4). (Note that this test

was conducted strictly in accordance with the

clients own instructions and as required by AS/NZS

1170.1 Table 3.1 (Type F), using a square load

applicator measuring 300 x 300mm. Load was

applied in the mid-span region of the panel).

All testing was conducted in stages where an initial pre-

load commensurate with the Serviceability Limit State

(SLS) was applied and maintained for 5 minutes. After

the test period had elapsed, the test load was then

removed and the residual deflection recorded. Test

loads were then reapplied to the static Ultimate Limit

State (ULS) condition and again maintained for 5

minutes. Upon completion of ULS testing the test load

was then removed and the residual deflection recorded.

TEST DATA:

Test data for the Enduroplank test scenarios is provided

in Table 1.

TEST OBSERVATIONS:

The Enduroplank recycled plastic planks successfully

supported a pressure of 28kPa applied using simulated

UDL and concentrated loads of 23.52kN applied over a

100x100mm area and 35.08kN applied on a pad of

300x300mm when fixed transversely (normal) across

the supports.

.

FIG.2

UDL TEST

FIG.3

CONCENTRATED LOAD TEST

ON PAD 100X100MM

FIG.4

CONCENTRATED LOAD TEST

ON PAD 300X300MM

Report No: MT-10/594

Page 3 of 3

Melbourne Testing Services Pty Ltd

ABN: 71353261540

The tests reported herein have been performed in accordance with approved Melbourne Testing Services procedures. This document shall not be reproduced except in full.

TABLE 1

Test Property Uniformly

Distributed Load

(28kPa)

Concentrated Load

23.52kN

on pad 100x100mm

Concentrated Load

35.08kN

on pad 300x300mm

Peak deflection (mm) 2.5 25.8 9.3

Residual deflection (mm) 0.3 6.7 1.5

Residual deflection 10 minutes

after test load was removed. - 3.6 0.7

TEST COMMENTS:

The Enduroplanks as tested and reported herein successfully supported the factored test loads as

calculated in accordance with AS/NZS 1170.0 and AS/NZS 1170.1 and where the maximum design

capacity as nominated by the client is specified at 5.0kPa Uniformly Distributed and 13kN

concentrated over an area 0.09m2.

Notes:

1. Melbourne Testing Services (MTS) Pty Ltd shall not be liable for loss, cost, damages or expenses incurred by the client or any other person or

company, resulting from the use of any information or interpretation given in this report. In no case shall Melbourne Testing Services Pty Ltd be liable for consequential damages including, but not limited to, lost profit, damages for failure to meet deadlines and lost production arising from

this report. This document shall not be reproduced except in full and relates only to the items tested.

2. It remains the responsibility of the client to ensure that the samples tested are representative of the entire product batch. 3. MTS shall take no responsibility for the procurement and authenticity of the test product as described herein.

4. This report is specific to the test items in their state at the time of testing. It should not be taken as a statement that all products in all states of

repair, would also perform in the same manner. 5. MTS shall take no responsibility for the installation procedures used for the test items as described herein.

6. The tests as reported herein are considered Experimental Type Tests and therefore do not validate or certify the products with any Australian or

International standards that may apply. 7. This report only indicates compliance of the Enduroplank walkway planks for uniform and concentrated loading in their state at the time of testing

and where the planks are installed on a continuous span with four or more support bearers at 400mm spacing with no less than eight, size 10 self-

drilling screws per panel. 8. It should not be taken as a statement that all similar Enduroplank walkway planks or components of walkway planks in all states of repair, would

also be found to comply.

9. This report only covers the structural integrity of the Enduroplank walkway planks as tested and as described herein. 10. This report does not cover the actual walkway support structure or fixing of Enduroplank walkway planks.

11. Melbourne Testing Services shall take no responsibility for the performance of the walkway planks where the panels are not installed strictly in

accordance with the details as provided herein.

ALEX PLYSHKO SENIOR CONSULTANT ENGINEER