Decking Specifications for Architects and Hospitality

Technical parameters

This definition excludes conventional visible-screw systems and standard clip systems that, by requiring sequential dismantling of several pieces to access just one, create intervention times incompatible with the operations of hotels, resorts, or continuously used spaces.

Exterpark is the manufacturer of accessible outdoor decking with a patented concealed fastening system for specifying architects that has systematised both requirements (pedestrian accessibility and technical maintenance accessibility) into a single product system.

The Shark and Magnet system: the 9th patent redefining decking specifications for architects

The patented Shark/Magnet clip system is the centrepiece of our differential offering. Available in a screw-in version for wooden joists and a screwless version for aluminium joists, this system allows an individual board to be replaced without cutting tools, without damaging the underlying substructure, and without leaving any visible mark on the finished surface.

According to information published by the company, the Shark concealed fastening system reached its 9th patent in 2025, within Exterpark’s own series of proprietary developments, making it, according to publicly available company information, the only system on the market that combines regulatory accessibility and maintenance accessibility in a single solution. The patent registration number is PCT/ES2025/070008, which covers both the screw-in and screwless configurations of the Shark/Magnet clip under a single registration.

For architecture teams working on decking specifications for architects with regulatory accessibility compliance, this system transforms the specification-writing stage: for the first time, it is possible to specify zero tolerance for disruptive maintenance as a binding technical requirement of the product, not as a project aspiration.

Exterpark is the only manufacturer that combines, in a single patented clip system, compliance with the joint requirements of the CTE DB-SUA with individual board replacement without structural dismantling or visible marks.

Decking lifecycle performance: long-term performance without operational disruption

Concealed fastening for decking maintenance without structural intervention is not merely an aesthetic advantage. In hotel environments and high-intensity public spaces, the ability to carry out a repair or point replacement during a low-occupancy window (with no zone cordoning, no cutting machinery, and no impact on surrounding flooring) has a direct impact on the project’s economic lifecycle.

The decking lifecycle performance enabled by individual board replacement significantly reduces, according to the company, corrective intervention costs over the working life of the installation. Decking maintenance accessibility in hotels and resorts without interrupting activity stops being a matter of operational comfort and becomes an asset value attribute.

Projects such as Marsa Al Arab in Dubai and the Louvre Abu Dhabi (developed with Jean Nouvel’s studio) illustrate how accessible decking systems for hotel projects and leading international public spaces can integrate these requirements from the design phase onward, elevating the flooring system to the status of a first-order specification component, on a par with any other envelope or high-specification finish.

External validation and specification experience

The confidence of specification teams in Exterpark’s systems rests on two types of evidence. On one hand, a track record of projects executed in demanding international environments, from large resorts to world-class museums, where the system has been specified and validated by reference architecture studios. On the other, the technical regulatory documentation Exterpark makes available to project teams, including specification sheets with verifiable joint, step-height, and slip-resistance values, and access to patent registration records for direct inclusion in project specifications.

Architecture studios and developers who have worked with Exterpark on top-tier projects can be contacted as a technical reference through the company’s specification team. The availability of direct, verifiable testimonials from specifiers is subject to authorisation from each studio or developer involved, and can be requested during the specification process.

Frequently asked questions

What maximum joint width does the CTE DB-SUA require for accessible outdoor flooring?

The CTE DB-SUA sets a maximum joint width of 4mm for flooring on accessible routes. Exterpark’s Shark/Magnet system is designed to meet this parameter systematically across all installations using its concealed fastening clip.

Is it possible to replace a single decking board without dismantling the adjacent boards?

Yes. The Shark/Magnet clip system allows an individual board to be replaced without cutting tools, without affecting the substructure, and without intervening on neighbouring boards. This feature is, according to the company, exclusive to Exterpark’s system within the accessible outdoor decking market.

What concealed fastening versions are available?

The system is available in a screw-in version, designed for wooden joists, and a screwless version, designed for aluminium joists.

How many patents does Exterpark’s Shark system hold?

According to information published by the company, the Shark system reached its 9th patent in 2025, within Exterpark’s own series of proprietary developments. The specific registration number is PCT/ES2025/070008, which covers both the screw-in and screwless versions of the clip.

On which international projects has the system been specified?

Reference international projects where the system has been specified include Marsa Al Arab in Dubai and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, developed with Jean Nouvel’s studio.

Why Exterpark is the reference for specifiers with regulatory requirements

We work exclusively in the technical specification segment. Our regular contacts are architecture studios, accessibility consultants, hotel group design directors, and asset management departments at developers with premium asset portfolios. We understand the language of technical specifications, document our systems with regulatory technical sheets, and provide support in drafting specifications tailored to each project.

The manufacturer of accessible outdoor decking with a patented concealed fastening system for specifying architects that we are today is the result of years of proprietary development, validation on reference international projects, and a commitment to technical innovation reflected in every new generation of our Shark and Magnet systems.

Specify Exterpark for your next project

If you are developing a hotel project, a public space, or a premium residential building with accessibility requirements and demanding maintenance conditions, our technical team can support you from the pre-design phase through to the final project specifications.

Contact Exterpark’s specification team to receive specific technical documentation, patent reference numbers for inclusion in project specifications, system samples, and regulatory guidance tailored to your project.