Factory-direct steel gratings & stair treads, shipped worldwide
What Is Bar Grating
What steel grating is, in plain terms: types, spans and load classes explained.
Itemized quote within 24 hours · Free drawing review included
In-house weld & press lines
Electro-forging and press-locking under one roof
Certified & tested
Reports on request, MTC with every order
Samples in 5–7 days
Production in 15–25 working days
FOB Tianjin
Shipped worldwide, EXW / CIF negotiable
Quick answer
The Short Answer
Bar grating is an open steel flooring panel built from parallel flat bearing bars joined by cross bars — welded, press-locked or swage-locked into a single mesh. It carries people and equipment, sheds water and debris, and suits platforms, walkways, stair treads and trench covers. In short, if someone asks what steel grating is, this is the panel: an open, load-bearing steel floor. So when you search "what is steel grating," the honest answer is the same one-word definition — an open steel flooring panel — expanded into types, spans and materials below.
Definition
What Is Bar Grating, in Plain Terms?
Think of a ladder of steel strips: long flat bars carry the load, shorter cross bars hold them apart, and the two are joined into one mesh. The result is a strong, open floor that lets water, ice, dirt and light pass straight through.
Bearing bars
The parallel flat bars that span the supports and carry the load — from 20×3 mm up to 100×8 mm, plain or serrated.
Cross bars
The twisted-square or round bars running across the panel, spacing the bearing bars at 30, 40 or 60 mm centers and locking them together.
Open mesh
The open area drains rain and spills, stops snow and ice building up, and keeps walking surfaces visible — a big safety win in industry.
Types
What Are the Main Types of Bar Grating?
Bar grating is named by how the cross bars meet the bearing bars. Three processes cover almost every project, and all three run on our in-house lines.
Welded bar grating
Every intersection resistance-forged under pressure into one solid panel. The default for high loads at wide spans.
Press-locked bar grating
Cross bars mechanically pressed into notched bearing bars — no weld heat, flat panels, mesh down to 11/11 mm.
Swage-locked bar grating
Cross bars swaged through pre-punched bearing bars for high transverse stiffness and dense patterns.
Load classes
How Does Bar Grating Handle Load?
Bar grating carries load through the bearing bars, so the size of the bar and the span it crosses are the two numbers that matter. Longer span means a thicker bar or closer spacing; pedestrian traffic and forklift traffic live at opposite ends of the range.
Standard duty
Pedestrian and light maintenance loads — bars 20×3 mm upward at 30 / 40 / 60 mm spacing, produced to ANSI/NAAMM MBG 531 practice.
Heavy duty
Forklift and wheel traffic — thicker bars and closer centers per MBG 532 practice.
Per project
Tell us the span and live load — a load table and calculation sheet ship with your quote.
Materials
What Materials Can Bar Grating Be Made From?
The same open-mesh geometry is available in three grades, chosen by the environment — and all three carry mill test certificates on request.
Q235B carbon steel
The economical default, hot-dip galvanized to ASTM A123 / ISO 1461 for outdoor service. Most industrial bar grating is Q235B.
SS304 stainless
Corrosion-resistant without coating — the pick for food, washdown and most chemical environments.
SS316 stainless
The marine and chemical grade, resistant to chlorides — docks, coastal plants and offshore platforms.
Comparison table
Bar Grating Types at a Glance
One table to compare how the cross bars join the bearing bars — the fastest way to shortlist before you send drawings.
| Dimension | Welded | Press-Locked | Swage-Locked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forming principle | Every intersection resistance-forged under pressure | Cross bars mechanically pressed into notched bearing bars | Cross bars swaged through pre-punched bearing bars |
| Load behavior | High capacity at wide spans; joints cannot work loose | Very uniform distribution; suited to pedestrian traffic | High transverse stiffness; holds fine bars firmly |
| Mesh range | 30 / 40 / 60 mm centers | Down to 11 / 11 mm close mesh | Dense patterns; depends on bar selection |
| Panel flatness | Flat panels straight off the line | Extremely flat — no weld heat, no distortion | Flat; depends on bar tolerances |
| Typical use | Platforms, walkways, trench covers, guardrails | Municipal trench, tree pits, facades, fine floors | Architectural and fine-mesh flooring |
| Our lines | In-house electro-forging line | In-house press-lock machine | Assessed per project on our press line |
Not sure which type fits your loads? Send your drawings — we will spec it inside the 24-hour quote.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bar grating the same as steel grating?
In practice, yes — bar grating is the most common form of steel grating, built from parallel flat bearing bars joined by cross bars. The terms are used interchangeably in most specifications; bar grating just names the construction.
How much load can bar grating carry?
Load depends on bearing bar size, spacing and span. Bars from 20×3 mm up to 100×8 mm, at 30 / 40 / 60 mm centers, carry from pedestrian loads up to forklift traffic. Tell us the span and live load — we issue a load table with your quote.
What are your sample and production timelines?
Samples ship in 5–7 working days and mass production runs 15–25 working days after drawing confirmation, both including hot-dip galvanizing. Quote within 24 hours.
Free spec sheets
Get the Spec Guide
Read the guide, then order from the factory direct. Send your span, load and material — we reply within 24 hours with spec sheets matched to your project and an itemized quote.
- Spec sheets and load tables matched to your project
- DoC, MTC EN 10204 3.1 and inspection report with every order
- Small trial orders welcome — samples in 5–7 days
Prefer to talk? WhatsApp us or sales@dtsteelladder.com
Request your spec sheet
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Related pages
Related Guides & Product Pages
How to Choose Steel Grating
The step-by-step selection guide for any project.
View page →Steel Grating Material
Q235B vs SS304 vs SS316 — when to pick which.
View page →Stainless Steel Grating Specification
SS304 / SS316 spec guide with bar sizes and spans.
View page →Bar Grating
The full product category for bar grating panels.
View page →Welded Steel Grating
The workhorse panel behind most structural specs.
View page →Press-Locked Grating
Close-mesh panels for tree pits and fine floors.
View page →