Five fiberglass walkway and platform systems ranging in size from 3' wide x 21' long x 9' high to 1' wide x 58' long x 9-1/2' high were fabricated and installed in the chlorine manufacturing area of Dow Chemical in Freeport, Texas. The platforms and walkways were prefabricated and test assembled completely at the plant, then partially disassembled to be shipped in large sections to the customer. At the job site, even the largest sections — some 12' wide x 40' long, yet weighing less than 1,000 pounds — could be set in place with a small cherry picker and installed manually in a few hours.

The larger mezzanine work platforms run around six vessels at Dow and give workers access and room to pull and perform equipment maintenance or repairs. The walkways (average size 3' wide x 30' long x 9' high — some with ladders and cages on the walkway ends) give workers access to manways in the vessels.

EXTREN^® Series 500, 525 and, 625 structural shapes were specified here because they have proven to be corrosion resistant to the chemicals inherent in this operation. Dow Chemical has other EXTREN^® fiberglass platforms and walkways in service at Freeport, Texas, some of which have been in continuous service for up to nine years.

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