---
title: "How to Install Fiberglass Grating: Clips, Spans, Supports"
description: "How to install fiberglass grating: bearing on supports, which way the bars span, laying out and fastening hold-down clips, cut-outs and expansion gaps."
url: https://www.strongrate.us/resources/how-to-install-fiberglass-grating/
markdown: https://www.strongrate.us/resources/how-to-install-fiberglass-grating.md
published: 2026-10-16
updated: 2026-10-17
---

[Home](https://www.strongrate.us/) › [Resources](https://www.strongrate.us/resources/) › [How to install](https://www.strongrate.us/resources/how-to-install-fiberglass-grating/)

# How to Install Fiberglass Grating

_Updated Oct 17, 2026_

To install fiberglass grating, set each panel so its bearing bars span between supports with at least 1-1/2" (38 mm) of bearing on each, then fix it with hold-down clips. US guide specs call for Type 316 stainless steel clips no more than 4 ft (1.22 m) apart, at least four per panel.

## What should you check before installing fiberglass grating?

Check the span, the design load and the deflection limit against the [fiberglass grating load tables](https://www.strongrate.us/resources/fiberglass-grating-load-tables/) before any panel is set. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22(b) requires each walking-working surface to support its maximum intended load, and US guide specifications add deflection limits for both the grating and its supports.

**Fiberglass grating installation checks: US standards, guide specifications and maker guidance (not Strongrate data)**

| Check | Requirement or common criterion (in, psf, lb) | Basis |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Design load | Each walking-working surface must support its maximum intended load | OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22(b) |
| Walkway design criteria | 60 psf (2.9 kPa) uniform at 1/4" (6.4 mm) maximum deflection, up to 100 psf (4.8 kPa) uniform or 300 lb (1.3 kN) concentrated at 3/8" (9.5 mm) or L/120 [note 1] | US guide specifications |
| Typical pedestrian load | 50–65 psf (2.4–3.1 kPa) [note 2] | US makers’ pultruded load-table notes |
| Grating deflection | 3/8" (9.5 mm) or L/120 for comfort; 1/4" (6.4 mm) or L/200 for a firmer feel [note 3] | US makers’ load notes; the project engineer sets the limit |
| Support member deflection | L/180 | US guide specifications |
| Impact or dynamic loads | Halve tabulated capacities (or double the design load) | US makers’ load tables |
| Minimum bearing on each support | 1-1/2" (38 mm) | One US maker’s fastener guidance |
| Openings on an accessible route | No opening passes a 1/2" (13 mm) sphere; long dimension perpendicular to travel | 2010 ADA Standards §302.3 |
| Open sides of platforms | Guardrail top rail 42" (1067 mm) ± 3" (76 mm), withstanding a 200 lb (0.9 kN) force | OSHA 29 CFR 1910.29 |

_Use the criteria in your project specification and code; these are the common US references._

Notes:

1. Use the project’s governing criteria.
2. The governing design load comes from the project specification and code.
3. The project engineer sets the deflection criterion.

## How far apart can grating supports be?

Support spacing is the clear span the grating carries at your design load within your deflection limit, so it comes from the load table for the exact product. Do not compare makers’ tables at face value: published safe loads rest on safety factors from 2:1 to 5:1. Strongrate’s 2023 catalog deflection tables are on [fiberglass grating load tables](https://www.strongrate.us/resources/fiberglass-grating-load-tables/); confirm values in your quote and submittal drawings before design use.

## Which way should fiberglass grating bars run?

Pultruded grating carries load along its bearing bars, so the bars must span from support to support; the cross rods only tie the bars together. On standard stock pultruded panels the bearing bars run parallel to the panel length, so the panel length runs across the supports. Load tables give capacity by clear span measured along the bars.

Molded grating is one piece with strength in both directions, so it is less sensitive to orientation, but check the maker’s load table for the direction it was tested. On an accessible route, set rectangular or slotted openings with the long dimension perpendicular to the dominant direction of travel, as ADA 302.3 requires.

_Diagram: Pultruded grating: bearing bars span from support to support; cross rods tie the bars together. Schematic — not to scale._

_Diagram: Molded grating: a one-piece panel with bars in both directions. Schematic — not to scale._

## How do you install fiberglass grating, step by step?

**Tools:** Tape measure, chalk line and level, Saw with a diamond-coated or carbide blade, Drill with carbide or diamond bits, Wrench or nut driver for clip hardware, Safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection and a dust mask or respirator

**Supplies:** Fiberglass grating panels, Type 316 stainless steel hold-down clips and hardware (or the clips the grating maker specifies), Edge-sealing resin for cut edges and holes

1. **Confirm span, load and deflection.** Check each clear span against the [load tables](https://www.strongrate.us/resources/fiberglass-grating-load-tables/) at your design load and deflection limit, and halve tabulated capacities where loads are impact or dynamic.
2. **Check the supports.** Make sure supports are level and wide enough to give every panel edge at least 1-1/2" (38 mm) of bearing (one US maker’s rule). US guide specs limit support member deflection to L/180.
3. **Lay out the panels.** Run bearing bars from support to support; on stock pultruded panels the bars run along the panel length. On accessible routes, set long openings perpendicular to the direction of travel.
4. **Cut, drill and seal.** Cut with carbide or diamond tooling and seal every cut edge and hole with resin; see [how to cut fiberglass grating](https://www.strongrate.us/resources/how-to-cut-fiberglass-grating/). Keep drilling of pultruded grating to a minimum.
5. **Set the panels with the specified gaps.** Set panels on the supports with the gaps at walls, curbs, columns and panel joints that the grating maker’s installation instructions give; ask for the gap figure with your order.
6. **Fix the hold-down clips.** Fit clips no more than 4 ft (1.22 m) apart and at least four per panel, or more where your supplier’s rule asks for it, and tighten them to the clip maker’s instructions. Use the clip type made for your grating; see [fiberglass grating clips](https://www.strongrate.us/accessories/fiberglass-grating-clips/).
7. **Guard the open sides.** Install guardrails at open sides and edges as OSHA 29 CFR 1910.29 requires, with the top rail at 42" (1067 mm) ± 3" (76 mm).
8. **Inspect and maintain.** Inspect the installed grating regularly and have damage repaired by a qualified person, as OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22(d) requires. Check clip tightness and reseal any new cuts or scrapes.

## How do you lay out and fasten clips on each panel?

US guide specifications call for Type 316 stainless steel hold-down clips spaced no more than 4 ft (1.22 m) apart, with at least four clips per piece of grating. Some suppliers ask for more: one specifies at least eight per 4 ft × 12 ft (1220 × 3660 mm) panel, another three per support per panel, or two for panels 2 ft (610 mm) or narrower.

**Hold-down clips for one 4 ft × 12 ft (1220 × 3660 mm) panel under published US rules (example layout)**

| Published rule | Source | Clips per 4 ft × 12 ft panel (count) |
| --- | --- | ---: |
| At least 4 per piece, no more than 4 ft (1.22 m) apart, Type 316 stainless steel | US guide specifications | 4 or more, within the spacing limit |
| At least 8 per 4 ft × 12 ft panel | One US distributor | 8 |
| 3 per support per panel (2 for panels 2 ft wide or narrower) | One US maker | 12 (3 clips × 4 supports) |

_Example layout only: the 12 ft (3660 mm) panel length crosses four supports 4 ft (1.22 m) apart, chosen to show the counting, not as a span recommendation. Check your actual span in the load table and follow your project specification where it differs._

Clip designs and names differ between makers, with molded grating commonly held by Type M, J, F or G clips and pultruded bars by their own hold-downs, so match the clip to the grating type and depth using [fiberglass grating clips](https://www.strongrate.us/accessories/fiberglass-grating-clips/).

## How much bearing does a grating panel need on its supports?

One US maker’s fastener guidance calls for at least 1-1/2" (38 mm) of grating bearing on each support, so a support carrying two panel ends needs room for both. US guide specifications also limit deflection of the supporting members to L/180, so check the steel or FRP framing as well as the grating.

Cut-outs reduce support. One US supplier states that openings up to 10" (254 mm) can be cut in molded grating without added support, depending on depth; check that figure, and any larger opening or any opening in pultruded grating, with the load table and an engineer. Seal cut edges with resin, as guide specifications require.

## How are fiberglass stair treads installed?

Stairs follow their own OSHA rule: 29 CFR 1910.25 requires stairs to support at least five times the normal live load and never less than a 1,000 lb (4.4 kN) concentrated load. Guide specifications design fiberglass treads for 100 psf (4.8 kPa) uniform or a 300 lb (1.3 kN) concentrated load. Strongrate’s 2023 catalog lists molded and pultruded stair treads and stair tread covers; see [fiberglass stair treads](https://www.strongrate.us/fiberglass-stair-treads/) and [stair tread covers](https://www.strongrate.us/fiberglass-stair-tread-covers/).

## What comes with Strongrate grating?

Strongrate grating is made in Nantong, China, and ships from China. Its DNV type approval requires a manual to be supplied with the product, and its 2023 catalog lists STRONGFIX hold-down clips. Clip types, clip count and gaps for your layout are stated in your quote; until then, follow your project specification and the guide-spec rules above.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can a 4 ft × 12 ft fiberglass grating panel be set by hand?

Weight decides. One US supplier lists a typical 4 ft × 12 ft (1220 × 3660 mm) molded panel at about 120 lb (54.4 kg) at 1" (25 mm) depth and 180 lb (81.6 kg) at 1-1/2" (38 mm), so plan the crew size and any lifting aid under your site safety plan. Strongrate catalog weights are on [sizes, weight and open area](https://www.strongrate.us/resources/fiberglass-grating-sizes-weight-and-open-area/).

### Does a factory-direct order include installation?

No installation service is documented. Strongrate grating is made in Nantong, China, and ships from China, so plan on your own crew or a local installer. The DNV type approval requires a manual to be supplied with the product.

### How often should installed fiberglass grating be inspected?

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22(d) requires walking-working surfaces to be inspected regularly and repaired by a qualified person. At each inspection, check clip tightness, damaged bars and unsealed cuts or scrapes.

## Related pages
- [Fiberglass grating technical resources](https://www.strongrate.us/resources/): Index of fiberglass grating technical resources (load tables, sizes and weights, specifications, fire ratings, how-to guides, comparisons) and the standards they cite.
- [Fiberglass grating clips](https://www.strongrate.us/accessories/fiberglass-grating-clips/): Hold-down clips for molded and pultruded fiberglass grating: the STRONGFIX types in Strongrate’s catalog, common US clip types, the Type 316 stainless and 4 ft spacing rules in US guide specifications, and how to order clips with grating.
- [How to cut fiberglass grating](https://www.strongrate.us/resources/how-to-cut-fiberglass-grating/): How to cut fiberglass grating: carbide or diamond tooling, supporting the panel, cut lines on molded and pultruded grating, sealing cut edges with resin and protective equipment.
- [Fiberglass grating load tables](https://www.strongrate.us/resources/fiberglass-grating-load-tables/): The load tables in Strongrate’s catalog for each product, and how to read fiberglass grating load tables: uniform and line loads by span, deflection limits and safety factors.
- [Molded vs pultruded grating](https://www.strongrate.us/compare/molded-vs-pultruded-fiberglass-grating/): How molded and pultruded fiberglass grating differ in manufacture, glass content, stiffness, weight, open area and cost, with a decision table by application.
- [Fiberglass grating price per sq ft](https://www.strongrate.us/pricing/fiberglass-grating-price/): Fiberglass grating prices per square foot and per panel: dated US market benchmarks, what moves the price, and how Strongrate quotes factory-direct prices per project.
- [Fiberglass grating FAQ](https://www.strongrate.us/faq/): Short answers to common buyer and engineer questions about fiberglass grating materials, loads, fire ratings, prices, import duty and buying factory-direct, each linking to its full page.

**Request a quote:** https://www.strongrate.us/request-quote/ · Order a sample: https://www.strongrate.us/samples/ — Request a quote with clips: send panel sizes, support spacing and the clip count your specification calls for. Quotes within 1 business day (US Central time); the reply confirms routing and next steps.

## Sources
- [Fibergrate molded grating guide specification (clips, design loads, edge sealing)](https://www.fibergrate.com/media/180193/fibergrate-frp-molded-grating-specs.pdf) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [Strongwell Section 06 74 13, FRP molded grating and stair treads specification (support deflection L/180)](https://www.strongwell.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/StrongwellSpecs-Molded-Grating-and-Treads.pdf) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [Strongwell Section 06 74 13, FRP pultruded grating and treads specification, revised Nov 2024 (walkway and tread design loads)](https://www.strongwell.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/StrongwellSpecs-FRP-Pultruded-Grating-and-Treads.pdf) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [Bedford PROGrid and PROGrate Grating Catalog 2025 (bearing and clip rules)](https://bedfordreinforced.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2118-2025-Bedford-Grating-Catalog-Whole_LR.pdf) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [Direct Metals, fiberglass attachments and clips](https://www.directmetals.com/products/fiberglass-grating/fiberglass-attachments-clips/) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [Grating Pacific molded fiberglass grating page (clip types)](https://gratingpacific.com/product/molded-fiberglass-grating/) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [Grating Pacific, Molded Fiberglass Grating Sizes (panel weights)](https://gratingpacific.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Molded-Fiberglass-Grating-Sizes.pdf) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [Grating Pacific, Industrial Pultruded FRP Load Tables (impact loads)](https://gratingpacific.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Industrial-Pultruded-FRP-Load-Tables-1.pdf) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [Fibergrate industrial pultruded load tables (pedestrian loads)](https://www.fibergrate.com/media/181609/industrial-pultruded-load-tables.pdf) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [Bedford I 15-60 load notes (deflection limits)](https://bedfordreinforced.com/product/i-15-60/) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [McNichols MS-I-6010 pultruded grating spec page (bar direction)](https://www.mcnichols.com/fiberglass-grating/pultruded/fiberglass-fg-f1i60ysc) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [Fibergrate FAQ (molded vs pultruded construction)](https://www.fibergrate.com/resource-center/faq/) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [American Grating molded FRP grating page (cut-outs)](https://www.americangrating.com/molded-frp-grating.aspx) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22, Walking-working surfaces](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.22) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [OSHA 29 CFR 1910.25, Stairways](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.25) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [OSHA 29 CFR 1910.29, Fall protection systems](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.29) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [U.S. Access Board, Guide to the ADA Standards, Chapter 3: Floor and Ground Surfaces](https://www.access-board.gov/ada/guides/chapter-3-floor-and-ground-surfaces/) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- [DNV Type Approval Certificate TAF0000191 Rev. 1 (conditions: marking and manual)](https://www.shipserv.com/Shipserv/pages/profiles/261792/certifications/20241010142426209-DNV-GL-Certificate-GRATINGS-Strongrate.pdf) (accessed Oct 15, 2026)
- Strongrate product catalog “Your Best FRP Solution” (Sep 2023) (accessed Oct 17, 2026)

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Fiberglass (FRP) grating made by NANTONG STRONGRATE CO.,LTD in Nantong, China. Products ship from China. Made in Nantong, China · Ships from China · HTS 3925.90.