Press Release:
News for Immediate Release

Transportation Industry Publishes First Edition of Specifications Guide for FRP Pedestrian Bridges

October 2, 2008 (Arlington, Va.)—The composites industry is poised to benefit from the recent publication of the Guide Specifications for Design of FRP Pedestrian Bridges by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).  According to the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA), whose Transportation Structures Council was instrumental in the development of this new publication, this first edition will encourage and enable engineers to specify FRP materials in a growing market segment.

"The approval of this first FRP specification for pedestrian bridges opens up the use of FRP to new infrastructure applications,” says Dr. Eric Johansen, President of E.T. Techtonics, Inc. and a member of ACMA, who was instrumental in drafting the initial document.  “The lightweight, maintenance-free nature of FRP and its ease and speed of installation could save the U.S. millions of dollars a year.   It's important, too, because it now opens the door for the approval of other FRP specifications in critical infrastructure applications."

Over the past 20 years, the number of FRP composite pedestrian bridges has grown for both industrial and public uses where traditional bridge building has been more difficult.  FRP composites have provided solutions, such as walkways and catwalks in urban settings as well as for recreational activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding and off-road vehicles. High strength FRP materials, such as glass or carbon fiber reinforcements provide the bridge system with a strength-to-weight ratio greater than steel, offering significant design and erection advantages. For example, FRP structural profiles can be prefabricated offsite and transported in lightweight component assemblies to the site, saving considerable time and costs. Because FRP composite materials are inherently corrosion-resistant, many ongoing maintenance concerns posed by traditional materials are eliminated.

“The fact that FRP composites are now being included in AASHTO’s specifications is a testament to the effectiveness of ACMA’s efforts to increase the acceptance of composites materials by code-making bodies,” says John Tickle, President of ACMA. “We are committed to  broadening markets for our industry.”

The new guide specifications, which apply to FRP composite bridges intended to carry primarily pedestrian and/or bicycle traffic, do not supersede the Guide Specifications for Design of Pedestrian Bridges. Instead, they provide specifications relating to the use of FRP composites for design loads and design details.

The Guide Specifications for Design of FRP Pedestrian Bridges, 1st Edition, 2008 (item code GSDFPB-1) is available for $20.00 for ASSHTO members; $24.00 for non-members. Click here to order or go to https://bookstore.transportation.org/category_item.aspx?id=BR.

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With more than 850 member companies, The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) is the world’s largest trade group representing the composites industry. ACMA publishes a monthly magazine, Composites Manufacturing, offers a universal, comprehensive training program for fabricators - Certified Composites Technician - and provides strong, proactive leadership in technical, government and regulatory affairs. In addition, ACMA hosts the largest tradeshow in North America with supplier and fabricator representatives from all market segments. For membership information, call 703-525-0511 or email:Info@acmanet.org. Visit ACMA's website at www.acmanet.org.