Aluminum Grating Walkways and Lightweight Platforms
Aluminum walkways are specified where the structure cannot carry steel, or where the panel must be removed by hand: ship decks, roof plant platforms, mobile access and food plants. Platforms and walkways account for most grating sold worldwide, and most of the complaints as well: panels that bounce, panels that rattle, and panels whose cut edges rust first.
Aluminum grating for platform walkway
Aluminum bar grating weighs about a third of an equivalent steel panel and needs no coating: the natural oxide layer re-forms if scratched, so a scratched panel stays silver instead of rusting. It is used on ship decks, roof plant platforms, facades and anywhere the structure is weight-limited.
The limits are strength and galvanic corrosion. Aluminum is softer than steel, so panels in impact areas dent, and it must be isolated from steel or stainless fixings in wet conditions.
Selection notes for this application
For a uniformly loaded walkway carrying pedestrians, the practical rule is 25x3 for spans up to 600 mm, 30x5 up to 900 mm, and 40x5 up to 1200 mm. Add one size for maintenance access with tools, and two sizes where a pallet truck or forklift crosses the panel. Deflection, not strength, governs: keep it under L/200 for walkways and L/400 where people may stand still for long periods.
- Panel depth and support spacing set by aluminum grating
- Surface: serrated or gritted where wet or oily
- Fixings isolated from dissimilar metals
- Cut edges sealed, passivated or galvanized on site
Typical specifications
| Alloy | Bearing bar | Weight | Finish | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6063-T6 | 25x3 | 5.5 kg/m2 | Mill | Ceiling, screen |
| 6063-T6 | 30x4 | 7.0 kg/m2 | Mill / anodized | Walkway, ship deck |
| 6061-T6 | 40x5 | 12 kg/m2 | Mill | Platform, offshore |
| 6061-T6 | 50x5 | 15 kg/m2 | Mill | Heavy platform |
Related products and applications
Frequently asked questions
Why choose aluminum over steel grating?
Weight and maintenance. An aluminum panel is about a third of the weight and never needs painting, which matters on ships, roofs and structures with a load limit.
Does aluminum grating corrode?
It does not rust, but it can suffer galvanic corrosion where it touches steel or stainless in wet conditions. Isolating washers at every fixing prevent this.
Not sure which profile suits your site? Send the span, load and environment to our engineers and we will return a specification with drawings within one working day. Contact us or see the full product range.