One of the most common metal and steel surfaces out there in society today, but one many people don’t even think about as they’re interacting with it, is known as metal grating. Referring to common grate formats you’ll often see, such as sewer grates for street drains, metal grating is a widely-used product that comes in several different formats depending on the need.
Please visit our website for more information on this topic.
At Wasatch Steel, we’re happy to provide a wide range of steel products and steel services, helping our clients complete any metal project they’re in the market for. What is metal grating, what are its common uses, and what are the numerous different formats used for metal grating today? Here’s a primer.
Metal Grating Basics
As we noted above, metal grating refers to a commonly-used surface format for metal products most people will see every day. These are not your typical steel grating or similar slats, but instead refer to common outward-facing products you’ll see hanging on the street or in other locations around towns and cities today.
Metal grating is generally used to allow for themes like drainage, ventilation, safety and related products and features, with some installations even using metal grating to cover up potentially dangerous areas like manholes. There are several different metals that may be used for this process depending on the precise needs, including steel, aluminum alloy, galvanized steel, zinc-coated steel and others.
The specific format of the grating is also important depending on what is being used for. Some common forms are square or rectangular holes with flat metal bars across them, while other options may feature cylindrical bars with their ends crimped to provide added strength and protection. There’s even a “honeycomb” option that features raised vertical bars in a hexagonal grid pattern for added security, which can be seen in some street drain grate covers.
What are various types of metal grating, and what are they commonly used for? Here’s a rundown.
Expanded Metal Grating
This process is one that involves creating slits in a metal sheet, then expanding the sheet to create a diamond-like pattern. You can increase the diamond size as needed depending on how large you need the openings to be.
In most cases, this is a very lightweight metal grating option, which also makes it cheaper than many other metal grating types. It’s typically used for safety-oriented products like steel fence posts and handrail posts, but it can also be used for things like metal grating flooring and other general protection projects.
This process is particularly beneficial because it creates absolutely no waste, meaning you can save money on material costs by only buying the exact amount needed for your project. There are also no holes punched in the material, helping it retain more of its original strength.
Safety Grating
Another extremely common use of metal grating is safety grating, which is most commonly found on walking surfaces as a way to ensure that people will not accidentally step through the mesh and injure themselves. In some cases, grating is also used as a railing material for balconies and other elevated areas.
In terms of safety grating, you’ll see two primary options available: Open steel mesh or closed cell polyethylene fiberglass units. Open steel mesh provides excellent visibility and breathability, while closed cell polyethylene fiberglass is a more secure choice that still offers great air flow and supports up to 200 pounds.
With competitive price and timely delivery, Sichili sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
One of the primary themes for these kinds of grates: Grip and traction, which is especially important for walkways, staircases and other stepping surfaces. This is provided by varying the pattern on the polyethylene or steel mesh itself, making it easier for people to stay on their feet on their way up an incline.
Bar Grating
Often used in areas like fire escapes, street drains, bridges and similar areas, bar grating refers to a set of parallel bars with various patterns and dimensions. There are a number of different specifications for these bars, including spacing between parallel bars, the overall size and shape of the grating, whether it is plain or textured in some way for grip and how much weight it can support. Many types also come with an option that includes holes along one or more edges in order to allow the structure to be attached to a concrete wall.
The two most common materials used for bar grating are steel and aluminum, both of which have high strength-to-weight ratios and can handle a great deal of weight. They typically last for up to 50 years before needing to be replaced, but the only way you’ll know which one is right for your project is by comparing physical samples from different suppliers.
Wire Mesh
Finally, another type of metal grating is known as wire mesh, or sometimes wire fabric or cloth. This is a format that involves parallel rows and intersecting wire columns, which can vary in shape and size depending on the manufacturer and the application.
Wire mesh is typically used for industrial applications, but also has some interesting applications in structures like fences and trellises. Weaving patterns and shapes into the wire fabric allows you to create something that looks more decorative than just a plain metal surface, which makes it popular with homeowners and architects.
The one downside to wire mesh is that it can be more fragile than other grating types, and also more expensive. This type of metal grating will typically need to be replaced every 10 years or so based on the usage. As with safety grating, only by physically comparing samples from each supplier can you make a truly informed decision.
Span
In grating nomenclature, span serves a dual role in defining two significant features. First, unsupported span indicates the clear distance between effective points of support for the grating. Once the specifier has established the design load and acceptable deflection criteria, grating selection will be dictated by determining the maximum unsupported span and consulting the load tables on the pages that follow. Secondly, span indicates the overall finished length of the grating panels (parallel to the bearing bars) as they are supplied to the customer.
Width
The overall dimension of the grating panel measured perpendicular to the bearing bar span is designated as the panel width. Commonly manufactured and stocked in 24” and 36” nominal widths, grating panels can easily be supplied in a variety of widths to suit the needs of any application. Additionally, custom widths can be shop fabricated to hold any specific tolerance.
Serrated Surface
The excellent drainage and self-cleaning characteristics of plain surface grating make it suitable for the majority of applications. In the presence of materials that could cause the top surface of the bars to become slippery, the optional serrated surface should be considered. When serrated surfaces are specified, the bearing bar depth must be increased 1/4” greater than the sizes shown in the load tables and selection guides to provide the equivalent strength of non-serrated bars.
Banding
To enhance the architectural appearance or to provide additional transverse stiffness, the open ends of the grating panels can be banded. This is achieved by welding a flatbar, similar in size to the bearing bars, to the cut ends of the grating panel. Banding can reduce impact stresses by transferring loads to adjacent bars that are not directly subjected to service loads. Trim banding should always be considered when the grating panels are designed to be removable on even an infrequent basis. Additionally, banding should always be specified when the ends of the bearing bars are unsupported or the grating is designed to service vehicular loads. See examples of banding in our fabrication photo gallery.
Finishes
Steel grating products are usually shipped with one of three standard finishes, bare steel, painted with one coat of the manufacturer’s red or black paint, or hot dip galvanized after fabrication in accordance with ASTM Standard A-123. Aluminum products are commonly supplied as mill finished, but are also available with optional anodized finishes. Stainless steel products produced typically require secondary finishing such as chemical cleaning, abrasive blasting, or electropolishing. All of our grating products can additionally be supplied with specialty custom finishes such as enamel or epoxy coatings. When considering such finishes, careful evaluation of the specified material and consultation with the coating manufacturer are essential.
Want more information on metal bar grating(ar,pl,fa)? Feel free to contact us.
Comments
Please Join Us to post.
0