Premium TI HDPE Lumber Technical Data

American Plastic Lumber’s HDPE custom-engineered extruded shapes are manufactured from purified blends of post consumer, post industrial and virgin HDPE (high density polyethylene) base resins. Additional proprietary additives are compounded into each product to meet customer specifications for color, strength and stiffness.

SUITABILITY AND LIMITATIONS

These products have greater impact resistance than wood but are less rigid. Prior to use, a thorough design engineering study should be performed to determine the suitability of HDPE for your non-structural application. Material characteristics are similar to wood; normal woodworking tools can be used during product fabrication. One should be advised that transforming the product by drilling holes or routing its edges may alter the material’s strength and integrity. Normal safety precautions must be used when handling and fabricating the product including the use of protective eyewear, dusk masks and gloves. (See MSDS sheet for more details) HDPE products have an inherently greater coefficient of thermal expansion than stiffer wood products. When designing your application, an accommodation must be made to allow for this expected expansion and contraction over the length and width of the product.

In certain weather conditions, it is possible to experience the effects of static electricity with HDPE material, especially when the material is new. This is similar to the static shocks experienced when walking across a carpet in dry weather and touching a metal doorknob. We do not warrant against static electricity, as it is a natural phenomenon and not a sign of a product defect.

As with any exterior surface material, winter conditions can make an HDPE surface slippery with frost or snow. Fortunately, it is completely safe to use rock salt or other melting agents on HDPE without damaging the material.

WARRANTY

The manufacturer of the HDPE product offers a limited warranty that this product will not rot, splinter, decay or suffer structural damage directly from termites or fungal decay under normal use. American Plastic Lumber, Inc does not recommend or approve this product for all end use applications. The appropriate national and local code authorities should be consulted for safety, suitability and applicability for intended use prior to purchasing product.

This guideline and summary is intended to provide the distributor, installer and end user with basic guidelines and technical specifications for designing and properly installing the HDPE products. However, the finished product manufacturer, installer and/or purchaser are solely responsible for interpreting specific job conditions, and determining the engineering design and suitability of end use and application of any HDPE product. Adherence to applicable building and safety codes for specific locations and applications of this product are the sole responsibility of the installer and/or purchaser. In no event shall American Plastic Lumber or the manufacturer of the HDPE products, be liable for labor, installation, and re-installation or for any indirect, punitive, exemplary or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever from the provision of this information.