Product Overview
Stainless steel grating is industrial grade bar grating: a load bearing assembly of parallel bearing bars joined by cross bars into a rigid, open mesh panel. The open area passes light, air, water and debris, which makes the product suitable for pedestrian traffic, light vehicle traffic, drainage covers, walkways and access platforms in aggressive environments.
Panels are supplied with a smooth or serrated top surface, in 304 or 316 grade stainless steel, across a wide range of bearing bar sizes and pitches. Press locked or welded cross bar construction, together with banding, end plates and toe plates, adapts a panel to a specific opening and fixing condition. Fabrication drawings and three dimensional models are normally prepared so that cut-outs, penetrations and anchor positions match the site.
Grade Selection: 304 and 316
| Grade | Description | Tensile strength (min.) | Yield strength (min.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 304 | Good corrosion resistance and high tensile strength for chemical processing, food production, power plants and waste water treatment, including high temperature service | 75,000 psi | 30,000 psi |
| 316 | Better corrosion and pitting resistance than 304 with good heat resistance, for chemical, pulp and paper, marine, textile and petroleum refining duties | 75,000 psi | 30,000 psi |
Selection follows the environment rather than the load. Chloride bearing atmospheres, coastal sites and process streams containing salts call for 316 or its low carbon 316L variant, while mildly corrosive inland industrial service is usually satisfied by 304. Minimum carbide precipitation matters where the panel will be welded, which is why the low carbon versions are often specified for fabricated platforms.
Dimensions and Specifications
| Item | Options |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel 304, 304L, 316, 316L |
| Finish | Mill finish, commercial clean, electro polished |
| Bearing bar spacing | 25 mm, 30 mm, 33 mm, 35 mm, 40 mm |
| Cross bar spacing | 2 inch or 4 inch on centre |
| Surface | Smooth or serrated |
| Special sizes | Custom fabrication to drawing |
Bearing bar spacing controls both the safe load and the size of object that can fall through the panel, so it is fixed by the duty rather than by preference. Cross bar spacing influences lateral stiffness and the comfort of foot traffic. Serrated surfaces are chosen where oil, grease or process liquor can make a smooth surface slippery.
Load and Deflection Guidance
Published load tables are commonly given for carbon steel grating, and stainless steel panels are rated by multiplying those values by a grade specific factor derived from the allowable fibre stress.
| Grade | Uniform load factor | Concentrated load factor | Deflection factor | Allowable fibre stress |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 304 | 1.111 | 1.111 | 1.151 | 20,000 psi (137.9 MPa) |
| 304L | 0.917 | 0.917 | 0.949 | 16,500 psi (113.8 MPa) |
| 316 | 1.111 | 1.111 | 1.151 | 20,000 psi (137.9 MPa) |
| 316L | 0.917 | 0.917 | 0.949 | 16,500 psi (113.8 MPa) |
Safe uniform load is expressed in kilopascals or pounds per square foot, concentrated load in kilonewtons or pounds per foot of grating width, and deflection in millimetres or inches. In most projects the permitted deflection governs the design rather than the ultimate strength, so the span should be checked against the allowed sag before a bearing bar size is fixed.
Application Scenarios in Corrosive Projects
Chemical production and storage Stairs, walkways and operating platforms around reactors, tanks and dosing areas, where spillage and washdown are routine.
Food and beverage processing Drainage channels, inspection walkways and mezzanine floors that must be cleaned frequently and remain hygienic.
Water and waste water treatment Screening decks, aeration walkways, drying bed covers and access platforms exposed to continuous humidity and biological attack.
Marine and coastal works Jetty walkways, quay access and fish handling decks where chloride exposure rules out carbon steel.
Pulp, paper and textile plants Wet process walkways and equipment access platforms around digesters, washers and dyeing lines.
Petroleum refining and power generation Stair treads, trench covers and maintenance platforms around hot process fluids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When should 316 be chosen instead of 304?
Choose 316 where chlorides, salts or marine air are present, or where pitting resistance is critical. Use 304 for inland industrial, food and water treatment service.
Q: Which bearing bar spacings are available?
Standard bearing bar spacing is 25 mm, 30 mm, 33 mm, 35 mm or 40 mm, with the closest spacing giving the highest load capacity and the smallest open area.
Q: How is the load capacity of stainless grating determined?
Carbon steel load tables are multiplied by a grade specific factor, 1.111 for uniform and concentrated loads on 304 and 316, and 0.917 for 304L and 316L.
Q: What deflection factor applies to 316L?
The deflection factor for 316L is 0.949, against 1.151 for 316, both derived from the allowable fibre stress of the grade.
Q: Which surface finishes can be supplied?
Panels can be supplied in mill finish, commercial clean or electro polished condition, and in smooth or serrated top surface.
Q: Why is open mesh grating preferred in corrosive plants?
The open pattern lets liquids, washdown water and debris pass through, so the walking surface drains and dries, which reduces both slipping risk and localised corrosion.