Architect

American Bank of Texas

  • Application : Sunscreen
  • Products : Fibergrate 2” molded grating with FGI-AM® resin, 4’ x 12’ panels

Overview :

Trendy, culturally rich, and high tech are all words used to describe the Austin, Texas area. These influences are seen in the design of this suburban bank where Fibergrate has succeeded in blending functionality with a modern, industrial element to create a unique sunscreen application.

Problem :

The goal of this project was to create a sunscreen to filter the harsh Texas sun and provide shade during the long summer months. The look for the sunscreen was to be high-tech, and industrial. Stainless steel was an obvious option for this project; however, the increasing price of steel, heavy weight, and cost for replacing steel due to corrosion soon had the bank looking for a much wiser investment.

Solution :

Fibergrate was able to “cash in” on this architectural application by using 4’x12’ panels of 2” deep FGI-AM molded grating in gray. The gray color gives the appearance of stainless steel while the light weight of the material made fabrication and installation of the project a snap. The corrosion resistant feature of the grating will definitely provide a strong return on investment for years to come!


Car Wash Tunnel

  • Application : Walkways and Tank Covers
  • Products : Chemgrate® Molded Grating, Chemplate® Molded Plate

Overview :

A carwash located in Boston, Massachusetts wanted to decrease long term maintenance costs and improve safety conditions in the facility.

Problem :

The owners were looking for a product with a slip-resistant surface that would not rust and would not require any supplemental treatment to prevent rust. It was also necessary that the surface be corrosion resistant and be one that wouldn’t be impacted by the soap and chemicals produced in the carwash.

Solution :

Fibergrate installed Chemgrate® 1-1/2” deep, 1-1/2” square mesh molded
grating. The grating’s resin, CP-84, is a chemical-grade premium polyester
resin that offers excellent corrosion resistance. Therefore, the FRP (fiberglass
reinforced plastic) grating would not be affected by the soap and chemicals,
which attack steel and aluminum grating. Offering a slip-resistant surface,
this grating provides a solid under footing in all kinds of slippery conditions,
including grease, water, oil, chemicals and waste material. The carwash
owners were extremely pleased with the results. The light-weight property of
the grating made it simple to remove for inspections and cleaning purposes.
Most important was the fact that the grating does not rust nor does it require treatment to prevent rust.
In addition, several vehicles which jumped the track did no structural damage to the grating. This is due to the integral makeup of continuous fiberglass strand interwoven throughout the panel and laid in a matrix of high quality resin. The carwash owners also utilized Chemplate® to cover their water recovery tanks providing a safe, slip-resistant walking surface for their employees.


Cedar Square Shopping Centre

  • Application : Vent Covers and Trench Covers
  • Products : Corvex® Molded Grating, Dynaform® Channels and Angles

Overview :

The newly finished Cedar Square Shopping Centre is located in the fast growing Fourways district in Johannesburg, South Africa. The shopping centre contains many international retailers along with several gourmet and casual restaurants.

Problem :

The shopping centre had unsightly air conditioning vents on the exterior of the building. If the centre was going to attract retailers and restaurants, this was going to have to be remedied. Along with the aesthetic challenges the contractor desired light weight materials that would be easy to install.

Solution :

Fibergrate’s Corvex® molded grating was used as an alternative to conventional aluminum louvers in front of the vent shafts and office windows as an aesthetically pleasing screen. The grating was used in a vertical position. It was then secured to the wall using a FRP bracket that was manufactured from Dynaform® Structural Shapes. Along with the vent covers the molded grating was successfully used in the fountains as trench covers because of its corrosion resistant properties.