One of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States, the Atlantic City Boardwalk is the oldest boardwalk in the country. Opening in the summer of 1870, it has since come to house a number of attractions, including the House of Blues and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum.
In 2007, a fire broke out, consuming parts of the boardwalk that were made of pine. However, Atlantic City had been replacing parts of the boardwalk with Ipe whenever repairs needed to be made, and those renovated sections passed through the flames unharmed.
This event, happening in such a high-profile landmark, drew attention to one of Ipe’s unique characteristics. The National Fire Protection Agency tested Ipe’s reaction and contribution to fire, and here were the results:
| Test/Classification | Rating |
| Ipe Decking Flame Spread (10 Minutes) | 0 |
| Ipe Decking Flame Spread (30 Minutes) | 5 |
| Ipe Decking Smoke Developed Values (10 Minutes) | 3 |
| Ipe Decking Fuel Contribution (10 Minutes) | 0 |
| NFPA Class | A |
| UBC Class | 1 |
These numbers put Ipe in the same fire safety class as steel and concrete. What does this mean for you? Do you burn tiki torches or grill steaks on your deck? If so, there’s always the risk that something will go wrong, and with Ipe you can rest assured that any fire can be contained.
Atlantic City learned quickly that Ipe was the way to go. What about you? Learn more about Ipe at IpeDepot.com.