A solid steel deck across a platform or walkway holds standing water, oil and washdown fluid until someone slips in it, which is exactly the failure that galvanised steel open mesh flooring is built to remove by letting liquid, dirt and debris fall straight through the panel instead of pooling on the surface. Welded from load-bearing bars running the length of each panel, it gives a rigid, walk-on deck for platforms, walkways, mezzanines and stair landings wherever a floor needs to drain as well as carry weight.

Why open bar decking outperforms solid plate

Solid chequer plate looks tidy but it traps rainwater, hose-down water and spilled liquids on the walking surface, and a film of oil or algae on solid steel is one of the more common causes of a slip on an outdoor platform. This panel is fabricated from 25x5mm bearing bars set on a 34/100mm pitch, welded to cross bars at each intersection, so the deck is almost entirely open area: water, grit and dropped fasteners pass straight through instead of collecting underfoot. The same open structure sheds snow and ice faster than a solid deck and lets light and air through to whatever is running beneath the platform, which matters on plant and process structures where you need to see pipework or cable runs from above. Panels are supplied as a rigid welded unit, not loose bars, so there is no on-site assembly beyond fixing the panel down.

• Open bar deck – water, oil and debris drain through instead of pooling on the surface
• 25x5mm load bars – rigid underfoot with no flex on a properly supported span
• Hot-dip galvanised option – corrosion protection for outdoor and washdown areas
• Self-colour option – lower cost for dry indoor plant rooms and stores
• Cuttable on site – trim with an abrasive saw to fit an opening, then band the cut edge

Where it's used

This grating panel is specified for access platforms, walkways, mezzanine floors, plant room decking, trench and drainage covers, and stair landings in industrial, water treatment, agricultural and warehouse settings. Galvanised panels are the standard choice anywhere the deck sees rain, washdown or high humidity; self-colour panels suit dry, sheltered indoor plant and storage decks where corrosion isn't a concern.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Choose galvanised where the panel will see rain, washdown, high humidity or any outdoor exposure; the hot-dip zinc coating is what stops the cut and welded steel edges rusting through over years of exposure. Choose self-colour only for dry, covered indoor decking such as a mezzanine store or plant room, where the lower price reflects the lack of corrosion protection rather than a lower load rating. Pick the 1000mm x 1000mm panel for smaller openings, inspection hatches or where several panels need to be handled and fitted by one person; use the 2000mm x 1000mm panel to cover a longer run of walkway with fewer joints and fixing points. Always check your bearer spacing and point loads against a structural engineer's figures before ordering, since the safe span for open bar decking depends on the support spacing, not on the panel alone.

Installation, use & care

Panels sit on and are fixed to supporting steelwork with standard grating clips; fit clips at every bearer intersection around the panel perimeter. If a panel needs to be cut to fit an opening, use an abrasive metal-cutting disc and grind or band the cut ends so the loose bar ends can't work free under foot traffic. Galvanised panels need no ongoing maintenance beyond an occasional visual check for coating damage at cut edges; self-colour panels should be kept dry and inspected periodically for surface rust, since they carry no corrosion coating.

FAQ

Can I walk on this before it's bolted down?
No. Treat an unfixed panel as unsafe to stand on; fix every panel to the supporting steelwork with grating clips before it takes foot traffic.

Will the self-colour finish rust outdoors?
Yes, in time. Self-colour panels carry no corrosion protection and are intended for dry indoor use only; choose galvanised for anywhere exposed to rain or washdown.

Can these panels be cut down to a non-standard size?
Yes, both sizes can be cut on site with an abrasive saw. Band or grind the cut edge afterwards so the exposed bar ends don't catch or work loose.

What size opening does one 1000 x 1000mm panel cover?
It covers a one metre square opening on suitably spaced bearers; check your bearer centres and required load rating before assuming a single panel will span unsupported.

Ordering & delivery

Select your panel size and finish above; each option is priced and stocked individually. These are heavy steel panels dispatched on a pallet, so please allow for kerbside delivery and mechanical offloading. See the specification table and size and fitting guide further down this page if you're unsure which panel or finish suits your platform.