Application Guide
FRP Grating for Oil, Gas & Refineries
Refinery walkways live with hydrocarbons, H₂S, wash-down water and round-the-clock footfall. Galvanized steel survives maybe five years before coating failure starts the repaint cycle. FRP grating removes both the corrosion and the two hazards maintenance teams fear most around live process equipment: sparks and conductivity.
Typical refinery installations
- Process platform decking around columns, exchangers and pumps
- Tank farm dyke walkways and valve platforms
- Pipe rack access and cable trench covers
- Loading bay stairs, treads and operator platforms
- Desalter, amine unit and sour water service areas
- Sump covers and drainage decking in bunded areas
Fire and static considerations
| Requirement | Answer | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Flame spread in process areas | Vinyl ester or phenolic grating, ASTM E84 Class 1 | See the fire performance guide |
| Non-sparking surface | FRP produces no incendive spark from dropped tools | Standard on all panels |
| Static dissipation requirements | Anti-static (conductive) grating variant available | Surface resistivity per project spec |
| Escape routes and low-smoke zones | Phenolic system — lowest smoke index | Certification dossier on request |
Why maintenance planners convert pipe racks first
Pipe rack walkways are long, exposed and costly to scaffold for repainting. Converting a 300 m pipe rack walkway to FRP typically removes four recoat cycles over a 20-year horizon — the scaffold and access cost alone usually exceeds the entire FRP package price.