How to Prevent Corrosion on Your Industrial Metal Bar Grating

How to Prevent Corrosion on Your Industrial Metal Bar Grating

Metal bar grating is a lattice, or an assembled grid of parallel bearing bars against a series of parallel crossbars that keep the grid sturdy. They’re valuable to cover floors and holes in various buildings, roads and other areas because they provide a sturdy surface while still allowing heat, sound, water, light and air through their openings.

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The value of gratings is clear, which is a big reason why they’re used as flooring, fencing, stair treads, ventilation screens, catwalks and so much more. One common problem with metal grating that you’ll have to take steps to prevent, however, is corrosion.

Methods to Protect Bar Grating From Corrosion

When environmental interactions cause a material to deteriorate over time, we call it corrosion. This natural occurrence takes place with a combination of a metallic surface, moisture and an oxidizing agent. One of the most common forms is rust. If you’re trying to decide how best to protect your metal grating or other metal products, think about the following no matter what step of the process you’re in:

• Choice of metal type: The best way to fight corrosion is to use the best material for the project. Certain types of metal, like stainless steel, galvanized steel, nickel alloy and aluminum, have a higher resistance to corrosion. This makes them a good choice if they’ll be applied in an atmosphere conducive to breakdown.

• Environmental measures: Thoroughly consider the type of environmental elements your metal grating will be exposed to on a regular basis and decide whether you’ll be able to control the environment in any way. Depending on your specific circumstances, you might be able to reduce exposure to seawater or rain. In other situations, you could even take action to control chlorine, oxygen and sulfur around the metal.

• Protective coatings: Applying a coating of some sort to your metal is a cost-effective way to prevent corrosion. Paint is not the best corrosion protection but creates a barrier so that electrochemical charge in a corrosive solution cannot reach underlying metal. Dry powder coating and PVC coating are better options, and several compositions like polyester, epoxy, urethane, nylon and more can achieve this goal.

• Corrosion inhibitors: Certain chemicals will react with your metal’s surface or gases surrounding the area, working to suppress electrochemical reactions that would lead to corrosion. If you choose this method, you’ll apply the inhibitors to your metal grating so they can form a protective film.

• Cleaning and maintenance: Be sure to properly clean any discoloration or surface deposits from your metal grating on a regular basis. If you notice small spots of rust, a fine sandpaper might help. If you need stronger corrosion removal, consider using wire brushes, Dremel tools and household chemicals like white vinegar. Refinish once you’re done removing spots.

• Proper design work: Largely in the hands of your metal fabricators, design modifications can reduce the occurrence of corrosion through simple design and positioning. You don’t want metalwork that traps water and dust, because it would lead to a much faster corrosive process. Additionally, you’ll want your design to encourage air movement and avoid open crevices. Make sure the entire surface is accessible so you can perform regular cleaning and maintenance.

Bar Grating Alternative

An alternative to bar grating is fiberglass grating. Marco stocks a variety of FRP grating and structural shapes. Available in molded or pultruded, FRP grating is a lightweight, non-rusting solution.

Find Your Industrial Bar Grating Supplier

If you need custom bar grating fabrication, look no further. At Marco Specialty Steel, we employ only the most experienced technicians to design one-of-a-kind metal grating that will resist corrosion and suit your unique specifications. We offer press-locked, welded, riveted, swage-locked aluminum and heavy-duty bar grating, among others. Metal stair treads are also available. Contact us now to request a custom quote.

Due to the variety of different materials, classifications and applications, it can be difficult to determine which type of metal grating you should use for your project. To help, we have provided detailed information on the different types of metal gratings. 

What are metal gratings?

Metal gratings are metal products made by perforating metal sheets or joining metal strips to form a grid. They are a metal product that is widely used in various industries such as stairs, platforms, scaffolding and guards. The different processes used to produce metal grating include expansion, perforation, moulding and welding.

Almost any metal can be used to make metal gratings. The most common types are iron, carbon steel, aluminium and stainless steel. Metal grating is commonly used as a non-slip safety surface for applications requiring a secure working platform.

Types of metal used to make metal gratings

The term grating refers to any type of covering or frame used to cover a hole, provide support, use as a platform or provide protection. There is a myriad of materials that can be used to make gratings, from various types of strong plastic to heavy-duty steel and stainless steel. When choosing a grating material, the main concerns are its use, its strength and the need to add ambience to the structure.

Metal grating is used in a variety of conditions and environments as a safety precaution or means of protection.Specialised metal gratings are used in airports, industrial operations and manufacturing facilities and are extremely robust and durable.

Aluminium bar grating

Aluminium bar grating is the ideal choice when a lightweight, corrosion-resistant material is required. Aluminium grating can be used in a variety of industrial applications due to its versatility and durability. A wide variety of aluminium bar grating options are available to you, such as rectangular bar, flat top, riveted, sheet and I-beam grating products. Aluminium grating is non-toxic, flexible and durable. In addition, it is corrosion resistant, lightweight and easy to recycle, fabricate or customise.

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One of the most common methods of manufacturing aluminium grating is through the profile forging process. A drop-forged aluminium bar grating is defined as "a grating in which the cross bars are mechanically locked to the bearing bars at their intersection by deforming or drop-forging the metal." Modern profile forging techniques can be used to provide joints at intersections. Mechanically connected joints give aluminium grating a long life under normal conditions of use. Another common type of aluminium grating is press-lock grating. This type of aluminium grating has strips that are mechanically assembled together. The bars of this aluminum grating are locked into place by a hydraulic pressing process.

Carbon steel grating

Carbon steel grating is a good choice when your project requires a robust material that will not be exposed to significantly corrosive environments. Bar grating is ideal for industrial steel grating floors and metal grating. Plain or serrated steel grating is finished in galvanised, bare steel or painted finishes.

A common grating application is drainage grating, which is an integral part of the interior of industrial plants and the exterior landscape around us. Also known as bar grating trench grating, these grating allow light, heat and liquids to pass through and can therefore be used to screen out unwanted elements and debris in a variety of environments.

Steel grating is also suitable for industrial decking and flooring in chemical plants, food processing facilities and oil and gas refineries. Metal gratings are ideal for these applications as they allow liquids to pass through the material, which helps prevent slippery and hazardous working conditions. In addition, pedestrians rely on metal grating on public footpaths and near fountains and trees.

Stainless Steel Grating

Several grades of stainless steel are used to produce metal grating, including grades 304, 304L, 316 and 316L. Stainless steel metal grating is exceptionally strong and durable, able to withstand corrosive, wet and high humidity conditions. It is produced using various sizes of bars by profile forging or welding methods.

The special characteristics of stainless steel make it ideal for grating in water treatment plants, chemical processing plants and oil and gas production. It is highly resilient and can withstand harsh weather and extreme temperature changes.

Galvanised steel grating

Galvanised steel is carbon steel that has been galvanised to prevent rust and corrosion. Like stainless steel, it is the ideal solution for grating installed outdoors or in highly humid environments. The zinc protection ages slowly, thus extending the life of galvanised steel metal grating.

Most galvanised steel metal grating has an ab load rating and is capable of withstanding 28,000 lbs. or 125 kilonewtons (kn), as classified by Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN).

Are you working with a metal supplier you can rely on? 

BZWIREMESH can do the special treatment for our clients, the steel bar grating can be produced into assemblies according to clients' design.

And the steel bar grating can be produced into irregular shape according to clients' drawings to achieve the installation for irregular areas. We will be happy to help you out!

Want more information on metal bar grating? Feel free to contact us.