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DESIGNING OUTDOOR WALKWAYS & PLATFORMS: AS 2156.2 EXPLAINED
AS 2156.2 is the Australian Standard that defines structural design requirements for outdoor walking track infrastructure, including boardwalks, pedestrian bridges, ladders, stairways, viewing platforms and barriers in parks, reserves and other public environments. It explains which structures are covered and which are excluded, how track classifications affect design loads, and how general load standards in AS 1170 are integrated into structural design. The standard covers serviceability, strength and stability load criteria, live and concentrated loads, lateral loads such as wind and crowd movement, snow and ice considerations in relevant regions, and barrier and fall protection criteria based on effective fall heights and environmental conditions. Interpretive guidance supports designers and specifiers in making decisions that balance user safety, environmental protection, and compliance with load requirements across different track classes.
Key Benefits
- Provides clear structural design criteria for a wide range of outdoor walking track structures, including platforms, boardwalks and bridges.
- Aligns track infrastructure load requirements with Australian load standards (AS 1170) for strength and serviceability.
- Incorporates barrier and fall protection requirements based on effective fall heights and environmental risk classification.
- Supports a consistent approach to live, lateral and environmental loadings across multiple track classes.
- Guides design decisions that protect natural and cultural assets while accommodating public access and use.
Applications
- Structural specification and design of boardwalks and elevated footpaths in parks, wetlands and coastal areas where public access meets environmental sensitivity.
- Engineering pedestrian bridges and wire crossings for nature trails and outdoor recreational routes. Design and specification of viewing platforms, stairways and ladders in outdoor public infrastructure.
- Establishing barrier and fall protection measures according to track class and effective fall height risk.
- Reference for designers, engineers, landscape architects and asset managers developing or auditing public access track infrastructure.
Key Moments
- 00:23 "👋 Welcome to Tech Talk Tuesday, held bi-weekly to discuss Australian standards and FRP-related topics.
- 01:12 📊 Audience participation is encouraged through polls for future topics and feedback on webinars.
- 02:38 📚 Today's focus is on AS 2156 part two, covering structural design of walking track structures.
- 03:57 ⚖️ Structures must be designed per applicable Australian standards, primarily referencing AS 1170 for loading requirements.
- 04:51 📏 Serviceability limits are specified in AS 1170 to ensure comfort and prevent structural damage due to deflection.
- 06:39 🏞️ Different load requirements apply to track classes 1 through 5, especially for boardwalks and viewing platforms.
- 08:01 🌬️ Lateral load considerations include wind, earthquakes, and human movement effects according to AS 1170.
- 09:29 ❄️ Snow and ice loads should be accounted for in specific areas, requiring design considerations per AS 1170.3.
- 10:45 🚧 Design barriers must support specific loads from AS 1170.1, with various requirements based on the type of barrier.
- 12:09 ⚠️ Effective fall height calculations and barrier designs must consider the installation environment to ensure safety.
- 14:25 🚪 Different barrier types have specific design criteria, including height and opening restrictions for safety compliance.
- 15:14 ⚠️ Ladders and stairways must adhere to loading specifications set forth in AS 1170.1 for safe usage.
- 16:30 📅 The next webinar will be held on the 14th of May, coinciding with the OzWater event.
- 18:50 ❓ Inquiries can be directed via email for specific questions regarding standards or project discussions."
Why Treadwell?
Treadwell delivers engineered solutions that comply with the structural and safety requirements of AS 2156.2 while leveraging the advantages of fibreglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) infrastructure systems. FRP’s lightweight nature enables easier transport and installation in remote or environmentally sensitive locations, reducing ground disturbance and installation footprint. Its durability and corrosion resistance support long-term performance in outdoor exposure conditions with lower maintenance than traditional materials, helping infrastructure meet both design and lifecycle demands. Treadwell’s experience in customised FRP walkways, platforms, stair systems and barriers ensures designs meet load requirements, safety criteria and sustainability objectives for walking track projects.
