Steel Alternatives: Learn about Heavy Duty GRP Grating

The need to control construction costs without sacrificing safety and durability has made Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) grating a popular option to replace traditional materials like steel, aluminium, and wood. GRP grating comes in several varieties, each with its own unique characteristics. However, all Fibergrate GRP products share some characteristics:

• Lightweight with low installation costs
• Corrosion resistant, fire retardant, and non-conductive
• High strength-to-weight ratio with a long service life
  

These advantages contribute to GRP gratings’ versatility across numerous applications, especially where safety and weight ratings are crucial factors to consider. For jobs featuring demanding loads and stressors, heavy duty GRP grating materials—also called High Load grating—are engineered for even higher performance.

In this blog post, we will explore what a load rating is and delve into the characteristics of regular GRP grating compared to heavy duty GRP grating. We will also compare the performance of heavy duty GRP with steel for similar applications and discuss various scenarios where heavy duty GRP may be the optimal choice.

In the context of GRP grating, a load rating is a measure of the maximum weight or load that a material or structure can support without failure or deformation. Grating with a higher load rating can handle more weight and is suitable for applications with heavy loads or vehicular traffic.  

Load ratings are crucial for choosing the right grating for your project because they ensure safety and performance. In applications designed to support turning traffic, a higher load rating is needed because turning movements place additional stress on the grating compared to straight-line traffic. Turning creates a differential in the load distribution, causing higher concentrated forces on the grating during the turning process.

As a result, the grating must be able to withstand these localised higher loads without experiencing deformation or failure. Heavy duty GRP grating, engineered to carry forklift and other vehicular loads that regular GRP grating may not support, is a suitable option for areas with turning traffic and other high-load applications. In fact, only Fibergrate produces a high load capacity (HLC) moulded grating product that possesses the required durability to withstand vehicular turning traffic.

Steel has long been the go-to material for heavy-duty applications due to its high load-bearing capacity. However, heavy duty GRP grating has emerged as a viable alternative to steel, offering several advantages:

• Lightweight nature compared to steel, making installation and transportation easier and more cost-effective.
• Excellent corrosion resistance, making it ideal for outdoor and corrosive environments where steel may degrade over time.
• Non-conductive properties make it a safer option for projects that involve electrical equipment or hazardous environments.

Heavy duty GRP grating can handle substantial loads while still being relatively lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making it a superior choice for various applications where traditional steel grating would be less practical.

A few examples of where heavy duty fibreglass grating makes an excellent choice include:

• Flooring
• Storage Areas
• Ramps
• Loading areas
• Trenches (both with open grating or solid tops)

Quick Example: In one installation, our client used our 2” deep, 2” square mesh moulded grating with a grit surface in the Metro - Light Rail system’s maintenance platform. In this facility, corrosion resistance, long life, and low maintenance were key, and our high load grating was up to the challenge. 

Fibergrate high load capacity grating is a standout product engineered to carry forklift and other vehicular loads. Combining the strengths of traditional GRP (high strength, corrosion resistance, fire retardancy, and low maintenance), these products offer a reliable choice for demanding applications. 

With at least 48% open area for drainage and the option for a solid top when needed, our high load grating provides versatile solutions for various projects in two primary product categories:

1. Moulded High Load Capacity (HLC) Grating: 

• • Unique one-piece construction withstands vehicular turning loads
  • Available in 1-1/2” and 2” depths
  • Used in storage areas, trench covers, flooring, ramps, & loading areas
  • Corrosion Resistant

2. Pultruded High Load (HI) Grating

• • High unidirectional strength 
  • Engineered to withstand forklift & tractor trailer loads
  • Available in 1”, 1-1/2”, 2”, 2-1/2”, & 3” depths
  • Used for trench covers, flooring, ramps, & loading areas
  • Corrosion Resistant

When it comes to projects that require high load capacity, heavy duty GRP grating from Fibergrate offers an excellent alternative to traditional materials like steel. Its lightweight nature, corrosion resistance, and high strength make it an attractive choice for various applications. Contact a local Fibergrate sales representative to discuss your project requirements and find the perfect solution.