How much load can expanded metal carry, and how is it installed as walkway grating?
Expanded metal is made by slitting and stretching sheet metal into diamond openings that stay joined at the knuckles, making it stronger and lighter. The surface has high friction, and it is used for fences, overhead walkways and as construction mesh in place of tied rebar. Load capacity depends on thickness and span. Sample values at a 600 mm span are shown below.
Model (JIS) | Mesh SWD x LWD (mm) | Thickness (mm) | Load capacity (kg/sq.m) | Weight of 4x8 ft sheet (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
XS-31 | 12x30.5 | 1.2 | 8 | 6.0 |
XS-33 | 12x30.5 | 2.3 | 65 | 20.5 |
XS-43 | 22x50.8 | 3.2 | 67 | 23.0 |
XS-53 | 25x61 | 3.2 | 77 | 23.0 |
XS-63 | 34x76.2 | 4.5 | 124 | 30.0 |
- Lay adjoining sheets with the strands sloping in the same direction, and place the flat straight edge facing up.
- Bear the sheet ends on structural supports. Weld butted or lapped sheets together, or weld a support beneath the joint.
- Openings can be cut for pipes or structural members, and the cut edges should be edged with a welded bar.
- If clips are used to fix the sheets to steelwork, space them about 750 mm apart.
