Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) (also called fibre reinforced plastic or fibre-reinforced polymer) is a composite material made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres. The fibres are usually glass (in fibreglass), carbon (in carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer), aramid, or basalt. The polymer is usually an epoxy, vinylester, or polyester thermosetting plastic and phenol formaldehyde. GRPs are commonly used in the aerospace, automotive, marine and construction industries. They are commonly found in ballistic armor as well. GRP scores over traditional material like steel, concrete, wood and aluminium in multiple ways. Corrosion free | light weight | extremely strong | UV resistant | no maintenance | faster installation | longer service life

1. COMPOSITE (GRP) SOLUTIONS

2. Introducing GRP Solutions

3. What are Composites?
• Composites are engineered products made from
two or more materials which have significantly
different characteristics to those of the individual
components.
• Composites are used to raise performance levels,
address traditional material design limitations, and
enable the rapid development of new product
solutions.

4. What are they used for?
Industry
• Composites are widely used in applications that require
chemical-resistance service such as ducts, grating, chemical
processing, oil and gas, and water/wastewater treatment.
Infrastructure
• Composites are used all over the world to help construct and
repair a wide variety of infrastructure applications, from
buildings and bridges to roads and railways.
Architecture
• The moulding freedom of composites has contributed to their
popularity in decorative architectural applications, including cladding
and building facades

5. Range of GRP Resin Systems
Isophthalic Polyester
• A high quality industrial grade which is standard on the vast majority of our product range. It features high
levels of chemical resistance and fire retardancy.
Orthophthalic Polyester
• A general purpose economic resin with good corrosion and chemical resistance that is standard for
Grating mini mesh range to suit less harsh environments.
Vinylester
• Enhanced chemical resistance, higher operating temperature and increased fatigue resistance.
Available to special order only.
Phenolic
• Enhanced fire and smoke properties for use in areas where fire resistance, low smoke and toxicity are
important factors, such as rail tunnels and offshore platforms. Available to special order only.

6. Emerging Trends for GRP
• GRP is well-proven construction material that has been in use for over
50 years in a variety of architectural and industrial environments to
replace traditional building materials.
• The lightweight, high strength, corrosion resistant and low
maintenance properties of GRP offer far more design freedom to
Architects and Developers.
• Applications for GRP are huge – from Service Riser Grating to
Walkways, Structures, Custom Fabrications and Trench Covers.

7. Characteristics of GRP:
GRP is an amazingly versatile material which has phenomenal
potential across a wide spectrum of applications.
Key properties include:
Some other benefits:
EXTREME LOAD CAPACITY POSSIBILITY OF COLOUR CODING EASY HANDLING ANTI THEFT LOCKING PRECISION FINISH

8. GRP Versus Other Materials
0
100
200
300
400
500
1 2 3 4 5
410
350
215
5 4.5
Tensile Strength (MPa)
0
50
100
150
200
250
1 2 3 4 5
27
210
69.5
30 10.8
Young's Modulus (GPa)
0
50
100
150
200
250
1 2 3 4 5
222
45
80 2
13
Strength to Specific Weight Ratio
(MPa)
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
1 2 3 4 5
1850
7800
2700 2300
350
Density (kg/m3)
0
50
100
150
200
250
1 2 3 4 5
0.35 47
201
0.72 0.14
Thermal Conductivity (W/m K)
0
5
10
15
20
25
1 2 3 4 5
7.5
12
23.5
14
3.7
Thermal Expansion (x10-6/K)
0.0E+00
2.0E+16
4.0E+16
6.0E+16
8.0E+16
1.0E+17
1 2 3 4 5
1.0E+17
4.6E-073.3E-081.0E+041.0E+14
Electrical Resistivity (Ω.m)
1 – Fibreglass (GRP)
2 – Steel
3 – Aluminium Alloy 6063
4 – Concrete
5 – Timber C24

9. Slip Resistance – Meets BS 7976-2
The Pendulum DCoF test. The method is based on a swinging,
imitation heel (using a standardised rubber soling sample), which
sweeps over a set area of flooring in a controlled manner. The
slipperiness of the flooring has a direct and measurable effect on the
pendulum test value (PTV) given.
Research has confirmed the pendulum to be the most reliable and
accurate test, so The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has adopted
it as its standard test method for assessing floor slipperiness in both dry
and contaminated conditions.

10. GRP Solution Slip Resistance

11. GRP Material Properties

12. Phenolic GRP – Fire Certificate
• BS 476 Part 7 Class 1 (Surface Spread of Flame)
• BS 476 Part 6 Class 0 (Fire Propagation)
• BS 6853: 1999 Annex D8.4 Smoke Emission Test (Smoke
Density)
• ASTM-E84 – Flame Index 10, Smoke Index 135
• ASTM-E119
• ASTM-D635 Burning Rate – Burn Rate = 0

13. Phenolic GRP – Chemical properties

14. Isophthalic GRP – Chemical properties
• Standard resin is Isophthalic Polyester.
• Resistant against wide a range of chemicals across wide
temperature spectrum.
• Different resin systems achieve specific chemical resistance.
• Detailed chemical resistance chart can be provided.

15. Isophthalic GRP – Fire Certificate
• Standard Isophthalic Resin - BS 476 Part 7 Class 2.
• Special Order Isophthalic Resin - BS 476 Part 7 Class 1.

16. Example Applications: Railway Platform
Railway Platform is a precision
engineered product made from
GRP which offers significant
improvements over traditional
alternatives such as concrete.
Railway Platform allows
contractors to replace or overlay
onto damaged or subsided
platforms a low maintenance,
modular light-weight, height
adjustable structure that enhances
safety with anti-slip surface
options, in-built water
management, integral lines,
integral lighting, snow melting
capability and that has similar or
lower overall project costs.

17. Example Applications: GRP Walkways
Precision engineered open grid or
solid cover structural walkway
solutions that have fantastic anti-slip
properties. They allow contractors to
take advantage of their lightweight
handling, workability on site using
standard hand tools, short lead times
and rapid installation speeds, and
are resistant to chemical influence
and corrosion.
Innovative fixing solutions which
ensure that site works on projects
operate smoothly and to the
required time scales.

18. Example Applications: Trench Covers
Slab Trench & Duct Covers are
lightweight, high strength, anti-slip
and are easily removed for
maintenance access.
Slab Trench Covers can easily be
lifted by one, two or four man teams
using standard lifting keys and are
supplied with angular quartz grit
embedded into the top surface to
provide an excellent anti-slip walking
surface.
Slab products have been engineered
for use as high strength covers where
an incredible strength to weight ratio
is important.

19. Example Applications: Staircases
GRP fabrications are manufactured using high
quality fibreglass produced from the latest
pultrusion process, which offers high strength,
low weight, chemical and fire resistant
properties.
Designs can be fabricated in-house and
delivered to the site in complete form, or in
manageable sections for final assembly on
location. Fibreglass fabrications such as
stairways, access platforms, walkways and
step-over platforms can be fitted with various
fibreglass floor grating mesh or solid structural
flooring.

20. Example Applications: GRP Handrail
When installing a composite
walkway, it is often logical to also opt
for a complementary low
maintenance safety handrailing
system so that the substructure,
walkway, treads and railings all
benefit from long design lives.
Hand railing solutions – Fabrication
Hand railing and Key Clamp Modular
Handrailing. Both allow the installer to
benefit from simple construction and
have warm-to-the-touch surfaces,
are non-sparking, non-corrosive and
non-conductive. Both systems can be
specified in signal yellow or grey
colours that will never need painting,
staining or galvanising.

21. Past Projects: Duct Covers
Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
When MEP were asked to replace all the pipework for
the services, we took the opportunity to recommend
an alternative duct cover to replace the original
concrete material. The idea was to better fulfil key
functional criteria: light weight for easy handling and
easy access, high load bearing strength, anti-slip
surface for all conditions and colour matched to
surrounding flooring. Probably the biggest benefit and
single biggest reason GRP Slab was specified, was its
light weight construction. This allows a 2 person lift and
does away with the need for bulky and expensive
heavy lifting equipment. The previous concrete duct
cover only provided access to the services via
manholes which were 10 metres apart. This meant that
maintenance teams had to work in a confined space
with limited light to reach control valves and carry out
burst pipe repairs.

22. Past Projects:
Bridge Pathway for Reading Council, Reading
GRP Slab was chosen by
contractor VolkerLaser as a
lightweight replacement for
degrading and distressed
concrete on the pedestrian
walkway of Reading Bridge. The
project was the first major
strengthening work on the
structure in its 92-year history and
was necessary to ensure that no
weight restrictions are needed in
the future and that the bridge
can continue to carry over
24,000 vehicles and thousands of
pedestrians per day.

23. Past Projects:
National Grid, UK
GRP Slab trench cover was the only solution on
the market that met all of our clients’
requirements. The biggest benefit of GRP Slab is
that given the sensitive nature of the equipment
on site and their lightweight, they could be
installed without the need for heavy lifting
equipment. Once installed, the high load bearing
capacity allows site staff to travel around the site
using the trench covers without having to worry
about specific crossing points” “We also specified
GRP Slab with built-in lifting eyes and lifting keys.
This makes it very simple to install the panels and
also to remove them for maintenance and
servicing using the tools supplied. The anti-slip
surface has already proven to be very effective.
The installation period has coincided with very wet
weather and I can report that there have been no
incidents of site staff slipping or falling.” Contract
Manager, Trant Construction (on behalf of
National Grid)

24. Past Projects: Trench Covers
Factory 2050, UK

25. Past Projects: Grating & Dura Profile
Brine Mixing Pit, Nigeria

26. Past Projects: Grating & Profile
Offshore Platform, Scotland

27. Past Projects: Slab Structural Stair Treads
Billingshurst Train Station, UK

28. Past Projects: Slab Flooring
Cycle Hub, UK

29. Past Projects: Profile Fabrication
Mouslford Viaduct, UK

30. Get Rid of Issues Related to Traditional
Practices
Cumbersome
Construction
Limited
Access
Short Lived
Lifespan
Regular
Maintenance
Corrosion
Issues
Limited
Lifespan
Regular
Maintenance
Replacement
Requirement

31. Our GRP products

32. GRP Slabs
Pultruded | Moulded

33. GRP Gratings
Pultruded | Moulded

34. GRP Stairs
Closed Treads | Open Treads

35. GRP Handrails
Round| Square

36. GRP Structure Sections
Beams| T Sections |Square|Round |Etc

37. COMPOSITE (GRP) SOLUTIONS