Big River Group has been selected as the ‘preferred supplier’ of anti slip plywood for school redevelopments commissioned by the NSW Department of Education in the state. The company recently supplied their plywood to an inner-city primary school where the project included the construction of a three-storey demountable classroom.
Karlie Collis, Associate at Northrop Consulting Engineers and main administrator for this project, said that the temporary structure will remain in place as part of a broader redevelopment set to complete in 2022, so ongoing safety standards was a key parameter in this design to avoid injuries to school kids.
According to Jim Bindon, Managing Director of Big River Industries, anti-slip plywood totalling more than 1,500sqm was used for key pedestrian surfaces in this project alone, including all steps, landings, ramps and corridors. These areas now have the maximum rating of P5 (V) classification in slip resistance testing in wet conditions and D1 in dry conditions, he added.
Key design considerations also included the need to complete the entire project in five months.
Ms Collis explains that Big River’s anti-slip plywood is the most suitable product on the market, meeting the National Construction Code anti-slip requirements while being quick to install. Any other plywood would have needed to apply a secondary non-slip treatment, which would have added time to the construction program.
The timber features a textured paint finish with crushed glass for maximum wear and slip resistance. The reverse side of the panel has a phenolic film for moisture protection in damp, wet and external areas.
Manufactured locally at Big River Group’s manufacturing site in Grafton, NSW, the anti-slip plywood is recommended for construction sites and medical environments, in both permanent and temporary applications where safety is important.
Key features include a high strength F17 structural plywood certification to Australian Standard AS2269; choice of sizes and thicknesses, as well as custom-size panels; three standard colours: safety yellow, black and grey; custom colours available to complement any décor and ensure that safety enhancements are seamlessly integrated into any unique interior environment; and option for scarf jointing if larger sheets are required.
