3 Important Maintenance Tips for Fiberglass Grating
Fiberglass grating is a popular alternative to stainless steel. Fiberglass grating is rust proof, slip resistant, lightweight & useful in unforgiving environments. It is also nonconductive, making it a good fit in areas where electricity is present.
With all of this said, fiberglass grating is an excellent choice for any IMC floor trough. However, at the end of the day, it needs to be maintained just like its stainless steel counterpart. How can this be achieved?
In this article, we’ll go over 3 vital maintenance tips to keep your fiberglass grating looking fresh & functional. Let’s start off with the most important maintenance activity.
The Art of Cleaning
Grating sees vast amounts of traffic per day – whether be it foot or vehicular. This means debris & dirt will accumulate on the surface of the grating, constantly wearing down the look & feel. This is where you must step in to correct the problem.
First, try to sweep away any loose dirt or dust with a broom or a soft brush. After that, rinse away the remaining residue with a hose or a low-to-medium pressure washer (under 3,000 psi preferably). Do not use high pressure!
After that, you’ll want to get rid of any unsightly stains. Use a soft brush with a mild soap or detergent to make your grating come back to life. Do not use harsh chemicals or acids, which can break down the fiberglass surface quickly.
Try to perform all the above steps on a weekly basis & you’ll be on the right track.
Structural Integrity Checks
Fiberglass grating is tough, but destructible under harsh conditions. As mentioned above, this grating sees daily traffic from various sources so the body will become worn over time.
Check the grating for any structural warping, discoloration, or cracks. Adhesive or resin touch up can fix small damage, but larger damage will require replacements. Try to perform these checks monthly.
Monitor Slip Resistance
In wet or oily environments, slip resistance is vital. Ensure the gritted anti-slip surface of your grating is still in good condition. This can be achieved by looking for fading, fiber breakout (hair-like glass fibers showing on the surface).
To restore slip resistance, use a fresh resin & grit coating. Some examples of useful resins are epoxy, vinyl ester & polyester. Some examples of grit coating are silica sand & aluminum oxide. Try to monitor this on a quarterly basis.
IMC/Teddy manufactures pultruded fiberglass (PFG) & molded resin fiberglass (CH) grating alongside its standard stainless steel gratings. Every IMC fiberglass grating is custom cut to fit your IMC floor trough easily & designed for long term use. For more surface coating maintenance instructions, click here.
