How to Choose Metal Grating

With a wide range of materials, classifications, and purposes, selecting the right metal grating for your project will be a challenge. Here, we've provided an overview of the different types of metal grating, common applications, and manufacturing processes.

What is Metal Grating?

In the metals industry, the term "grating" refers to various metal products, each designed for specific uses. Every type of grating has unique properties that make it more or less suitable for different applications. For example, bar grating is commonly used in street drains, while walkways typically require a safer option like expanded grating or grip strut grating. Overall, metal grating plays a key role in ensuring proper drainage, ventilation, and safety across multiple industries.

3 Quick Facts About Metal Grating

1. Wide Range of Applications:  

Metal grating is used in various industrial and commercial settings, including flooring, walkways, trench covers, and security enclosures.

2. Popular Materials:  

Steel is one of the most commonly used materials for metal grating due to its strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. Other materials, such as aluminum, stainless steel, and fiberglass, are also used depending on the application.

3. Manufacturing Processes:  

Metal grating can be produced through different manufacturing methods, including welding, pressure locking, and riveting. The choice of method depends on the specific application and the desired properties, such as load-bearing capacity, slip resistance, and aesthetic preferences.

Types of Metal Grating

Metal grating comes in various materials and types, each tailored for specific applications. The choice of material and manufacturing method depends on factors such as strength, size, location, and intended use to ensure optimal and safe operation.

Expanded Metal Grating

Expanded metal grating is created by making slits in a metal sheet and then stretching (or expanding) the sheet, which results in a diamond pattern. This process allows the sheet to be cut to size and flattened. It can be made from a range of metals, including stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, and others.

One of the key advantages of the expansion process is its cost-effectiveness, as it generates no waste. Additionally, since no material is punched out, the sheet retains its structural strength, making it a durable and reliable option for many applications. Typical uses for expanded metal grates include steps, flooring, fences, and security applications.

Bar Grating

Bar grating is made up of parallel bars that are connected together with perpendicular bars. The bars are most commonly connected through welding. However, there are other ways of joining the bars together. Alternatives to the expansion process for metal grating include riveting, close meshing, and press-locking, among others. The most cost-effective joining method depends on the materials used and the thickness of the bars.

Bar grating is available in a variety of materials, with steel and aluminum being the most common. It boasts a high strength-to-weight ratio and ample open space, making it a popular choice for industrial flooring. Additionally, bar grating is commonly used in applications such as fire escapes, street drains, and bridges due to its durability and versatility.

Safety Grating

Safety grating is a type of metal grating commonly used for walking surfaces, designed to enhance traction and reduce the risk of slips and falls. It typically features small diamond-shaped protrusions that increase grip, while also providing ample open surface area for drainage and airflow.

The most common form of safety grating achieves improved traction by serrating the edges of the diamond shapes, which are created by cold stamping a metal sheet.

Various metals, including industrial steel and aluminum, are used to create grip strut grating. After stamping and serrating, the steel sheet is often coated with a material that further minimizes the risk of slipping. Due to its excellent traction, safety grating is widely used for walkways, stairs, and other walking platforms.

Mclassic Metal will provide you with a comprehensive solution.