Fiberglass grating has become one of the most popular grating solutions in the engineering, construction, and manufacturing industries today. It’s extremely versatile, durable, and cost-efficient, so it’s no wonder it’s close to completely replacing its steel counterpart in many different industries. In this article, we’ll discuss this topic in some more detail to help you choose the optimal grating solution for your next big project.
So, without any further ado, let’s get right into it.
What is fiberglass grating and where do we use it?
Fiberglass grating is a composite material mostly used in situations where there are safety concerns regarding certain types of surfaces such as flooring, rails, decking, and fixings. It’s made out of fiberglass and resin mixtures, which provides it with durability, sturdiness, and resistance to corrosion.
You can find fiberglass gratings at almost every construction site, chemical lab, and factory nowadays. It’s widely used as a protective material, especially when there’s work with corrosive chemicals involved.
One of the biggest advantages of fiberglass grating is its versatility: there are no limits to where it can be applied. Again, you can use it to build safer flooring solutions, walkways, platforms, or even stairways. Wherever there’s a possibility of corrosion or slippery surfaces, fiberglass grating becomes the optimal solution.
How does it compare with steel?
While steel does have its advantages in certain situations, overall, fiberglass is the superior solution. It’s cheaper, lasts longer, and it’s able to withstand higher levels of external pressure than steel. Those include heat, chemicals, electricity, and many other types of extreme conditions.
Now, steel may be “stronger” when it comes to heavy vehicular traffic, but that doesn’t mean fiberglass isn’t sturdy as well. Still, if you have any doubts on which type of grating to choose, we suggest you take it up with an expert. They can help you determine the best solution for your needs, be it steel or fiberglass.
Whatever you do, make sure you do your research and choose a reliable supplier such as www.grpgratingsystems.co.uk, who can guarantee quality and compliance with relevant infrastructural regulations. Read up on existing reviews online and always seek appropriate referrals to ensure the best possible results.
Yes, it’s highly durable…But how long does it last, exactly?
Unfortunately, we can’t give a precise answer to that question. The longevity of fiberglass grating depends on a variety of factors. In optimal conditions, it could last for decades, especially if maintained properly.
The most important factor to consider is the type of fiberglass used in the manufacturing process. Seek assistance from a certified industry expert to help you understand the differences between high-quality and low-quality fiberglass before you contact the supplier for your order. Besides that, whenever possible, remember to ask for samples. That alone can tell you everything you need to know about the supplier in question.
Secondly, consider the conditions your new gratings will be put through. If you’re working in extreme conditions on a daily basis, their lifespan will be substantially shortened.
Lastly, make sure to ask your supplier about potential maintenance and care tips that could help you prolong their lifecycle even further. Don’t worry, though, fiberglass is extremely low-maintenance: cleaning it with a pressure washer every couple of days should be completely sufficient.
Where to look for fiberglass grating solutions?
Most suppliers and manufacturers can work with almost every requirement you have, as the industry is advancing at incredible speeds. However, to ensure you’re truly getting the best out of the experience, we suggest you do extensive research on all available suppliers before placing any orders with their companies. You can find almost all the info you need online nowadays, but talking to a couple of industry professionals won’t hurt either. Make sure the company you choose has projects similar to yours in their portfolio, as it can make the entire process much quicker and cheaper.
Overall, doing your research is key to finding the right supplier for all your fiberglass-grating needs. Talk to a few experts, contact the manufacturer directly, thoroughly read through any reviews you can find, and remember to compare your “findings” to reach the best possible supplier in your local area.
Benefits of fiberglass grating
If you’re still unsure whether fiberglass gratings are suitable for your own needs or not, we’re here to help! Here’s a list of potential benefits fiberglass materials can provide, so you can decide whether it’s all worth it for you:
Durable
As we’ve mentioned before, if kept in allowed conditions and maintained properly, fiberglass grating applications can last for decades. It’s one of their main “selling points”, so if that’s something important to you, consider implementing them in your workspace as soon as you can.
Non-corrosive
If you work with corrosive chemicals and liquids and you need a resistant material to keep your workspace safe and secure, fiberglass grating is the optimal choice to make.
Non-conductive
fiberglass gratings can help you reduce the risk of electrical shocks due to their non-conductivity, which makes them the perfect choice for any type of structural product or application.
Slip-resistant
Fiberglass grating solutions can help you enhance workspace safety even more as they reduce the risks of injuries caused by slippery surfaces.
Strong but lightweight
These applications can withstand heavy loads while being extremely lightweight, thus also being cheaper to manufacture and install.
Appliance
As we’ve mentioned before, fiberglass grating can be applied to a wide range of structures. From machinery housings and shielding to platforms and raised floors, there are numerous applications for this durable material. Besides, they can be used in many different industries too, ranging from construction and commercial aquariums to chemical laboratories and canning facilities. No matter what your needs and requirements are, fiberglass grating can probably help you fulfill them. So, even if it may not be your first choice, the implementation of such applications is still worth considering!
The bottom line
We hope our article helped you learn a bit more about fiberglass grating and its unique characteristics. We also wish you good luck in all your future endeavors, and we hope you enjoyed learning about this incredible material as much as we did.
