Explore Your Options for GRP in Slip Resistant Flooring and Decking Projects

With OSHA reporting more than 200,000 injuries from falls, slips, and trips, proactively preventing these incidents with slip resistant flooring and decking simply makes good economic sense. Whether beginning a new project or making an existing space safer, it is a smart move to choose cost-effective materials that deliver exceptional long-term value while prioritizing safety. For these reasons and more, Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) can be an outstanding slip resistant flooring choice — both for indoor and outdoor applications.

GRP is a composite material made by embedding fibreglass into a plastic-polymer resin matrix. Unlike materials that may have a predictably shorter lifespan, GRP is an inherently lightweight, highly durable material with an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to various environmental factors. It simply will not rust and is corrosion resistant allowing it to maintain its surprising structural integrity over a relatively much longer time than many other materials.

In addition, while steel and wood may become slippery when oily or wet, GRP gratings have a higher friction factor under even the harshest conditions. Moreover, GRP products maintain their slip resistance even with heavy foot traffic, so long-term durability is another benefit.   

There are considerable installation and maintenance benefits with GRP slip resistant flooring and grating as well. There’s no need for periodic sandblasting, scraping, or painting. Simple, high-pressure washing is all that is needed in most cases. 

Because GRP is lightweight, installation is exponentially easier than steel product installations which typically require heavy equipment, more manpower, and more expense. Plus, GRP comes with the benefit of easy handling because installers can quickly cut it with ordinary hand tools. 

Finally, GRP materials are non-conductive to both heat and electricity as well as fire retardant, for an extra layer of safety. 

For commercial kitchens, swimming pool decks, industrial walkways, public marina docks — nearly any application where slip resistance is important — GRP is a tremendously adaptable, slip resistant flooring option. Aside from proactively mitigating slip-and-fall accidents, GRP’s other benefits are either equally important or a welcomed value-add, depending on the application.

Fibergrate Moulded GRP Gratings: As the name suggests, these materials are manufactured by combining fibreglass strands with plastic resins in a mould. 

• Ecograte® 62 is a classic example. Specifically designed for docks and marinas, it has an open surface area of 62% and meets the US Corp of Engineer Standard for light penetration. 
• Micro-Mesh® is another product used extensively in marine environments because it provides a comfortable surface for bare feet. Interestingly, it is also an innovative solution in applications where subfloor access and unobstructed airflow is a requirement, as was the case for our client, Seagate Technologies.

Safe-T-Span® Pultruded Gratings: Manufactured via an innovative process in which reinforced fibres are pulled through a resin and then through a guide to ensure a consistent composition throughout the entire form, pultruded products are typically composed of 70% fibreglass fibres to 30% resin. This delivers twice as much rigidity compared to moulded gratings and can span greater distances.

• • Dynaplank™ boardwalk plank is lightweight, easy to install, weather resistant, and slip resistant. Dynaplank™ is durable and surprisingly strong, rated for vehicular traffic up to an AASHTO H-10 truck. This type of product is often used for decking in marine environments.
  • Dynadeck™ Interlocking Flooring is a pultruded product that installs up to 3 times faster than conventional flooring because it easily snaps together. 
  • Aqua Grate® pultruded grating delivers all the corrosion resistance and other GRP benefits in non-slip flooring that is even safe for bare feet. 

These are just a few of the many examples where GRP non-slip or slip resistant products have been used to enhance safety while keeping maintenance, handling, and installation costs in check to deliver surfaces that stand the test of time. 

By choosing GRP for slip resistant decking and flooring applications, businesses can benefit from its durability, low maintenance requirements, and inherent safety features. Fibergrate offers a range of GRP products designed specifically for slip-resistant flooring, catering to various environments and requirements. To find the right GRP solution for your needs, contact a local Fibergrate sales representative today and take a proactive step towards creating a safer environment for all.