FRP & Composite Grating

Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) grating—also referred to as fiberglass grating—is a resin-fiberglass composite material used for the surfaces of walkways, stairs, platforms and other load-bearing structures. It is available in pultruded and molded forms, both of which can be customized to meet specific performance and safety requirements.

At Creative Composites Group, we supply both molded and pultruded FRP gratings.

How are Pultruded Fiberglass Gratings Made?

Pultruded fiberglass gratings are fabricated from corrosion-resistant I- or T- bars that are connected and secured through a unique notch and groove bar system. They are suitable for applications that require high strength and stiffness. Molded fiberglass gratings are molded and cured into the desired shape. They are ideal for structures that need extensive fabrication and cutting as well as applications that involve corrosive compounds or require a large open area.

How are Molded Fiberglass Gratings Made?

The process of making molded fiberglass gratings begins with layering liquid resin and glass fibers inside of a rigid, open, and heated mold. This step continues until the desired thickness and dimensions are achieved. Afterward, the filled mold is placed aside to cure. When the resin-fiberglass layers have fully cured, the component is extracted from the mold, and the mold is cleaned and prepared for reuse.

Applications for FRP Gratings

FRP gratings are well-suited for highly corrosive environments or applications involving commercial and architectural applications. Typical uses include:

Boat Docks
Catwalks
Equipment/Machinery Guards
Platforms
Ramps
Stairs
Trenches
Walkways

Features & Benefits of frp grating

Corrosion Resistance
One-Piece Construction
Bi-directional Load Bearing
UV Resistance
Maintenance Free
Long Life
Electrical and Thermal Insulation
Lightweight
Ease of Installation
Ergonomic – Flexible to help reduce worker fatigue

Molded Grating Products at CCG

Supergrate® Molded Gratings

Creative Composites Group’s Supergrate® Molded Grating is available in:

Thicknesses: 1”, 1-1/2”, and 2”
Grid patterns: square (1-1/2” x 1-1/2” and 2” x 2”) and rectangle (1” x 4”)
Panel sizes: various sizes
Anti-skid surfaces: grit top (epoxy-bonded quartz aggregate)
Meniscus: half-moon cross-section
Colors: green, yellow, dark gray, light gray
Resin systems: isophthalic polyester (fire-retardant) and vinyl ester (fire-retardant)

Special resins, colors, and lengths are available upon request.

LEARN MORE >>

Molded Fiberglass Grating Stair Treads

We also offer fully gritted molded fiberglass grating stair treads with double-sided yellow gritted nosing. They are available in the following standards sizes:

1-1/2” (thick) x 1-1/2’ x 1-1/2” Square Mesh in 22-1/2” (wide) x 12’ (long) panels
1-1/2” (thick) x 1-1/2’ x 1-1/2” Square Mesh in 28-3/4” (wide) x 12’ (long) panels

We can also supply individual treads to customer specifications.

Pultruded Fiberglass Gratings

How Are Pultruded Fiberglass Gratings Made?

The fiberglass pultrusion process utilizes a caterpillar-like machine to pull the fiberglass material through the various steps. First, fiberglass strands are guided into parallel bundles that run across the length of the component. Then, fiberglass mat is added to provide multidirectional reinforcement. Next, resin is applied to the fiberglass materials, and a surface veil is wrapped around the entire assembly. Afterward, the composite is pulled through a heated die, which cures it. Finally, the cured material is cut to the desired lengths with a cut-off saw, and the individual bars are assembled to form grating panels.

Advantages of Pultruded Gratings

Pultruded fiberglass grating has similar characteristics to molded fiberglass grating, including:

Corrosion and UV resistance
Light weight
Low maintenance
Long service life
Electrical and thermal resistivity
Electromagnetic transparency

However, the pultrusion process itself provides additional advantages, such as:

Enhanced load-bearing capabilities: Pultruded fiberglass grating features a higher glass-to-resin ratio, which increases its stiffness, strength, and load-bearing capacity along the length of the component.
Increased design and installation flexibility: Since pultruded fiberglass grating systems are assembled rather than molded, they can be made in a wider range of sizes and installed in a greater number of ways.
Reduced waste: Compared to the molding process, the pultrusion process uses materials more efficiently, which reduces the amount of material waste produced.

Applications of Pultruded Gratings

Due to its higher fiberglass concentration, pultruded fiberglass grating is the ideal choice for applications where strength and stiffness are prioritized over flexibility and ergonomics. Typical uses include:

Boat docks
Catwalks
Platforms
Ramps
Stairs
Trenches
Walkways

Pultruded Grating Products at CCG

Supergrate® Pultruded Gratings

Creative Composites Group’s Supergrate® Pultruded Grating is available in:

Thicknesses: 1”, 1-1/2”, and 2”
Open areas: 1” (deep) and 1-1/2” (deep) I-shaped bars with 40%, 50%, or 60% open area and 2” (deep) T-shaped bars with 33% or 50% open area
Panel sizes: various sizes
Cross rod spacing: 6” and 12”
Anti-skid surfaces: grit top (epoxy-bonded quartz aggregate)
Colors: yellow and dark gray
Resin systems: isophthalic polyester (fire-retardant) and vinyl ester (fire-retardant)

Special resins, colors, and lengths are available upon request. LEARN MORE >>

Pultruded Trench Gratings

We also offer custom-designed fiberglass-reinforced polymer trench covers. The water ingress openings can be tailored to meet customer application, flow rate, and code requirements. The hold-down requirements can be customized to suit the particular trench type. The top surface features an integrated texture that meets ADA and OSHA slip requirements. The resin options available include:

Pultex® isophthalic polyester
Fire-retardant polyester
Fire-retardant vinyl ester