Today’s industrial landscape is evolving rapidly, and there is a growing demand for durable, reliable, and versatile materials. Many industries operate in harsh environments, such as chemical processing, oil and gas, and water treatment, and all require robust structural components that can withstand demanding conditions, harsh chemicals, and other challenging factors. In industrial settings, fiberglass is a crucial material, and when engineered into grating, it offers a range of advantages to many applications. In this blog post, we take a closer look at what fiberglass grating offers.

Chemical and Mechanical Properties of Fiberglass Grating

Fiberglass is a composite material consisting of fine glass fibers and a matrix of resin that results in high chemical resistance and structural strength, among many other advantageous properties. Fiberglass is ideal for corrosive environments because it will not react with most chemicals, including acids, alkalis, and solvents. This resistance enables long-term durability and structural integrity even in the harshest settings, such as chemical plants and marine environments. 

The mechanical properties of fiberglass are superior to many traditional materials in that it has outstanding tensile strength, impact resistance, and load-bearing capacity. These properties prevent the fiberglass from bending, breaking, or cracking under pressure or high temperatures and enable it to withstand heavy loads. Fiberglass grating can be used in environments where personnel or machinery frequently move across its structures, as it is unlikely to be damaged. 

To summarize, some of the key features of fiberglass that make it suitable for grating include the following:

• Anti-slip Properties
• Corrosion Resistant
• Cost Effective
• Easy to Produce and Install
• Fire Retardant
• Impact Resistant
• Lightweight
• Low Conductivity
• Low Maintenance

The above properties all contribute to the vast amount of applications that benefit from fiberglass grating, so let’s take a look at some of them.

Applications of Fiberglass Grating

Common applications of fiberglass grating in industrial settings include platforms, walkways, and stair treads in chemical and water treatment plants, and it is also used as flooring in manufacturing environments. The crucial advantage of using fiberglass grating is its enhanced safety features. It is anti-slip and corrosion-resistant, reducing the risk of slips in wet environments or in the event of chemical spills.

• Chemical Processing Plants: Fiberglass can withstand corrosive substances and harsh chemicals, making it ideal for platforms, stair treads, and walkways in chemical processing plants.
• Industrial Manufacturing: Fiberglass is used widely throughout industrial settings due to its anti-slip properties, superior strength, and durability. It is easy to install and can be used for assembly lines and machinery platforms flooring.
  
• Oil and Gas: There are many hazardous environments in the oil and gas industry, so chemical and fire-resistant materials are critical.  Fiberglass grating can withstand extended exposure to petroleum and other chemicals without degradation, offering a longer service life and enhanced protection.

These are just a few examples of the many settings fiberglass gratings can be used in, but its chemical resistance, high strength, and versatility make it a preferred choice for demanding and harsh environments.

What Types of Fiberglass Grating are Available?

Fiberglass grating can be engineered in several forms, including molded, pultruded, and phenolic. Each type of grating has its advantages. Molded grating is often used where chemical resistance is paramount, whereas pultruded grating can be used where traditional metal gratings would be, but the application benefits from fiberglass properties. Phenolic grating offers outstanding fire and smoke resistance, thus making it an excellent choice for applications in the oil and gas industry. 

All three types of fiberglass grating are available from Strongwell, the world’s leading and largest pultruder of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP). We offer a wide range of fiberglass products for most sectors, including architectural, construction, industrial, machinery, oil and gas, water, and many others. They are available through our DURAGRATE®, DURADEK®, and DURAGRID® fiberglass grating product ranges.

Contact a member of Strongwell for a quote or to learn more about the advantages and applications of fiberglass grating.