How to Specify FRP Grating in an RFQ: 12-Point Checklist

In short: A good FRP grating RFQ tells the supplier where the grating goes, what it touches, how far it spans and what it must carry. With those facts the supplier can choose the right type, depth, mesh and resin. Vague requests such as "38 mm grating, 100 m²" lead to quotes that cannot be compared and to grating that may not suit the job. Use the 12 points below and attach a drawing whenever you can. FIBROVX builds every grating order to the project: panel size, resin, color, surface and cut-outs.

Why the RFQ matters

FRP grating is not one product. Molded and pultruded grating behave differently, and depth, mesh, resin and surface each change price and performance. If the RFQ leaves these open, each supplier fills the gaps with its own assumptions, and the cheapest quote is often the one that assumed the least.

A complete RFQ gives you:

• quotes you can compare line by line;
• fewer clarification rounds and a faster lead time;
• grating that matches the loads, chemicals and safety rules on site.

The 12-point checklist

1. Application and location. Walkway, platform, trench cover, stair landing or vehicle area; indoor or outdoor.
2. Chemicals and temperature. Name each chemical, its concentration and whether contact is splash, spill or immersion. Give the normal and maximum temperature.
3. Grating type. Molded, pultruded, or "supplier to recommend". See molded vs pultruded FRP grating.
4. Depth and mesh. For example 38 mm deep with 38 × 38 mm mesh, or state the open area or ball-passage limit you need.
5. Area, panel size and quantity. Total area plus the panel sizes you prefer, or the layout so panels can be cut to fit.
6. Span and supports. Clear span between supports, support direction and the width of the support flange.
7. Loads and deflection limit. Uniform load (kPa or psf), any concentrated load and its footprint, and the allowed deflection. See how to read FRP grating load tables.
8. Surface. Concave (meniscus), grit-top or covered. See FRP grating surface options.
9. Resin system. Orthophthalic, isophthalic, vinyl ester or phenolic, or let the supplier propose one from your chemical list.
10. Fire requirement. For example a flame spread index limit to ASTM E84, if your code or client requires one.
11. Color and UV exposure. RAL code or sample, and whether the grating is outdoors.
12. Fabrication, accessories and documents. Cut-outs, banding, hold-down clips, kick plates, drawings, test reports, packing and delivery terms.

Details that change the price

These are general cost drivers. Ask for each to be priced as a separate line so you can see the effect.

Example: a filled-in RFQ

Here is how the 12 points look for a typical walkway. The project details are an example only.

This RFQ is about one page long, but it answers almost every question a supplier would ask. The supplier can now check depth against span and load, choose a resin, and quote the cut-outs and clips as separate lines.

Stating loads clearly

Loads are the item buyers most often leave out. In the US, a common starting point is the building code's minimum live loads. The IBC (Table 1607.1) and ASCE/SEI 7 give, for example:

These are code minimums for buildings. Your design basis may require more, for example for equipment, carts or stored material. State the load your engineer has chosen, not just the code category. For a concentrated load, also state the footprint, because a load on a small pad is more severe than the same load spread over a large plate.

Deflection needs its own number. FRP is less stiff than steel, so a grating that is strong enough can still feel springy. Many FRP grating load tables show deflection for pedestrian comfort, often with a limit such as 6.4 mm (1/4 in). The NAAMM metal grating manual uses the same 0.25 in (6.4 mm) as the deflection recommended for pedestrian comfort. Give the limit you want so every supplier checks against it.

Units and conversions

Mixed units cause many RFQ errors. Use one system and give the other in brackets where possible.

What to attach

• a plan drawing with support lines and cut-outs (DWG, DXF or PDF);
• the chemical list with concentrations and temperatures;
• the load and deflection criteria from your design basis;
• any client specification or code clause that applies.

How to compare the quotes

When the quotes come back, put them side by side. Check that each one answers the same questions:

If one quote is much cheaper, look for a missing line, a thinner grating, a cheaper resin or a weaker surface. A quote that states its assumptions is easier to compare than one that does not.

Customization

Every FIBROVX grating order is made to order. We cut panels to your layout, add cut-outs and banding, and offer standard and custom colors, resin systems and surfaces. Send your drawing and we will check spans and propose a panel layout. See FRP molded grating and the grating, profiles and access range.

Common mistakes

• Giving only area and depth. Without span and loads, depth cannot be checked.
• Leaving out chemicals. Resin choice depends on them.
• No deflection limit. FRP is less stiff than steel, so deflection often controls.
• Forgetting cut-outs. Cutting on site takes time, and every cut edge must be sealed.
• No packing or delivery terms. These change the landed cost.
• Mixing units. A load in kPa and a span in feet invites errors.
• No concentrated load footprint. The same load on a small pad is more severe.

Key terms

• RFQ: Request for quotation.
• Clear span: Distance between the inside edges of supports.
• Banding: A strip bonded around a cut edge or opening.
• Open area: The percentage of the panel surface that is open.

Watch: FRP Grating RFQ Checklist in 27 Seconds

FAQ

What is the minimum information for an FRP grating quote?

Application, chemicals, area, span, loads and surface. With these a supplier can propose the type, depth, mesh and resin.

Should I specify molded or pultruded grating?

If you know the answer, state it. If not, give span, load and chemical data and ask for a recommendation.

Do I need a drawing?

It is not required for a budget price, but a drawing gives a more accurate quote and allows panels to be cut to fit.

Can I ask for samples?

Yes. Samples help confirm color, surface and finish before ordering.

What load should I put in the RFQ?

Use the load from your design basis. As a starting point, the IBC and ASCE/SEI 7 list 40 psf plus a 300 lb concentrated load for maintenance catwalks and 60 psf for walkways and elevated platforms other than exitways.

Can I get a quote from a photo?

A photo with key dimensions is enough for a budget price. For a firm quote, we need the span, loads, chemicals and a layout.

Should each item be priced separately?

Yes. Ask for grating, fabrication, accessories, documents and packing as separate lines so quotes can be compared.

Related guides

• FRP Grating Guide
• FRP Grating Mesh Sizes
• FRP CAD Drawings: Which Files to Request
• FRP Chemical Resistance Guide
• FRP Grating Thickness Selection
• FRP Grating Fire Rating: ASTM E84
• Industries we serve

Sources

• ASTM E84, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials: https://www.astm.org/e0084-23.html
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22, Walking-working surfaces, general requirements: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.22
• NAAMM, Metal Bar Grating Manual (ANSI/NAAMM MBG 531-24; engineering manual MBG 534 uses 0.25 in for pedestrian comfort): https://naamm.org/publications/metal-bar-grating-manual/
• International Code Council, IBC 2021 Chapter 16, Structural Design (Table 1607.1 live loads): https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IBC2021P2/chapter-16-structural-design
• ASCE/SEI 7, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures: https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/asce-7
• NIST, Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SP 811), conversion factors: https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811