Two FRP quotations can describe panels of the same size while offering different constructions, resin systems and supporting documents. A useful comparison starts with the manufacturer’s product code and drawing. The words molded and pultruded help identify the options, but the purchase decision needs the data for the panel being offered.
For the fiberglass grating range, prepare a comparison sheet with a separate column for each proposed product. Leave a cell open when evidence is missing instead of treating an unanswered question as approval.
Match the construction to the support drawing
Ask each supplier for a section drawing identifying the members that carry the load and the direction used in its calculations. Put that direction on the platform layout. The reviewer should be able to trace the proposed panel orientation between the actual supports without interpreting a catalogue photograph.
Obtain load and deflection information for the identified product, panel depth, support arrangement and service conditions. Record the document revision and the assumptions behind it. Where the proposed layout includes cut-outs or unusual edges, request an explicit review of those details rather than applying an uninterrupted panel example.
Identify the resin and surface
Record the complete resin system designation. Describe the liquids, cleaning products and temperatures expected at the installation, then request the manufacturer’s compatibility assessment for that exposure. If several substances may reach the panel, provide that information together. A response addressing only one substance leaves the rest of the brief unresolved.
Specify the proposed walking surface and ask for supporting documents relevant to the intended use. If the project has fire or smoke requirements, give the supplier the exact requirement and request the report covering the offered product. Keep the report’s product description with the comparison sheet so a generic certificate cannot silently stand in for another formulation.
Compare the supplied assembly
List clips, bolts, support details, edge treatment and any factory cutting in both offers. Ask who supplies each item and which installation instructions govern it. A lower panel price may exclude work that the other quotation includes.
Check the finished panel weights and delivery sizes against the proposed handling plan. Discuss removal with the maintenance team where access is required below the grating. Ask for a layout showing which panel can be lifted without first removing unrelated services.
Before release, circulate the comparison sheet to the responsible designer and installation contractor. Record accepted deviations beside the relevant item, with the supporting document attached. The order should identify the selected product code, resin, surface and approved drawing revision.
If an FRP proposal replaces steel in an existing design, obtain a review of the complete support and fastening arrangement. Transfer the accepted documents to the site team; a catalogue page alone leaves them without the decisions made during procurement.
