1

first
st time
fabrication
Grating Catalogue
Specialist
FTF Manufacturing
Specialist Fabrication Services to Industry

FTF can assist you in your next engineering project with our:

Extensive product knowledge We have over 20 years

involvement in the structural/grating fabrication industry

Large Stock Inventory Levels We carry an extensive

stock range in grating, stanchions and stair treads, all
available from our Perth Factory.

Fast Project Turnaround Times When you are on a tight

project schedule FTF is able to deliver a prompt production
service which consistently out performs our competitors.

Personalized Service At FTF your initial contact oversees

the whole project, from the quotation through to fabrication,
delivery and documentation.

General Fabrication FTF can also provide light to

medium General fabrication works and processing involving
highly repetitive type works.

Rolling & Bending Talk to your FTF Rep about our rolling
& bending capabilities to see if we can be of service to you.

1
 contents

t Fabricat
Contents Page

How to order

Top treatment & finishes

Load/deflection tables
3

5-6

Stair treads 7

GrateShield & GrateMesh 8

Fastening Methods 9

Install Tolerances 10

Manufacturing Tolerances 11

Terminology/Glossary 12

Other Services 13

Capabilities 14

2
 how to order

ordering guide

Use the information below to determine your order code.

Specify whether the grating is to be banded or cut to size only, by referring to the terminology on page 12
Nominate the number of panels required and provide dimensions for width and span of each panel. Span is always the last dimension.
Where large floor areas are required provide a drawing of the area to be covered showing:

grating type
dimensions
span
section size, location, and toe direction of the support steel
location and size of cut outs and removable areas
Example order code:


location of kick plate and nosings
indicate if penetrations are to be split A 325 -1 M P G

Cross bar pitch

Load bar size

Load bar pitch

Material

Loadbar treatment

Finish
Span Direction
Grating and metal needs to be supported in a specific way. The direction that
the load bar runs, or the span, is important for this. Refer to (page 12).
Span is always the last dimension given when referencing a panel size.
Grating has to be supported 90 to the span direction and does not require support
on the other sides.

cross bar pitch

Select between a 50 and 100mm cross bar pitch (the distance between cross bars).

A 100mm B 50mm

load bar size

Choose the dimensions of the load bar in terms of height and width.

325 Indicates a height of 32mm and width of 5mm

load bar pitch

Select between a 30, 40 or 60mm load bar pitch.

Series 1 30mm Series 2 40mm Series 3 60mm

material
Select between mild steel or stainless steel.

M Mild Steel S Stainless Steel

load bar treatment

Select between plain or serrated load bars.

P Plain S Serated

finish
Select between galvanised, bitumen dipped or untreated finishes.

G Galvanised B Bitumen Dipped U Untreated

3
 top treatment & finishes

top treatments

Plain
Our standard grating comprises plain square edge flat load bars, with a 6mm square twisted bar, forge welded on top
of load bars. Although not required under AS 1657 the use of 10mm square bar cleats, every 300 - 400mm will provide
for better slip resistance.

Steel grating can improve its slip resistance by placing them in such a way that you have to walk over the load bars.
In steel grating there is a better slip resistance in patterns with 100mm cross rod centres.

Serrated
Another method for improving slip resistance is the use of serrated grating. The serrations are made up of small
notches cut into the load bar during the slitting of the material as one process, providing a low cost solution for
improving slip resistance.

finishes

Hot Dipped Galvanised

Hot dip galvanising produces durable, abrasion resistant coating of metallic zinc alloy layers metalurgically bonded to
the steel base at a temperature of over 450

All hot dip galvanising conforms to equivalent following standards

Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4680:1999
British Standard BS729-1971
American Standard ASTM-A123-73

Black Bitumen Dipped

An economical paint finish which is best suited for indoor installations, or mining applications in a dry climate.

Note: there is no pre-treatment of steel before dipping. This finish is not recommended in corrosive environments.

Untreated (No surface treatment/protection)

Normally supplied on stock mats or panels to customers who wish to perform their own fabrication on grating.

sample order

Example: 4475 x 1500 Platform

995 995 995 995 455
Shown here is a 4475mm (span) x 1500LBmm platform. The platform is made up of four
1500LB panels with a standard width of 995mm, with one make up panel cut to the nearest
load bar (455mm width). The balance allows for gaps of up to 10mm between panels.
1500 mm

load bar direction

IMPORTANT
When designing and ordering your grating
panels check the direction of the load
bars. As their name suggests load bars
take all the weight placed on the grating
panel. The cross bars are only intended
to hold the load bars together and to help
provide traction. It is the resposability of
the designer/client to ensure that the
CORRECT DESIGN WRONG DESIGN load bar span is running in the correct
Load bar direction is across the span. This panel will collapse due to lack of direction.
support at the ends of the load bars.
4
 typical application loading
Maximum loads for various standards.
Conveyer walkways / Light access platforms 2.5kPa
Standard Australian pedestrian platform loading 4.0kPa

Brittish Standard pedestrian platform loading 5.0kPa

Boiler house platform loading, esp. Power Stations 7.5kPa

maximum span to load

Maximum span in mm for to allow for
Load bar Load bar Maximum span for various loads (with 5 mm deflection) various loads with a 5.00 mm deflec-
Series
code size (mm) 2.5kPa 4.0kPa 5.0kPa 7.5kPa tion.

Series 1 1190 1055 1010 905

203 20x3 Series 2 1120 1000 945 860
Series 3 1140 1020 965 875
Series 1 1355 1210 1155 1040
205 20x5 Series 2 1290 1140 1065 975
Series 3 1185 1050 1005 895
Series 1 1430 1265 1195 1060
253 25x3 Series 2 1320 1180 1125 1010
Series 3 1375 1195 1140 1030
Series 1 1610 1435 1350 1225
255 25x5 Series 2 1490 1335 1265 1150
Series 3 1375 1195 1140 1030
Series 1 1740 1616 1440 1306
323 32x3 Series 2 1600 1420 1340 1200
Series 3 1420 1275 1195 1085
Series 1 1940 1720 1630 1480
325 32x5 Series 2 1790 1600 1510 1375
Series 3 1640 1445 1355 1230
Series 1 2020 1790 1695 1530
403 40x3 Series 2 1880 1685 1580 1435
Series 3 1700 1495 1420 1285
Series 1 2290 2035 1936 1746
405 40x5 Series 2 2115 1900 1790 1620
Series 3 1925 1700 1615 1460
Series 1 2450 2226 2100 1905
455 45x5 Series 2 2315 2070 1950 1770
Series 3 2070 1860 1760 1590
Series 1 2700 2400 2280 2060
505 50x5 Series 2 2610 2230 2110 1920
Series 3 2220 1860 1760 1590
Series 1 2900 2680 2440 2210
555 55x5 Series 2 2690 2400 2250 2060
Series 3 2420 2130 2040 1845
Series 1 3255 2930 2770 2605
655 65x5 Series 2 3045 2720 2560 2315
Series 3 2745 2445 2330 2090

serrated edge conversion

Multiply span by the appropriate
Load bar code Load bar size (mm) Serrated edge conversion factor
conversion factors to determine
203 20x3 NOT RECOMENDED maximum span for various loads
205 20x5 NOT RECOMENDED (with 5mm deflection).

253 25x3 0.876

255 25x5 0.876
323 32x3 0.902
325 32x5 0.902
403 40x3 0.922
405 40x5 0.922
455 45x5 0.930
505 50x5 0.937

5 555
655
55x5
65x5
0.943
0.951
 load/deflection tables

steel grating load/deflection table

Load U Span (mm) 4kPa
Mass
Product Bar - kPa 5mm
kg/m2
Size D 450 600 750 900 1050 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400 2700 3000 3300 3600 Defl span

U 34 19 12 8 6 5 3 2
A203/2 20x3 14.3 980
D 1.8 3.2 5 7.2 9.8 12.9 20.1 29
U 36 20 13 9 6 5 3 2
B205/3 20x5 18.2 1010
D 1.8 3.2 5 7.2 9.8 12.9 20.1 29
U 45 25 16 11 8 6 4 3 2
A203/1 20X3 18.2 1060
D 1.8 3.2 5 7.2 9.8 12.9 20.1 29 39.4
U 56 32 20 14 10 8 5 3 2
A205/2 20X5 22.2 1120
D 1.8 3.2 5 7.2 9.8 12.8 20.1 28.9 39.4
U 53 30 19 13 10 7 5 3 2
A253/2 25X3 17.3 1170
D 1.4 2.6 4 5.8 7.9 10.3 16.1 23.2 31.5
U 74 42 27 18 13 10 6 4 3
A205/1 20X5 28.7 1200
D 1.8 3.2 5 7.2 9.8 12.8 20.1 28.9 39.4
U 56 32 20 14 10 8 5 3 2
B255/3 25X5 21.5 1200
D 1.4 2.6 4 5.8 7.8 10.2 16.0 23.1 31.5
U 70 39 25 17 13 10 6 4 3 2
A253/1 25x3 22.2 1250
D 1.4 2.6 4 5.8 7.8 10.3 16.0 23.1 31.5 41.5
U 88 49 31 22 16 12 8 5 4 3
A255/2 25X5 27.1 1320
D 1.4 2.6 4 5.8 7.8 10.2 16.0 23.1 31.5 41.2
U 87 49 31 21 16 12 8 5 4 3 2
A323/2 32X3 21.4 1400
D 1.1 2 3.1 4.5 6.1 8.0 12.5 18.1 24.6 32.1 40.7
U 115 65 42 29 21 16 10 7 5 4 3
A255/1 25X5 35.2 1420
D 1.4 2.6 4 5.8 7.8 10.3 16.0 23.1 31.5 41.1 49.6
U 92 52 33 23 17 13 8 6 4 3 2
B325/3 32X5 21.4 1440
D 1.1 2 3.1 4.5 6.1 8.0 12.5 18.0 24.6 32.1 40.7
U 114 64 41 28 21 16 10 7 5 4 3
A323/1 32X3 27.7 1510
D 1.1 2 3.1 4.5 6.1 8.0 12.5 18.0 24.6 32.1 40.7
U 144 81 52 36 26 20 13 9 6 5 4
A325/2 32X5 34.0 1590
D 1.1 2 3.1 4.5 6.1 8.0 12.5 18.0 24.6 32.1 40.7
U 135 76 49 34 25 19 12 8 6 4 3
A403/2 40X5 26.1 1660
D 0.9 1.6 2.5 3.6 4.9 6.4 10 14.5 19.7 25.7 32.6
U 144 81 52 36 26 20 13 9 6 5 4 3
B405/3 40X5 31.1 1700
D 0.9 1.6 2.5 3.6 4.9 6.4 10 14.5 19.7 25.7 32.6 40.2
U 190 107 68 47 35 26 17 11 8 6 5
A325/1 32X5 44.4 1710
D 1.1 2 3.1 4.5 6.1 8.0 12.5 18 24.6 32.1 40.7
U 179 100 64 44 33 25 16 11 8 6 5 4
A403/1 40X3 33.9 1780
D 0.9 1.6 2.5 3.6 4.9 6.4 10 14.5 19.7 25.7 32.6 40.2
U 226 127 81 56 41 31 20 14 10 8 6 5
A404/2 40X5 41.8 1890
D 0.9 1.6 2.5 3.6 4.9 6.4 10 14.4 19.7 25.7 32.5 40.2
U 298 167 107 74 52 41 26 18 13 10 8 6
A405/1 40X5 54.8 2030
D 0.9 1.6 2.5 3.6 4.9 6.4 10 14.5 19.7 25.7 32.6 40.2
U 286 160 102 71 52 40 25 17 13 10 7 6 5
A455/2 45X5 46.7 2030
D 0.8 1.4 2.2 3.2 4.3 5.7 8.9 12.9 17.5 22.9 29.0 35.8 43.2
U 377 212 135 94 67 52 33 23 17 13 10 8 6
A455/1 45X5 61.4 2175
D 0.8 1.4 2.2 3.2 4.3 5.7 8.9 12.8 17.5 22.8 28.9 35.8 43.2
U 353 198 127 88 64 49 31 22 16 12 9 7 6 5
A505/2 50X5 51.5 2200
D 0.7 1.3 2 2.9 3.9 5.1 8.0 11.5 15.7 20.5 26.0 32.1 38.9 46.3
U 465 261 167 116 85 65 41 28 21 16 12 10 8 7
A505/1 50X5 67.9 2350
D 0.7 1.3 2 2.9 3.9 5.1 8.0 11.5 15.7 20.5 26.0 32.1 38.9 46.3
U 787 442 283 196 144 110 70 48 35 27 21 17 14 11
A655/1 65X5 87.5 2825
D 0.5 1 1.6 2.2 3.0 4 6.1 8.9 12.1 15.8 20.0 24.8 29.9 35.6
U 1049 500 387 262 193 147 94 66 48 37 29 24 20 16
A755/1 75X6 120.2 3250
D 0.46 1 1.3 1.8 2.5 3.2 5.1 7.3 10.0 13.0 16.5 20.4 24.7 29.4
U = Safe uniformly distributed load in kPa D = Deflection in mm at mid span due to U
Spans to the left of the red line have a deflection of less than 5mm for a 4kPa uniformly distributed load.

For galvanised fabrication add 14% to the mass shown. See page 4 for more details.
Stainless Steel will be provided in either 30x5 or 32x5 depending on availability.
Other combinations of pattern and bar size avilable to order.

6
 stair treads
stair treads

Stair treads can be supplied in any load bar/pitch configuration

required. The treads shown here are for illustrative purposes
only. Overall tread length can be made to any dimension. We
suggest that tread width be selected from the table below with
its recommended widths.
Type T1
Wear rates are higher on stair treads than on general flooring Welded fixing
due to concentrated impacts resulting in bowed treads. FTF Banded ends
recommends that stair treads never have less than a 25 x 5 No nosing
Load Bar size, regardless of main flooring depth.

For safety and strength reasons, Nosing Bars should be

specified. To the eye, when walking on grating stairways,
grating patterns tend to merge with the result that tread edges
become ill defined causing over or under stepping by users.
Strength at the front of the tread is increased with Nosing Bars.
Also deflection resistance of the tread from impact loads is
Type T2
improved. Bolted Fixing
Holed end plates
No nosing
Recommended Widths
Series 1 125 155 185 215 245 275 305
Series 2 125 165 205 245 285 325
Series 3 185 245 305
Bolted Connections
A 45 75 75 100 100 125 125
Type T3
Welded fixing
Banded ends
Floor Plate
nosing

Standard end plate for bolted threads. End plate 65 x

RecommendedWidth 5mm flat with
Front

14mm diam holes

50

Type T4
Bolted Fixing
Holed end plates
25 A Floor Plate
nosing

Note: Special end plate hole centres available on

request.

Recommended max length (mm) Type T5

Load bar size (mm) Welded fixing
Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Banded ends
Abrasive nosing
25 x 5 900 750 500
32 x 5 1300 1200 800
40 x 5 1600 1500 1300

When ordering treads nominate type of grating required.

Example T3 750 x 275 (Made from A325/1 Grating)

Type T6
Bolted Fixing
Holed end plates
Abrasive nosing

7
 grateshield & gratemesh

GrateShield
GrateShield is a merged floor grating with Chequer plate welded on top of
the grating. Designed for high impact floor areas it is an economical alter-
native to using traditional floorplate systems while keeping weight down
to a minimum. Series 1 grating is recommended but other configurations
can be supplied

Product Floor Grating Weight untreated kg/sqm Span at 4kPa UDL 5mm deflection
GS3-255/1MP 3mm 255/1MP 44.49 1390mm
GS5-325/1MP 5mm 325/1MP 64.78 1625mm

how to order

1. Choose the product type required by reference to the recommen-

dations shown above.

Or choose a grating by using the pattern choices on page 3 and

choose an appropriate Load Bar from the Load/Deflection Table on
page 5 & 6.

2. Add the required finish from page 4.

3. Nominate the required thickness of the floorplate.

Examples:
GS3-325/3MP
32 x 5mm load bar, 60mm pitch mild steel
(1 piece A x B span)

GrateMesh
GrateMesh is a merged floor grating with a light gauge expanded mesh
welded on the underside on top of the grating depending on require-
ments. Designed to stop small objects or tools from falling through the
grating. If welded on top it is ideal for mezzanine floors with wheeled trol-
leys and also stops rubbish collecting between load bars.

how to order

1. Select a grating from the pattern choices on page 3 and choose an

appropriate Load Bar from the Load/Deflection Table on page 5 & 6.

2. Add the required finish from page 4.

3. Prefix your choice

GM Examples:
GM-A255/1MPG
All as per drawing supplied.
The standard mesh supplied is a flattened Expanded Metal
SWM 12mm x LWM 30mm.

8
 fastening methods

fastening methods

The most effective and economical way for fastening grating Illustrations 4
is to weld it to the support steelwork. Recommended weld is The FTF Universal Clip is suitable for joining grating
5mm fillet at 1000mm centres. panels as well as fixing them down.

If panels are required to be removable or grating damage

may regularly occur then fixing clips are recommended. Our
clips come in galvanised finish. A minimum of 4 clips per
panel or per sqm.

Once placed down grating panels should immediately

be fixed as they will often move or drift unknowingly off
supporting steelwork.

Illustrations 1-3
Illustrations 1, 2 and 3 show the FTF Universal Clip
(comprising of a double saddle clip, 8mm diameter cheese
head screw and bottom clamping bracket) in use on Series 1,
2 and 3 gratings respectively.

Illustrations 5
FTF universal top clip used with self drilling or thread
cutting screws. Can also be used in locations where there
is no open flange on the supporting steelwork to clamp to.

Illustration 1 - Series 1 grating

Illustration 2 - Series 2 grating

IMPORTANT
To avoid any risk of accident it is recommended that
panels used for temporary access during construction or
mainenance of a site are lightly tack-welded to supporting
steelwork before use. Unfixed panels are likely to shift
gradually as a result of constant traffic and may fall or tip.

Illustration 3 - Series 3 grating

9
 installation tolerances

installation clearances

Span Span
10mm Nominal
Actual cutout will be
to nearest load bar

Fabrication Welding

Width
Banding bars and attachments are welded
with a minimum 3mm fillet to one side of:
every 5th load bar on Series 1 gratings
every 4th load bar on Series 2 gratings
every 3th load bar on Series 3 gratings

Cut-outs around pipes and circular Other welding is applied to cut-outs, splays
ducts to have minimum clearance
Support or circles as appropriate or as requested.
of 25mm all round and will be
opened out to nearest standard
pipe size

10mm Nominal

Load Bar 25mm Bearing

(Typical) minimum (Typical)

10mm Nominal

Load Bar
(Typical)

15mm
Min clearance equal to
rebate angle thickness

NOTE:
clearance can vary relative to
rebate angle straightness

10mm nom.
10mm nom. 10mm nom.

10
 manufacturing tolerances

dimensions & squareness cross bar alignment & spacing

A
5mm

1000mm nominal
Width (W)+/- 6mm

W1 = W +/- 6mm
6mm centre to centre of crossrods
A1 =
A +/ measured randomly across 1500mm
- 6m
m in length

Span +/- 6mm

A and A1 are the overall W and W1 are the
diagonal dimensions dimensions across
Load Bars at opposite
end of panel

cross bar location load bar lean fabrication welding

3mm Edge Bars and attachments are welded with

a minimum 3mm fillet weld to one side of:
Every 5th Load Bar on Series 1 Grating
1.5mm

Every 4th Load Bar on Series 2 Grating

Every 3rd Load Bar on Series 3 Grating

1mm in 10mm

transverse bow longitudinal bow

1/200 of length
1/100 of width

Load bars

Load bars
1/100 of width

stair tread stair tread end flat lean

Width +/- 3mm

1mm in 25mm
Length + 0 - 3mm

11
 terminology/glossary

grating parts processes

Banded
Load Bar Refers to the process of welding a flat bar (normally 5mm) to the
Load bars are the flat metal bars which are the basis of loadbars after they have been cut to size to provide a uniform
grating appearance around all sides of a grating panel. This process also
helps prevent injury from laceration during installation and assists
in keeping the panels flat.

Cut to Size Only

Refers to the process of leaving the panels with a raw cut edge
and not banded as described above.

Exact Size
Refers to the requirement to make the panels to an exact dimen-
sion and not to be adjusted to the nearest width across the
Cross Bar standard pattern of the load bars.
A square bar twisted to form

This is a twisted square bar forged into the top of the load bar.
optional features

measurements

Serrations
Small notches made in the top edge of the load bar to assist in
slip resistance.

Span
Span refers to the lenght of a panel along the load bar, as
Nosing
shown above.
A member attached to or on the leading edge of a stair tread or
at the top of a flight of stairs to assist slip resistance and to give a
clear visual indication of the start of the flight.
Can be
Floor Plate
Yellow Abrasive

Width
Overall dimension of a panel measured at right angles to the
load bars. Always called Width even if greater than the length.
Kick Plate
Heavy section flat bar welded to ends or sides of panels and
around cut outs, etc. when specified. Top edge to be 100mm
above grating generally and is typically 130 x 6.

Cut Out
Grating areas removed from panel to permit passage for installa-
Gross Area tion of pipes, plant and structural and handrail items.
The total area of a panel based on its width and span (regard-
less of cut outs) as shown above. This area is always used Penetrations

12
when calculating invoices. As for cut out but typically within the grating panel and not on the
edge.
 other services

FTF Manufacturing
Catering to all the metal services industry
FTF provides a variety of services catering to the metal services
industry including;

Stanchions & Handrailing

First Time Fabrications handrail and balustrade system with its wide range
of standard components forms an economical, strong and simple form
of handrail and balustrade. FTF can supply stanchions either loose or in
prefabricated panels to your specific needs, providing you with safe access to
all areas. We can provide stanchion/prefabricated panels in galvanised steel,
aluminium or stainless steel to suit your requirements.

General Fabrication
FTF can also provide light to medium General fabrication works and processing
involving highly repetitive type works.

Conveyor/Safety Guards
From fully enclosed units to simple side guards with mesh FTF has expertise
in the manufacture of conveyor/safety guards, providing a cost effective
alternative to manufacturing them in house, leaving you to focus on your core
business manufacturing.

Pipe Bending
FTF has extensive experience in pipe bending, we can provide most types of
bends required and can cope with high volume bending projects.

Pipe/Plate Rolling
FTF can provide rolling services for both mild steel plate and pipe, contact
your FTF rep for more information on our capabilities.

13
 capabilities

FTF Capabilities

4 Head Stanchion Drill

Dual Head Pipe Bender Semi Auto Hydraulic Cold Saws

Bandsaw

Bandsaw Presses

Cropper
Pipe Bender
Pipe Rollers

Cosen 300NC Bandsaw Pipe Dream

Dot Peen 14
iTread
iTread is a tough walkway system designed for aggressive environments. Use
it to safely access rooftops, access platforms, factory environments: all those
hard to reach destinations it might otherwise be too dangerous to venture.

Designed to be lightweight and easy to handle, iTread is simple and quick

to install. Manufactured from robust aluminium alloy this walkway system is
strong, and best of all, the system is corrosion and maintenance free. Versatile,
resilient, and built to last, iTread is the single solution to your walkway needs.

Handrailing
First Time Fabrications handrailing system is an economical, strong and
simple form of handrailing. Specifically manufactured to suit Australian
Standards and conditions, it is equally at home in industrial, commercial,
municipal and general applications.

FRP
Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) grating is a moulded, one-piece fibreglass
reinforced plastic grating, available in standard panels or fabricated into
panels of the shape you require to fit your floor.

First Time Fabrication

Ph (08) 9452 7806
Fax (08) 9459 9956
www.firsttimefabrication.com.au
sales@firsttimefabrication.com.au
Unit 3, 2 Baltic Court
Maddington 6109 WA