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.

contents

Fabricat

Contents Page
How to order

Top treatment & finishes

Load/deflection tables

5-6

Stair treads

GrateShield & GrateMesh

Fastening Methods

Install Tolerances

10

Manufacturing Tolerances

11

Terminology/Glossary 12
Other Services

13

Capabilities 14

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
location of kick plate and nosings
indicate if penetrations are to be split

Example order code:

cross bar pitch

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

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

Stainless Steel

load bar treatment

Select between plain or serrated load bars.

Plain

Serated

finish
Select between galvanised, bitumen dipped or untreated finishes.

G Galvanised
3

B Bitumen Dipped

U Untreated

Finish

Loadbar treatment

Material

Load bar pitch

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.

Load bar size

A 325 -1 M P G
Cross bar pitch

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
995

995

995

995

Example: 4475 x 1500 Platform

455

1500 mm

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.

load bar direction

IMPORTANT

CORRECT DESIGN

Load bar direction is across the span.

WRONG DESIGN

This panel will collapse due to lack of

support at the ends of the load bars.

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
load bar span is running in the correct
direction.

typical application loading

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 loads for various standards.

maximum span to load

Load bar
code

Load bar
size (mm)

203

20x3

205

20x5

253

25x3

255

25x5

323

32x3

325

32x5

403

40x3

405

40x5

455

45x5

505

50x5

555

55x5

655

65x5

Maximum span for various loads (with 5 mm deflection)

Series
Series 1

2.5kPa

4.0kPa

5.0kPa

1190

1055

1010
945

7.5kPa
905

Series 2

1120

1000

Series 3

1140

1020

965

875

Series 1

1355

1210

1155

1040

860

975

Series 2

1290

1140

1065

Series 3

1185

1050

1005

895

Series 1

1430

1265

1195

1060

Series 2

1320

1180

1125

1010

Series 3

1375

1195

1140

1030

Series 1

1610

1435

1350

1225

Series 2

1490

1335

1265

1150

Series 3

1375

1195

1140

1030

Series 1

1740

1616

1440

1306

Series 2

1600

1420

1340

1200

Series 3

1420

1275

1195

1085

Series 1

1940

1720

1630

1480
1375

Series 2

1790

1600

1510

Series 3

1640

1445

1355

1230

Series 1

2020

1790

1695

1530
1435

Series 2

1880

1685

1580

Series 3

1700

1495

1420

1285

Series 1

2290

2035

1936

1746

Series 2

2115

1900

1790

1620

Series 3

1925

1700

1615

1460

Series 1

2450

2226

2100

1905

Series 2

2315

2070

1950

1770

Series 3

2070

1860

1760

1590

Series 1

2700

2400

2280

2060

Series 2

2610

2230

2110

1920
1590

Series 3

2220

1860

1760

Series 1

2900

2680

2440

2210

Series 2

2690

2400

2250

2060
1845

Series 3

2420

2130

2040

Series 1

3255

2930

2770

2605

Series 2

3045

2720

2560

2315

Series 3

2745

2445

2330

Maximum span in mm for to allow for

various loads with a 5.00 mm deflection.

2090

serrated edge conversion

Load bar code

Load bar size (mm)

Serrated edge conversion factor

203

20x3

NOT RECOMENDED

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

555

55x5

0.943

205

655

20x5

65x5

NOT RECOMENDED

0.951

Multiply span by the appropriate

conversion factors to determine
maximum span for various loads
(with 5mm deflection).

load/deflection tables
steel grating load/deflection table
Product

Load
Bar
Size

Mass
kg/m2

A203/2

20x3

14.3

B205/3

20x5

18.2

A203/1

20X3

18.2

A205/2

20X5

22.2

A253/2

25X3

17.3

A205/1

20X5

28.7

B255/3

25X5

21.5

A253/1

25x3

22.2

A255/2

25X5

27.1

A323/2

32X3

21.4

A255/1

25X5

35.2

B325/3

32X5

21.4

A323/1

32X3

27.7

A325/2

32X5

34.0

A403/2

40X5

26.1

B405/3

40X5

31.1

A325/1

32X5

44.4

A403/1

40X3

33.9

A404/2

40X5

41.8

A405/1

40X5

54.8

A455/2

45X5

46.7

A455/1

45X5

61.4

A505/2

50X5

51.5

A505/1

50X5

67.9

A655/1

65X5

87.5

A755/1

75X6

120.2

Span (mm)

U
- kPa
D

450

600

750

900

1050

1200

1500

1800

34

19

12

1.8

3.2

7.2

9.8

12.9

20.1

2100

2400

2700

3000

3300

3600

980

29

36

20

13

1.8

3.2

7.2

9.8

12.9

20.1

29

4kPa
5mm
Defl span

1010

45

25

16

11

1.8

3.2

7.2

9.8

12.9

20.1

29

39.4

56

32

20

14

10

1.8

3.2

7.2

9.8

12.8

20.1

28.9

39.4

53

30

19

13

10

1.4

2.6

5.8

7.9

10.3

16.1

23.2

31.5

74

42

27

18

13

10

1.8

3.2

7.2

9.8

12.8

20.1

28.9

39.4

56

32

20

14

10

1.4

2.6

5.8

7.8

10.2

16.0

23.1

31.5

1060
1120
1170
1200
1200

70

39

25

17

13

10

1.4

2.6

5.8

7.8

10.3

16.0

23.1

31.5

41.5

1250

88

49

31

22

16

12

1.4

2.6

5.8

7.8

10.2

16.0

23.1

31.5

41.2

87

49

31

21

16

12

1.1

3.1

4.5

6.1

8.0

12.5

18.1

24.6

32.1

40.7

115

65

42

29

21

16

10

1.4

2.6

5.8

7.8

10.3

16.0

23.1

31.5

41.1

49.6

92

52

33

23

17

13

1.1

3.1

4.5

6.1

8.0

12.5

18.0

24.6

32.1

40.7

114

64

41

28

21

16

10

1.1

3.1

4.5

6.1

8.0

12.5

18.0

24.6

32.1

40.7

144

81

52

36

26

20

13

1.1

3.1

4.5

6.1

8.0

12.5

18.0

24.6

32.1

40.7

135

76

49

34

25

19

12

0.9

1.6

2.5

3.6

4.9

6.4

10

14.5

19.7

25.7

32.6

144

81

52

36

26

20

13

0.9

1.6

2.5

3.6

4.9

6.4

10

14.5

19.7

25.7

32.6

40.2

190

107

68

47

35

26

17

11

1.1

3.1

4.5

6.1

8.0

12.5

18

24.6

32.1

40.7

179

100

64

44

33

25

16

11

0.9

1.6

2.5

3.6

4.9

6.4

10

14.5

19.7

25.7

32.6

40.2

226

127

81

56

41

31

20

14

10

0.9

1.6

2.5

3.6

4.9

6.4

10

14.4

19.7

25.7

32.5

40.2

298

167

107

74

52

41

26

18

13

10

0.9

1.6

2.5

3.6

4.9

6.4

10

14.5

19.7

25.7

32.6

40.2

286

160

102

71

52

40

25

17

13

10

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

377

212

135

94

67

52

33

23

17

13

10

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

353

198

127

88

64

49

31

22

16

12

0.7

1.3

2.9

3.9

5.1

8.0

11.5

15.7

20.5

26.0

32.1

38.9

46.3

465

261

167

116

85

65

41

28

21

16

12

10

0.7

1.3

2.9

3.9

5.1

8.0

11.5

15.7

20.5

26.0

32.1

38.9

46.3

787

442

283

196

144

110

70

48

35

27

21

17

14

11

0.5

1.6

2.2

3.0

6.1

8.9

12.1

15.8

20.0

24.8

29.9

35.6

1049

500

387

262

193

147

94

66

48

37

29

24

20

16

0.46

1.3

1.8

2.5

3.2

5.1

7.3

10.0

13.0

16.5

20.4

24.7

29.4

1320
1400
1420
1440
1510
1590
1660
1700
1710
1780
1890
2030
2030
2175
2200
2350
2825
3250

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.

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
Welded fixing
Banded ends
No nosing

Wear rates are higher on stair treads than on general flooring

due to concentrated impacts resulting in bowed treads. FTF
recommends that stair treads never have less than a 25 x 5
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
improved.

Type T2
Bolted Fixing
Holed end plates
No nosing

Recommended Widths
Series 1
Series 2

125

125

155

185

165

185

Series 3

215

205

245

275

245

285

245

305
325
305

Bolted Connections
A

45

75

75

100

100

Standard end plate for bolted threads.

125

Type T3
Welded fixing
Banded ends
Floor Plate
nosing

End plate 65 x
5mm flat with
14mm diam holes

RecommendedWidth

50

Front

125

25

Type T4
Bolted Fixing
Holed end plates
Floor Plate
nosing

Note: Special end plate hole centres available on

request.

Load bar size (mm)

25 x 5
32 x 5
40 x 5

Recommended max length (mm)

Series 1
900

1300
1600

Series 2

Series 3

750

500

1500

1300

1200

Type T5
Welded fixing
Banded ends
Abrasive nosing

800

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

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 alternative 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 recommendations 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 requirements. Designed to stop small objects or tools from falling through the
grating. If welded on top it is ideal for mezzanine floors with wheeled trolleys 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.

fastening methods
fastening methods
The most effective and economical way for fastening grating
is to weld it to the support steelwork. Recommended weld is
5mm fillet at 1000mm centres.

Illustrations 4
The FTF Universal Clip is suitable for joining grating
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

installation tolerances
installation clearances
Span

Span
Nominal
Width

Actual cutout will be

to nearest load bar

10mm

Fabrication Welding
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

ducts to have minimum clearance
of 25mm all round and will be
opened out to nearest standard
pipe size

Support

Other welding is applied to cut-outs, splays

or circles as appropriate or as requested.

10mm Nominal

Load Bar
(Typical)

25mm Bearing
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

W1 = W +/- 6mm

1000mm nominal

5mm

Width (W)+/- 6mm

A1 =

&

A +/

6mm centre to centre of crossrods

measured randomly across 1500mm
in length

- 6m

Span +/- 6mm

A and A1 are the overall
diagonal dimensions

W and W1 are the

dimensions across
Load Bars at opposite
end of panel

cross bar location load bar lean

fabrication welding
Edge Bars and attachments are welded with
a minimum 3mm fillet weld to one side of:
Every 5th Load Bar on Series 1 Grating
Every 4th Load Bar on Series 2 Grating
Every 3rd Load Bar on Series 3 Grating

1.5mm

3mm

1mm in 10mm

longitudinal bow

Load bars

1/100 of width

Load bars

1/200 of length

1/100 of width

transverse bow

stair tread end flat lean

Width +/- 3mm

stair tread

Length + 0 - 3mm

11

1mm in 25mm

terminology/glossary
grating parts

Load Bar
Load bars are the flat metal bars which are the basis of
grating

processes

Banded
Refers to the process of welding a flat bar (normally 5mm) to the
loadbars after they have been cut to size to provide a uniform
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.

Cross Bar
A square bar twisted to form
This is a twisted square bar forged into the top of the load bar.

Exact Size
Refers to the requirement to make the panels to an exact dimension and not to be adjusted to the nearest width across the
standard pattern of the load bars.

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
shown above.

Width
Overall dimension of a panel measured at right angles to the
load bars. Always called Width even if greater than the length.

Gross Area
The total area of a panel based on its width and span (regardless of cut outs) as shown above. This area is always used
when calculating invoices.

Nosing
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

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 installation of pipes, plant and structural and handrail items.
Penetrations
As for cut out but typically within the grating panel and not on the
edge.

12

other services

Catering

FTF Manufacturing

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.

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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

Dot Peen

Pipe Dream

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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