THE MOST BASIC TYPES OF FRP GRATINGS
In our last post, we told you 5 things you need to know about

FRP Grating. For those of you

that are not familiar with Fibre Reinforced plastic/polymer grating, this article

will give you a simplified summary and helpful background on FRP before you dive into

reading this post.
For those of you that ARE familiar with FRP, read on and learn more about factors

to consider when selecting your grating in addition to how FRP gratings are commonly

categorised in the industry.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING YOUR FRP GRATING
Choosing the right grating and correct resin for your application areas depends

on two factors:
Environment Factors or Application area
Chemical exposure level
Temperature
Humidity factors
UV exposure
Desired Fire rating
Loading Requirements
Load Rating
Structural Support Span
THE TWO MOST BASIC METHODS OF CATEGORISING FRP
The two most basic methods of categorising FRP (Fibre Reinforced plastic/polymer)

gratings are by:
Method of manufacturing/ production
Type of resin (thermosetting) used
There are other sub-categories within this broad classification that are based on

application areas. These include:
Type of surface finish
Load rating requirements
Other special requirements such as UV exposure, Fire rating, Colour etc.
1. METHOD OF MANUFACTURING/PRODUCTION
Moulded FRP Gratings
Moulded FRP gratings are manufactured using the following process:
Laying or Weaving glass fibres
This step involves laying continuous glass fibres in the mould in vertical &

horizontal directions. These are thoroughly wetted by the chosen resin (layer by

layer).
Heating & Curing
After the completion of the weaving process, the mould is heated for curing the

panel.
Ejecting the Panel
After the curing process is completed, the panel is ejected from the mould.
Standard panels would have a meniscus (concave) top surface finish. Based on

requirements we bond grit to the surface or finish the surface to have a plain

finish. These are called secondary operations.
[blockquote]
The most important feature of the Moulded FRP grating is that they are an

integral, one piece panel offering bidirectional strength. This is a standout feature

compared to Pultruded FRP grating.
[/blockquote]
Pultruded FRP Gratings
Pultrusion is a continuous moulding process that produces

products of the uniform cross section such

as I beams, Channels, Flat bars, Rods, & other FRP profiles.
Pultruded FRP gratings are manufactured using the following process:
Resin Impregnation
Preselected reinforcement materials such as fibreglass roving, mat, woven or

stitched fabrics are drawn through a resin bath or resin impregnation zone where the

glass substrate is thoroughly impregnated with the resin mixture (liquid

thermosetting resin).
Preforming & Forming
This wetted out fibre is formed to a desired geometric shape as it initially gets

pulled through the Preformer (Preforming Die) & then through to the Heated Die.

Inside the die, the resin curing process is initiated by precisely controlling the

temperature. The laminate then solidifies to the exact shape of the cavity in the die

(Forming Process), as the pultrusion machine continuously pulls it.
Cutting: An Automatic Cutter is deployed at the end of the machine to cut this

Pultruded FRP section to desired lengths.
FRP GRATING
MOULDED FRP MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Liquid resin and continuous fiberglass rovings are sytematically laid in a

mould, layer after layer to produce the desired thickness and panel dimensions. The

finished moulds are then set aside to cure. The one-piece interwoven mesh

construction of moulded fiberglass grating produces a product with optimal corrosion

resistance and bi-directional strength. Since the fiberglass grating is

"cast" in one piece, there is no mechanical joint between bearing bars. The

high percentage of resin (65%) in moulded fiberglass grating offers superior

corrosion resistance and optimal impact resistance. Moulded fiberglass gratings with

a square mesh pattern offer increased load capacity and panel utilization due to its

bi-directional trait. Being of one-piece construction, the fiberglass grating

distributes loads throughout the fiberglass grating section.
ADVANTAGES OF FRP MOULDED GRATING
Light weight
Chemical corrosion resistance
Non sparking
Non electrically conductive
Non magnetic
Tapered bars all debris to easily fall through
Standard mesh has a 70% open area
Mini Mesh has a 45% open area
FRP GRATING PATTERNS
FRP Grating is available in two pattern types (stocked)
STANDARD MESH
38X38MM centre to centre
FRP GRATING FIXING CLIPS
Stainless steel "M" Clips:
Clips for FRP

grating, such as M clips are designed to clamp two of the FRP grating load bars

to the supporting member. This provides excellent holding capacity as it restrains

movement in both directions. "M" clips are available for both Standard and

Minimesh grating.
Stainless steel "C" Clips
C Clips are designed to hold two grating panels together to minimise

differential deflections when their joints fall between supports. The low nut is

secured to the bottom of the clips so these can be installed from the top side of the

grating. C Clips are available for standard mesh grating only and are designed for

25mm and 38mm thick FRP grating.
CUTTING & INSTALLATION
Cutting: FRP grating can be cut with a variety of different cutting tools.

For best results we recommend a heavy duty rotary saw with a masonry, carbide or

diamond tip blade. Make sure that the grating is on a steady and even surface to

help prevent shifting or moving of the grating that can cause chipping of the grating

surface. Please ensure you wear gloves, full length overalls, a face shield and a

dust mask when cutting FRP grating. Always cut FRP grating in a well ventilated area

or where mechanical extraction of the dust particles is available.
Finishing: All cut surfaces should be coated with resin to prevent corrosion

of the glass fibres, A coating of a two part resin or comparable to the resin used

to manufacture the grating should be used.
APPEARANCE OF FRP GRATING:
Unlike traditional Steel and Aluminium grating when FRP grates are cut they

do not have a banding bar welded to the cut edges (the cut edge becomes the finished

edge). Where possilble to make FRP grating look neat and presentable we recommend

that any sheets cut to size along with cut outs or penetrations be made to the

nearest whole square dimension. This prevents any grates with open ends or fingers

as we call them. This is not always practical but with enough forward planning this

can be achieved.
STANDARD SHEET SIZES
FRP grating comes in one standard sheet size 1220x3660mm ex stock. Other sheet

sizes are available but are manufactured to order, For non standard panel sizes

please call Steel Grating Ltd to discuss what options are availalbe to suit your

requirements.
CUTTING TO SIZE
In addition to supplying stock sheets we can also cut FRP grating to the shapes

and sizes you require along with any cut outs or penetrations.
TOP SURFACE
FRP grating comes standard with two different surfaces for slip resistance.
Grit top surface
Concave top surface
RESIN SELECTION
Isophthalic Polyester (Type I) - Industrial grade resin great for environments

where fiberglass grating may occasionally be in contact with harsh chemicals due to

splashes or spills.
Vinyl Ester (Type V) - Developed to withstand frequent and direct contact in the

harshest of chemical environments. Type V is ideal for use in acidic and caustic

environments.
FRP pultrusion

profiles technology is a manufacturing process which produces uniform cross-

sectionally shaped glass-fiber reinforced
polymer composite profiles. These profiles are designed to compete with the strength

properties of traditional metal grating
structures, but offer the inherent environmental benefits that come with using

fiberglass. The fiberglass reinforced polymer
matrix is ideal for corrosive environments and greatly reduces the maintenance

required over the life-time of the grating.
FRP roof tile is standard-

sized FRP roofing sheets having a roofing tile-like appearance over the surface.

These sheets mimic the ceramic or other types of tiles to provide a traditional look

to the buildings.
What is Tile Roofing?
Tile roofing has been around since as early as 10000 B.C when clay tiles were

used for roofing in China. The practice later spread to the Middle East and

throughout the other parts of the world.
Roof tiles are made from different materials, including fired clay or terra cotta

products, ceramic, and slate. Still, technology advancements have allowed

manufacturers to produce tile roofing from various materials such as metal, tinted

concrete, bitumen, and polymer sand.
A tile roofing system is a specific type of roof installation that requires a

specific skill set and significant experience. Tile roofs are installed by starting

at the bottom part of the roof, securing a row of tiles to the roof deck, and

overlapping the next row of tiles over the first until the roof is fully covered.
How Long Does a Tile Roof Last?
Perhaps the most significant upside of tile roofing is its lifespan. It exceeds

all other roof materials when it comes to its durability and longevity. Some

buildings in Europe have tile roofs that lasted for centuries. To be more

conservative in our approach, a well-cared-for and well-maintained modern tile

roofing can last an average of 50 years.
Regardless of the type of tile roofing used, whether it’s cement, terra cotta,

concrete, slate, or fiber-reinforced tiles, this type of roofing material can

withstand the test of time. The key is to keep it well-maintained and ensure it is

properly installed.