For a steel-to-FRP replacement, first check whether the proposed FRP panel meets the load and deflection requirements on the existing supports. Then review resin compatibility and fire requirements. Compare installed cost only after pricing any frame repairs, added supports, new clips and fabrication; equal panel dimensions do not establish an equivalent replacement.
Choose from project conditions, then compare products
Corroded panels, repeated coating work and frequent removal for access are practical reasons to evaluate FRP. Fibergrate’s manufacturer guidance describes lighter panels, reduced corrosion-related surface maintenance and installation with bolts and clips without welding. These are reasons to investigate the alternative; the actual panel weight, exposure and installation scope determine the benefit on a project.
Define the steel option by grade, finish and bearing-bar arrangement. Define the FRP option by resin, construction, mesh, depth and surface. Compare both at the same clear span and required load; a material change can also change the supports and fabrication work.
| Project condition | FRP option | Steel option |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical exposure and washdown | Resin selection controls compatibility. Corrosion resistance can reduce coating-related maintenance, but the chemical chart must match the exposure.1,2 | Compare the proposed steel grade and finish with the site’s exposure and records of corrosion, coating repair and replacement. |
| Loads and span | Strongrate catalog tables apply to static loads at ambient temperature. Sustained loads and elevated temperatures need additional review.3 | Review the proposed steel section against the same loads, clear spans and deflection criteria. |
| Fire and other approval requirements | Check reports and approval scope for the exact product and resin. | Check the applicable project requirements and the proposed assembly’s compliance. |
| Panel handling and removable access | Manufacturer guidance identifies lower panel weight as an advantage when panels must be removed. Calculate the selected panel’s actual material weight.2 | Obtain actual panel weights and the removal method for the proposed steel configuration; compare equal finished-piece sizes. |
| Field fabrication and fastening | FRP panels can be mechanically fastened without welding. Include cutting-dust controls and compatible resin sealing of cut edges and holes.2 | Identify whether the proposed detail uses mechanical fasteners or welding, and include any required hot-work arrangements and finish repairs. |
| Electrical or static-control requirements | Request product-specific evidence for the specified behavior; do not approve it from the material name. | Coordinate the proposed metal assembly with the project’s electrical design. |
Notes
- 1General information from resin makers’ data, as printed in the catalog; testing in the actual environment is recommended.
- 2Manufacturer guidance for its own products, not a Strongrate test result or a project cost or maintenance promise.
- 3Catalog tables; confirm the values for your span in the submittal before final design.
Strongrate’s catalog provides a resin-specific fiberglass grating chemical resistance chart. Use it to screen the FRP option, retaining the stated concentrations, temperatures and contact categories. A favorable rating for one fluid does not establish suitability for another cleaner or a mixed process stream.
Survey the existing installation before replacing steel
Treat replacement as a review of the complete grating assembly. Photograph the panels, supports, connections and surrounding equipment, then prepare a dimensioned layout. A replacement that fits the opening still needs a verified load path and an installation detail. Resolve the following items before fixing the order quantity.
- Opening and elevation: measure each opening, existing panel depth, finished walking level, edge clearances and adjoining stair or platform details. Check how a changed depth affects the transition.
- Supports: record clear spans, available bearing surfaces, support locations and the condition of the existing frame. Identify any required repairs or additional supports.
- Panel layout: mark the intended bearing direction, removable sections, penetrations and cutouts. Keep support and fastening details with each fabricated piece.
- Loads: identify pedestrian, equipment, point, wheel and dynamic loads that actually occur. Supply wheel details where vehicles or carts are involved.
- Connections: verify the proposed clip and fastener arrangement against the selected grating and support. Include access for installation and later removal.
- Use of the surface: review opening dimensions, drainage, cleaning, walking conditions and the requirements of the route or work area.
Strongrate’s catalog describes molded grating as carrying load in both directions, while its pultruded grating uses I-bars or T-bars joined by cross bars. Review the chosen product and bearing direction explicitly; do not rotate a panel layout solely to reduce offcuts. The molded versus pultruded comparison explains the construction choices.
Keep structural and fire approvals separate
Use the Strongrate load and deflection tables for the proposed catalog model, clear span and load type. The catalog describes static loads at ambient temperature. Sustained loads, higher temperatures and dynamic conditions need explicit engineering review rather than an assumption that an existing steel span transfers unchanged to FRP.
A fire approval does not verify the replacement span
Strongrate’s documented DNV type approval is a fire-technical evaluation of the listed grating models. It does not approve structural strength, acceptance is case by case, and hydrocarbon and jet fires are excluded. Review the fire-rating evidence and scope against the project requirement.
For the submittal, bring together the layout, load and deflection data, resin and corrosion information, relevant reports and samples. Industry guide specifications request these categories of evidence. Use the fiberglass grating specification guide to organize the documents, and obtain approval before treating the materials as interchangeable.
Build a cost comparison from project inputs
Compare quotations for the same accepted scope and delivery point. Keep initial purchase cost separate from installation and future expenditure so the buyer can see what changes the result. Use the owner’s evaluation period and accounting assumptions for both options. There is no universal payback period or saving percentage that establishes the better choice for every installation.
| Cost item | Project evidence to collect |
|---|---|
| Delivered material | Comparable supplier quotes covering panels, fabrication, clips, packing, freight and the stated delivery terms. Identify any charges excluded from the quote. |
| Engineering and preparation | Survey, drawings, submittal review, frame repairs, support changes and any required testing or samples. |
| Installation | Contractor estimates for removal, unloading, access equipment, handling, fitting, fastening and disposal of existing material. |
| Fabrication and finishing | Actual cutting and finishing scope. Include compatible sealing of FRP cut edges and any specified steel finish repairs. |
| Inspection and maintenance | The proposed inspection and cleaning plan, site maintenance records, labor rates and material allowances for each option. |
| Downtime and later replacement | Owner-approved access or shutdown assumptions, replacement scope and any residual value. Label uncertain dates and costs as assumptions. |
Run a second comparison with the uncertain inputs changed: maintenance frequency, installation access and any shutdown allowance can be treated as scenarios. Keep those assumptions visible. If the preferred material changes when a small assumption changes, obtain better project evidence before awarding the order.
For Strongrate, plan on products made in Nantong, China, and shipped from China. Include the actual delivery scope when comparing a factory-direct quote with a local supplier’s offer. The buying and delivery guide explains the purchasing route; the grating weight calculator estimates catalog material weight for planning, not working-load capacity or packed shipment weight.
Frequently asked questions
Does matching the existing steel panel depth confirm an FRP replacement?
No. Depth alone does not establish the replacement’s capacity or deflection. Check the exact FRP model, clear span, bearing direction, support and fastening details against the design loads. Also verify the walking level and clearances on the replacement drawing.
Can a replacement project keep its existing steel support frame?
Ask the project engineer to review the frame’s condition, support spacing, available bearing and proposed connections. Reuse depends on that review and the selected grating’s requirements. Include any repairs or additional members in the comparison before assuming the existing frame can remain unchanged.
Request a quote
Request a quote for the defined replacement scope. Include the existing layout, support dimensions, loads, chemical exposure and required delivery location.
Sources
- Fibergrate, Our Benefits: manufacturer guidance on FRP weight, corrosion-related maintenance and mechanical installation (accessed Oct 17, 2026)
- Strongrate product catalog “Your Best FRP Solution” (Sep 2023), grating construction, chemical chart and load-table notes; supplied by the site owner (accessed Oct 17, 2026)
- DNV Type Approval Certificate TAF0000191 Rev. 1: conditions and fire-technical scope (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- Fibergrate industrial pultruded load tables: sustained-loading and temperature notes (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- Fibergrate molded grating guide specification: submittals and cut-edge sealing (accessed Oct 15, 2026)