Overview
When it comes to industrial grating, there are several materials one can select from. FRP Walkway materials are significantly lighter while being markedly stronger compared to their alternatives due to their strength-to-weight ratio.
FRP Walkways manufacturers have been gaining popularity in facilities worldwide as they replace the traditional metal and wood alternatives. This guide aims to familiarize the reader with FRP and outline the benefits of fiberglass grating as FRP’s core component for access systems.
FRP stands for fiberglass reinforced plastic and is primarily made of fiberglass, though the name may be misleading as fiberglass is composed of plastic. FRP is a composite plastic, and as such, is the result of two or more materials engineered together to result in a more durable and useful end product.
Glass Fibers: Strands of glass are collected to make very fine strands of glass that are flexible and strong. Like steel rebar improves concrete, the glass fibrous skeleton gives the material a lot of strength and stiffness.
Polymer Resin: The matrix for glass fibers is a liquid thermosetting resin soft to the touch and of polyester or vinyl ester type. While curing, the resin bonds with glass fibers, and the resin is responsible for the shape of the walkway. It is also responsible for the exceptional chemical, moisture, and UV resistance.
FRP is a highly flexible material due to the possibility of changing the resin to the needs of the project to add chemical resistance or increase fire-retardant properties.
How is FRP Grating Made?
Every FRP walkway starts with a grating which is the foundation. It is the structural grid that gives the supporting and walking surface. FRP Walkways manufacturers use two main ways of manufacturing FRP grating that offer different benefits:
- Molded Grating: This is the most ubiquitous type. It is formed by the sequential laying of continuous fibers of glass in a large open grid-patterned mold. This mold is then filled with liquid resin to saturate the fibers. After curing, the panel is ejected. The resultant grating exhibits bi-directional strength, which is the ability to withstand stresses equally and simultaneously in both directions. This enhances durability and makes it possible to withstand loads from any direction.
- Pultruded Grating: “Pultrusion” is a portmanteau of the words “pull” and “extrusion”. This method starts with glass fiber strands and mats; they get pulled through a resin bath and subsequently through a heated steel die which shapes them into structural bars. The bars are then assembled into a grating panel. Use of pultruded grating is ideal for structures that have long spans with less supports due to its exceptional unidirectional strength.
The Unbeatable Advantages of FRP Walkways
The primary focus of constructing an FRP walkway is its holistic feature set that greatly surpasses FRP’s traditional counterparts.
- Immune to Corrosion and Rot: Chemical plants, coastal locations, and water treatment facilities frequently employ fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) because it is chemically resistant and immune to moisture, unlike wood and steel which deteriorate and rust.
- Exceptional Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Transportation and installation is significantly streamlined because FRP grating is often 70% lighter than steel yet maintains similar strength, and does not require heavy cranes or lifting equipment.
- Superior Safety: FRP does not support electrical conduction, which removes the risk of electric shock associated with metal grating. Safety is FRP’s strong suit; an embedded quartz grit non-slip surface offers excellent traction even when wet, oily, or icy.
- Zero Maintenance: The integrated resin color with FRP materials means there is no need for sandblasting, scraping or painting. The only requisite is installation, allowing the structure to be ignored for decades. In FRP’s case, a simple wash down is all that is ever required, making upkeep effortless.
- Durable and Long Lasting: FRP walkways offer remarkable longevity due to their high resistance to impact, UV degradation, and chemical attacks, resulting in a greatly reduced overall cost of ownership compared to materials that require regular repair and replacement.
Conclusion
FRP walkways offer an engineered system that provides safety, maintenance-free longevity, and unparalleled walkways. FRP provides a straightforward and rational decision for any facility seeking to invest in dependable and economical infrastructure.