Metal Bar Grating is the workhorse of the industrial flooring market and has served industry for decades. Strong and durable with an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, metal bar grating can be easily fabricated to nearly any configuration. The high percentage of open area makes bar grating nearly maintenance free and all products are fully recyclable.
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Manufactured by assembling a series of equally spaced metal bars to connecting cross members, bar grating is available in three popular materials; mild carbon steel, series aluminum and 300 series stainless steels. Additionally, Interstate Gratings can produce gratings constructed with other specialty metal alloys. Get in touch with us to discuss your situation.
The load tables on the pages within this website provide load/deflection criteria for most common applications. These tables provide a concise reference allowing the specifying authority to select the appropriate bearing bar size and spacing for the intended application. Pedestrian loads are commonly analyzed with uniform and concentrated loads. For pedestrian comfort, deflection is typically limited to 1/4″. Heavy duty and vehicular load tables are presented for specific load conditions. Heavy duty load tables are presented with deflection limited to the lesser of 1/8″ or L/400. If your application is not addressed by the load tables found in this website, please contact Interstate Gratings. We will gladly discuss the merits of our diverse products and assist in selecting the product most appropriate for your application.
Steel grating is usually provided with bare steel (no finish), painted with one coat of IG ECOCOAT™ or other special paint finishes, or hot dip galvanized in accordance with ASTM A-123. Aluminum products are commonly supplied mill finish but they are also available with optional chemically cleaned or anodized finishes. Due to discoloration that occurs during welding and fabrication, Stainless Steel grating products typically require secondary cleaning.
IG ECOCLEAN™, abrasive blasting, and passivation provide a uniform and clean surface. All grating products can be provided with specialty finishes including enamel, epoxy paints or powder coating. When considering specialty finishes, consultation with the coating manufacturer is essential.
As manufactured, grating panels are provided with open ends. Optional trim banding, a metal flat bar welded to the open ends of the panel, provides additional transverse stiffness and a finished architectural appearance. Banding should be specified for all removable grating panels, the closed end of a banded panel providing additional worker safety during the removal and replacement process.
Gratings subject to vehicular loads should always be specified as banded. In these applications, the band bar helps reduce impact stresses by transferring loads to adjacent bearing bars and further resists deformation caused by repetitive traffic patterns on open end gratings.
Trench banding, where the band bar is elevated above the bottom of the bearing bars, is appropriate for drainage applications. The elevated band bar allows for efficient drainage and will not trap liquids between the band bar and the grating support.
Load banding, where each bearing bar is welded to the band bar, helps distribute load throughout the grating panel. See Banding Weld Standards for specific welding practices.
Aluminum Bar Grating is lightweight, corrosion resistant, non-sparking and has an unmatched strength-to-weight ratio. Manufactured from ASTM B221, or alloy, aluminum grating is available in four distinct products, type “ADT” Dovetail Pressure Locked , type “SG” Swaged Rectangular Bar, type “SGI” Swaged “I” Bar, and type “SGF” Swaged Flush-Top and. All four products are available with bearing bar spacing ranging from 19/16″ (1-3/16″) to 7/16″ on center and with cross bars at either 4″ or 2″ on center. Rectangular bar products are manufactured with standard plain or optional serrated walking surfaces and “I” bar products are manufactured with a standard skid-resistant striated walking surface. Aluminum products are typically shipped “mill finish” with no additional treatment. For architectural applications or highly corrosive environments, supplemental anodizing, chemical cleaning or powder coat finishes are available.
Type “ADT” aluminum gratings have deep rectangular cross bars and are manufactured by inserting pre-punched bearing bars and cross bars into an interlocking configuration and deforming the cross bars under intense hydraulic pressure. The deep cross bars on type “ADT” gratings make them popular for architectural applications such as sun shades and infill panels with the deeper cross bar serving as a distinct architectural accent. Click Here* for detailed product specification information.
Type “SG” rectangular bar provides clean, crisp lines and the cross bar is fully locked within the bearing bar, slightly below the top surface. Type 19-SG-4 aluminum grating is the industry recognized standard for industrial applications with nearly 80% open area. Type “SG” gratings are available in close mesh ADA conforming spacings 11-SG-4 and 7-SG-4 which are commonly used in public areas. When specifying type 11-SG-4 for ADA applications, 3/16″ thick bearing bars must be specified.
Manufactured with highly efficient “I” shaped extruded bearing bars, type “SGI” aluminum grating carries the same load as 3/16” thick rectangular bar type “SG” aluminum grating, but weighs slightly less per square foot. Additionally, the striated top and bottom flanges of the “I” bar provide enhanced skid resistance without the cost of serration.
Manufactured with a unique, extruded cross bar that is flush with the top surface of the bearing bars after swaging, type “SGF” aluminum grating provides an enhanced walking surface for areas subject to continuous pedestrian traffic. Available in rectangular bar with plain or serrated surfaces, type “SGF” aluminum grating is also available in ADA conforming spacings for applications located in the public way.
Stainless Steel Bar Grating is manufactured from alloy types 304, 304L, 316 and 316L and available in grating types “WS” (welded stainless grating), “DTS” (dovetail stainless pressure locked) and “SLS” (swage locked stainless). Popular for highly corrosive environments and long-lasting architectural applications, stainless steel bar gratings are available with bearing bar spacing ranging from 19/16″ (1-3/16″) to 7/16″ on center and with cross bars at 4″ or 2″ on center. Each product is available with standard plain or optional serrated surface and finish options are diverse and should be closely considered.
Our strongest and most economical stainless product, type “WS” gratings are manufactured by forge welding rectangular bearing bars and drawn cross bars. This welding process provides a positive fused intersection providing years of service under the most demanding conditions.
Type “WS” stainless gratings are available in “19 space” (1-3/16″), “15 space” (15/16″) and “11 space” (11/16″) bearing bar centers. Standard cross bar spacing is 4″ on center and the optional 2″ cross bar spacing is also available.
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Anchor
– A device by which grating is attached to its supports
Band
– A flat bar welded to the end of a grating panel, or along the side of a cutout, and extending neither above nor below the bearing bars.
Load Carrying Band
– A band used to transfer load between bearing bars.
Trim Band
– A band which carries no load, used primarily for appearance and closing open ends.
Bearing Bars
– Load-carrying main elements made from steel, aluminum or stainless steel, extending in the direction of the grating span
Bearing Bar Centers
– The distance center-to-center of the bearing bars.
Carriers
– Flats or angles which are welded to the grating panel and nosing of a stair tread and are bolted to a stair stringer to support the tread.
Clear Opening
– The distance between faces of bearing bars in rectangular gratings, or between a bent connecting bar and a bearing bar in a riveted grating.
Cross Bars
– The connecting bars which extend across the bearing bars, usually perpendicular to them. The may be bent into a corrugated or sinuous pattern and, where they intersect the bearing bars, are welded, forged or mechanically locked to them.
Pressure-Locked Grating
-Pressure-locked means bearing bars are locked in position by cross bar deformation instead of riveting or welding. Several proven methods include:
• Expansion of an extruded or drawn tubular cross bar;
• Extruded cross bar deformed or swaged between bearing bars;
• Press assembly of rectangular cross bars into slotted bearing bars.
Radially Cut Grating
– Rectangular grating which is cut into panels shaped as annular segments, for use in circular or annular areas.
Reticuline Bar
– A sinuously bent connecting bar extending between two adjacent bearing bars, alternately contacting and being riveted to each.
Rivet Centers
– The distance center-to-center of rivets along one bearing bar.
Riveted Grating
– Grating composed of straight bearing bars and bent connecting bars, which are joined at their contact points, by riveting.
Serrated Grating
– Grating which has the top surfaces of the bearing bars or cross bars, or both, notched.
Cross Bar Centers
– The distance center-to-center of the cross bars.
Curved Cut
– A cutout following a curved pattern.
Cutout
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– An area of grating removed to clear an obstruction or to permit pipes, ducts, columns, etc. to pass through the grating.
Electro-Forged
– A process of combining hydraulic pressure and heat fusion to forge bearing bars and cross bars into a panel grid.
Finish
– The coating, usually paint or galvanizing, which is applied to the grating.
Flush-Top Grating
– A type of pressure-locked grating in which the cross bars and bearing bars are in the same plane relative to the top surface of the grating.
Grating
– An open grid assembly of metal bars, in which the bearing bars, running in one direction, are spaced by rigid attachment to cross bars running perpendicular to them or by bent connecting bars extending between them.
Hinged Panel
– Grating panels which are hinged to their supports or to other grating parts.
I-Bar
– An extruded aluminum bearing bar having a cross section shape of the letter “I”.
Length
– Refer to Span of Grating
Nosing
– A special “L” section member serving as the front or leading edge of a stair tread, or of grating at the head of a stair.
Span of Grating
– The distance between points of grating support, or the dimension of the bearing bars in this direction.
Straight Cut
– That portion of the cut edge or cutout of a grating which follows a straight line.
Swaging
– A method of altering the cross-section shape of a metal bar by pressure applied through dies.
Toe Plate
– A flat bar attached against the outer edge of a grating or rear edge of a tread, and projecting above the top surface of the grating or tread to form a lip or curb.
Tread
– A panel of grating having carriers and a nosing attached by welding, and designed specifically to serve as a stair tread.
Welded Grating
– Grating in which the bearing bars and cross bars are joined at their intersections by either electro-forging or conventional hand welding.
Width
– The overall dimension of a grating panel, measured perpendicular to the bearing bars, and in the same direction as the cross bars.
| Categorized in: Types
Metal grating includes a wide variety of low-maintenance, durable, and versatile metal products used in all kinds of load-bearing projects across many industries. The specifics of the metal grating you need, including the metal type, production, spacing, finish, etc., is determined by the required strength, size, location, and usage of your project.
This quick guide to metal grating and steel grating types covers all the basics you need to know to get started on your next project.
Already know what you need? Check out Service Steel’s steel grating options, including steel bar grating and expanded steel grating.
Each type of metal grating has unique elements that make it ideal for particular types of applications and projects. Generally, metal grating is seen as the ideal solution for durable, low-maintenance, and safe applications:
However, this list is far from all-inclusive. If you don’t see your specific project type, we encourage you to speak with a steel expert at Service Steel to see if metal grating can still meet your needs.
Metal grating is valued for providing a secure and stable surface for walking and working, and can be produced and/or treated to provide a strong grip and traction. The materials used in all metal grating and the way it is constructed give metal grating a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it perfect for heavy-duty projects. When used as a protective covering or barrier, metal grating can also provide protection against large debris while also allowing ventilation and drainage.
You can create metal grating using all kinds of metal, but the most common are aluminum and several types of steel, including light-duty steel, stainless steel, and heavy-duty carbon steel. Aluminum metal grating is most often used in marine and wastewater conditions. Steel is often used for more heavy-duty applications. Steel can also be galvanized, making it more durable, weather resistant, and long-lasting.
The metal grating experts at Service Steel are happy to provide guidance on which grating material is best for your project.
Steel grating types are differentiated by how the metal is processed and configured. The different processes used to create metal gratings include expansion, perforation, molding, and welding.
Different steel grating types include:
Here, we will cover the two most common types of metal grating—steel bar grating and expanded steel grating—in greater detail.
Steel bar grating is typically made by welding together connected sets of parallel and perpendicular bars to create a grid that provides excellent traction while simultaneously allowing liquid, light, heat, air, and sound to pass through. Compared to a heavy solid sheet of steel, steel bar grating is relatively lightweight, but is still exceptionally strong and perfectly suited to load-bearing tasks. Its most common applications include industrial flooring, fire escapes, stair treads, and street drains.
Expanded steel grating is made by cutting slits into a grating metal sheet, then pulling the sheet so that the slits expand. This process is more economical than perforating because no metal is lost when cutting the slits (as opposed to punching holes). When the sheet is expanded, the slits create the diamond pattern that is so characteristic of expanded steel grating.
Like steel bar grating, expanded steel grating is perfect for projects in which it is beneficial for liquid, light, heat, air, and sound to be able to pass through a surface. Expanded steel grating is thinner than bar grating but sturdier than wire mesh. The result is a metal product that can be used for many types of flooring but is also useful in lighter applications such as fencing or even ornamentation.
Like steel bar grating, you will need to consider several factors when selecting expanded steel grating for your project. These include sheet thickness and finish as discussed above, but also the opening length (or the diamond size).
There are many factors to consider when choosing metal grating, so it’s essential that you purchase your materials from a reputable and knowledgeable supplier who can help you find the right metal grating solution for the parameters of your project. When looking for a supplier, make sure that you:
Not sure what types of grating you should use for your latest project? Have other questions about metal grating? Service Steel is here to help you find the metal grating for safe operating conditions and a successful project.
Service Steel Warehouse stocks one of the largest metal grating inventories in the region. We offer steel bar grating from ⅛ x 1-¼ to ¼ x 1-½ ”, expanded metal grating in sizes #2 to #7, comprehensive finishing services, and so much more. With a team of industry experts, a ready-to-ship inventory, and competitive prices, Service Steel is the go-to supplier for large-scale construction and manufacturing projects across multiple industries.
Build a strong project with Service Steel. Find out more about our steel grating options, including steel bar grating and expanded steel grating, or speak with one of our industry experts and request a free quote today.
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