Where to Use GRP Grating

GRP grating is used wherever floors, walkways and platforms need to grip when wet, resist corrosion and stay light enough to handle. Below is how it is used in seven industries, with a link to our full guide for each one.

Water and wastewater treatment

Treatment sites are wet all the time and dose chemicals such as sulphuric acid, sodium hypochlorite and ferric chloride, which attack steel. GRP is used for walkways over tanks and channels, access platforms for screens and aerators, trench covers, and stair treads in chemical dosing rooms. Standard 38mm mesh suits areas with high water flow, and mini mesh is used where dropped tools must be retained. Read our guide to GRP grating for water and wastewater treatment plants.

Food production

Food factories, dairies, breweries and meat processing plants face frequent washdowns, cleaning chemicals, spills and condensation. GRP will not rust, does not absorb liquids and keeps its grip when wet or greasy, and open mesh grating lets debris and liquids drain through. Typical uses are production floor walkways, access platforms and drain covers. Read our guide to GRP grating for food production facilities.

Rail and transport

On the railway, GRP is chosen because it does not conduct electricity, which matters near electrified lines and signalling, and because it is light enough to install during short engineering possessions. It will not rust, and its gritted top keeps its grip in the wet. Typical uses include station platform walkways, depot gantries and troughing route covers. Browse our GRP grating panels or read our guide to GRP grating for rail and transport.

Marine and offshore

Salt water and spray corrode steel quickly. GRP does not rust or rot, grips on wet decks and gangways, and its lower weight helps vessel stability and eases the load on pontoons and raised structures. It is used on jetties, pontoons and gangways. Read our guide to GRP grating for marine and offshore sites.

Oil, gas and petrochemical

Process sites combine corrosive chemicals, salt-laden air and washdowns with the need to control electrical risk. GRP will not rust, resists many process chemicals, does not conduct electricity and keeps its grip in wet, oily conditions. It is used for walkways, access platforms and gantries. Check the substances on your site against our chemical resistance data, and read our guide to GRP grating for oil, gas and petrochemical sites.

Agriculture and farming

Slurry, fertilisers, washdown chemicals and moisture are hard on farm flooring. GRP resists corrosion, will not rot, washes down easily and gives workers and livestock grip in wet, mucky conditions. Typical uses are walkways over slurry channels and covers for pits and grain stores. Read our guide to GRP grating for agriculture and farming.

Swimming pools and leisure

Pool surrounds and changing areas are constantly wet, chlorinated and walked on barefoot. GRP resists chlorine and humidity, grips when wet and is easy to clean. Mini mesh grating is the usual choice for pool surrounds, footbaths and changing rooms, because its smaller openings are gentler on bare feet and nothing small falls through. Standard open mesh is used in plant rooms. Read our guide to GRP grating for swimming pools and leisure.

Choosing the right panel

In every setting, the right panel depends on the load and the span between your supports. Our guide to GRP grating for walkways covers mesh types, thickness and fixings, and our load and span tables give deflection figures for 25mm, 38mm and 50mm open mesh panels at common spans.

The photos below show some of our products in use. If you are not sure which product suits your application, call 01480 570001 or email info@gratingdirect.co.uk and we will help you choose.