Why GRP Flooring is the Future
- Madeleine Mankey
- Mar 5
- 6 min read
GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) flooring is made from a combination of glass fibres and resin, which creates a strong, durable, and lightweight material. Let’s dive into the benefits and applications of several GRP Flooring solutions.
What are the Benefits of GRP Flooring?
GRP flooring is a smart choice for long term safety solutions. Choosing GRP will bring numerous advantages to the table – here’s what makes the material so special:
Strength
One of the biggest draws of GRP flooring is its remarkable strength. GRP is highly resistant to impact, cracking, and wear, meaning it can handle heavy foot traffic and the rigors of industrial settings.
Durability
As well as its strength, GRP is highly durable and long-lasting, making it an excellent choice for long term safety solutions. This makes it ideal for high-demand environments, including warehouses, factories, chemical plants and more.
Lightweight
Despite its strength, GRP flooring is incredibly lightweight. This makes it easier to transport and install, reducing both labour costs and installation time compared to heavier alternatives like metal. As explored in further detail below, this makes it an attractive solution for structures where weight must be factored, such as bridges.
Non-conductive and Fire-resistant
Unlike metal, GRP is non-conductive, meaning electrical currents will be slowed or resisted by the material. This makes GRP an exceptional choice for locations that service railways, substations, or anywhere that might be exposed to electrical currents. The non-combustible properties of GRP products also meet the high standards of Fire Performance requirements in many industries.
UV, Corrosion, Chemical Resistance
GRP flooring has exceptional resistance to chemicals, oils, and other corrosive substances. It’s an excellent choice for environments where exposure to harsh chemicals, oils, or other liquids is a concern—think factories, chemical plants, or garages. It is also highly resistant to UV rays, meaning it is suited well to outdoor applications.
Anti-slip
GRP flooring can be customized with slip-resistant surfaces, making it a safer option for environments where wet conditions or exposure to water, ice or oil are common, such as bridges, ports or industrial facilities. The added texture helps to reduce the risk of accidents, providing an extra safety measure in high-risk areas.
Sustainable and Green
GRP flooring is a more sustainable option compared to other flooring materials. GRP takes up to 75% less energy to produce than steel. Due to its lightweight nature, this reduces the overall emissions it takes to transport the goods, while its durability reduces the need for frequent replacements. GRP is a long term solution that can vastly improve the carbon footprint of a project.
High Visibility and Aesthetic
GRP flooring can be manufactured in a variety of colours and textures, making it adaptable to a wide range of design aesthetics. Our primary colour of manufacture is high-vis yellow, which contrasts well with other elements in an industrial workspace. Green is another popular choice for outdoor use, and we can also supply in grey or black for a more neutral aesthetic.
What is GRP Flooring used for?
There are various types of GRP flooring, each with specific features that make them suitable for different applications. Let’s look at the most popular options:
Moulded GRP Grating Panels
are one of the most commonly used GRP flooring solutions. Sold in either 25mm or 38mm thickness, we can provide these panels in a range of sizes and colours. These panels form the building blocks of a flooring surface, and they can also be cut to size to suit your needs. We also sell clips to suit either thickness that can help to create a fully customisable flooring solution.
The below table relates to items we hold in stock, however different panel sizes, depths and colours can all be catered for by getting in touch with our Sales team.
GRP Solid Top Grating
is a flooring solution that does not feature the grating holes featured in the Moulded GRP Grating Panels above. This makes GRP Solid Top more suitable for commercial uses, for instance in fire escapes that serve the public where narrow shoe heels could get stuck. By contrast, the Solid Top provides a sturdy alternative that is equally non-slip as its Moulded Grating counterpart.
GRP Trench Covers
are a first-rate solution for installing in new structures or to replace old timber, steel or concrete covers. Thanks to GRP’s superior corrosion and chemical resistance, installing GRP ensures a long-lasting and low-maintenance option to cover holes and trenches. They can be installed quickly and easily thanks to their lightweight material and cut to any size to suit the specs of your project.
GRP Riser Flooring
or floor risers are a safety measure installed on construction sites to cover open shafts where air conditioning, electrical services and water pipes are installed in a building. There are also empty shafts that are installed to pump water in the event of a fire called wet or dry riser shafts. These require a flooring solution to protect emergency service workers who may need to access these systems. GRP grating is an excellent choice due to its non-conductive and fire-resistant properties.
GRP Work Platforms,Step Over Access and Walkways
are structures supplied based on your drawings, fully customisable and fabricated to order. They are the best solution for installing new walkways or platforms in factories, ports, bridges, electrical substations and many more applications. Thanks to the low weight of GRP these structures are easy to transport up and down the country at a far reduced cost than their steel counterparts.
GRP Anti Slip Flat Sheet
is a layer of GRP material that can be laid over pre-existing ramps to add excellent GRP non-slip properties. These sheets can be installed over stone, concrete, metal – they are quick and easy to install on all common surfaces and can provide a cheaper, lightweight option to enhance slip resistance.
GRP Nosing and Tread Covers
are used on steps and stairs to add slip resistance on one of the most dangerous areas for trips and falls. GRP nosing can also provide an important visual contrast that helps increase the accessibility of stairs and comply with DDA guidance.
GRP Flooring in Action
Thanks to its impressive array of benefits, GRP flooring is used in a variety of applications across multiple industries:
Kite Group supplied Moulded GRP Grating to replace long steel panels underneath the walkway of the bridge, essential for maintenance workers. Due to the exposure to sea spray, a non-slip and non-corrosive substance was a must. The huge reduction in weight to the bridge was another plus thanks to GRP’s lightweight properties. Overall thanks to its advantages, GRP proved to be the most cost-effective long term solution to service the Forth Bridge.
This substation near Keith in Moray is the largest in the UK and second largest in Europe, designed to bring renewable energy from the north of Scotland to the national grid. Kite Group supplied GRP Grating Panels, a prime choice for their non-conductive properties and fire resistance. The panels provided secure safe access for landline cables and pipes and allowed workers to access points for inspection, maintenance, and daily checks.
As part of a job to enhance overall safety of the port, we supplied GRP walkways which will prove a long-lasting flooring solution, due to their superior corrosion resistance. Due to the myriad dangers of working in a busy port next to the open water, with outdoor areas exposed to water and ice, and potentially oil, slip resistance is essential.
Kite supplied a customised GRP platform for our customer who required a durable, safe, and permanent platform to facilitate machine testing. Part of the customer’s remit was for the platform to be robust, non-conductive, corrosion and chemical-resistant, highly visible and weigh lighter than steel. Our GRP solution met all of these requirements.
Is GRP Flooring the Right Choice for You?
GRP flooring stands out as a durable, versatile, and green solution that can meet the needs of a wide range of environments. GRP offers the strength and resilience required to withstand wear and tear while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Its resistance to chemicals, water, UV rays, and impacts, combined with its easy maintenance, lightweight nature, and slip-resistant options, makes it an increasingly popular flooring choice in today’s market. GRP flooring proves itself as an excellent long-term investment that combines both function and form.
If you're looking for a flooring option that promises longevity, durability, and versatility, GRP flooring could be the ideal choice for your next project.
Speak to Kite today to see if your upcoming project could benefit from the enhanced safety a crash barrier can provide.
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