Jan. 28, 2022
You must have seen pedestrian bridges; their stairs and floors have spaces in them, right? that material is called grated metal. It is present in so many places that you usually do not notice, but its use is very widespread. It definitely adds an aesthetic appearance wherever it is used, but its demand is mainly for its high strength and durability. Metal grating is fire-proof and reliable, and its easy installation makes the process even easier. The advantages of using metal grating include corrosion resistance, chemical resistance, high tensile strength, excellent impact resistance, fire resistance, reliable slip resistance, low maintenance, cost-effective, safe, and a long life span. It comes in a variety of types and materials, to get one, you first need to understand each type and its functionality along with the material of it to select the most suitable metal grating for fulfilling your purpose.
When it comes to the material choices of metal grating, the options are numerous. All the options are extremely good, which makes it hard to choose one out of all the options. Usually, steel is the most common type of material that is preferred for both industrial and commercial uses. It is the standard metal grating that you will find everywhere. However, you should get it from any supplier of China steel grating for a better price and high quality. The other metal grating options are stainless steel, aluminum, nickel alloy, carbon steel, galvanized steel, carbon alloy, and fiberglass. All these metal grating materials are equally best and very sustainable. You can either go with the standard steel option if you do not want to experiment; otherwise, you can experiment with any option, and it will prove to be worth it.
Metal bars are placed parallel and joined by perpendicular bars making rectangular shapes on the grating. This is how a bar grating is formed. The parallel bars are joined with perpendicular bars by welding. You can get different textures and finishes in bar grating, and the shape of the spaces can also be altered. This grating has a very good strength-to-weight ratio. This grating requires zero maintenance due to the large spaces in it.
Typically, the bars are joined by welding, and while many different types of welding processes can be used, the most economical solution depends on the thickness and material type of the metal bars. Other joining methods for bar grating include riveting, close meshing, press-locking, and swage-locking.
Bar grating can have a variety of finishes and textures, and the spacing between the bars can also vary from application to application. Commonly used bar grating materials include carbon steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, and austenitic stainless steel. Bar grating is typically used for industrial style flooring due to its excellent strength-to-weight ratio and a high percentage of the open area making it almost maintenance-free. Other common applications of bar grating include:
Fire escapes
Safety fences and gates
Grills
Bridges
Street drains
Ventilation
Trailer beds
Expanded metal grating is made by creating slits in a metal sheet, and then stretching (expanding) the sheet, resulting in a diamond pattern. The sheet can then be cut to size and flattened. Many different types of metals can be expanded such as stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, and more.
The process of expanding is very economical as it creates no waste, and because there are no holes punched out of the material, the sheet will retain its structural strength. Typical uses for expanded metal grates include steps, flooring, fences, and security applications.
Diamond shapes are created onto a metal sheet by cold stamping, and these diamonds shapes are then serrated. This is how a safety grating is formed. This structure reduces the risk of slip and improves traction. The finish that this grating has offers a considerably firm grip as compared to other gratings. The spaces in it make it a low-maintenance grating.
It is used as a walking surface to improve traction and reduce the risk of slips and falls. One feature of safety grating that increases grip is its surface finish. Safety grating typically has many small protrusions, commonly in a diamond shape, which help with traction. Like bar grating, safety grating also has a high percentage of open surface, allowing for drainage and airflow. This helps to prevent liquids or other materials from building up to the point where they could become a slipping hazard.
Typically, safety grating is made from a metal sheet that is perforated or cold stamped in a variety of patterns. Grip Strut is perhaps the most common pattern which consists of diamond-shaped holes that have been cold stamped through the metal sheet. The outline of these diamonds is raised and serrated which allows for a very high amount of traction. Many other variations and patterns of safety gratings use this raised and serrated approach. Alternatively, safety grating can be perforated with no raised edges. Once perforated, the metal sheet is coated with a material that helps reduce the risk of slipping, and the high percentage of the open surface helps reduce the build-up of liquids or snow. Carbon steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, and austenitic stainless steel are all common material types that are used to make safety grating.
Certain types of bar grating can also be categorized as safety grating if the finished product is designed with traction in mind, such as including runners with a diamond plate pattern.
Safety grating is used almost exclusively for the use of pedestrian walkways, such as catwalks, stairs, bridges, rooftops, and various types of platforms.
Metal gratings of all materials and types are generally used for flooring, fences, steps, security, bridges, fire escapes, street drains, walkways, ventilation, filtration, screening, etc. It is used for the majority of commercial and industrial purposes. You will see metal gratings being used at construction sites a lot.
1. A unique, consistent aesthetic
The metal grating can be deployed as everything from standard floor and walkway coverings to platforms and mezzanines. While safety and durability are always the most important factors in these applications, there are also opportunities to create a unified aesthetic for a facility within the requirements set by considerations like the need for traction and weight support. This unified visual feel can make a facility appear more cohesive overall, providing a sense of continuity across all surfaces where the material is used. It can also be extended to protective barriers, strengthening this holistic approach to design.
There are a number of strategies to consider in this regard. Prefabricated panels can be used in many circumstances where this type of grating meets the needs of the facility. Knowledgeable grating providers can also create custom grating that fits into nonstandard floor plans and address specific operational needs, allowing for consistent appearance as well as effective management of safety concerns.
2. Visually appealing applications in entryways and office spaces
Not every space within an industrial or commercial facility needs metal grating from safety or functional perspective. Office areas, entryways outside of the factory or warehouse, and other places within the facility may not need the same slip protection and support of staff isn't engaging in activities that require this level of safety and support. However, the metal grating can offer a unifying element in these areas, visually tying all areas of the facility together with a unified appearance.
Using the same metal grating within an entryway or foyer, set into a supporting floor structure, helps to indicate the major purpose of the facility and the type of work performed there to everyone who steps foot inside it. The metal grating can also be used in a pure application of form in this way, mounted to walls to provide visual context. Although it's not being used in its most common application, it can be a powerful design element that creates a sense of unified function.
ANLIDA Bar Grating brings safety, strength, durability, and character when installed in either industrial or architectural applications. It regularly appears on catwalks, factory floors, platforms, railing infill panels, and as Stair Treads. A series of bearing bars are welded, swage locked, or press-locked together with perpendicular crossbars to form the panels. Bar Grating is a rugged, high-performance, low-maintenance, and slip-resistant product capable of handling pedestrian or vehicular loads. Common material types include Aluminum, Carbon Steel, Powder Coated Carbon Steel, Galvanized Steel, and Stainless Steel. We also supply a hexagonally clinched product referred to as ANLIDA which is commonly used as a liner in concrete structural shapes to help prevent cracking. If your application requires ADA compliant Grating, CLOSE MESH (close space Grating) options are available in welded and press-locked construction types. Swage-Locked Aluminum SANLIDATB-940 Bar Grating is also a great ADA compliant choice. ANLIDA has the nation’s largest selection of Bar Grating and is certain to have what you need for your application. Please feel free to contact us if you need them!
