What are the benefits of GRP?

Article Overview

Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) is a versatile and durable composite material, widely used in industries such as construction, marine, rail, and oil and gas. In this article, you’ll discover the key benefits of GRP, including its strength, low maintenance, and resistance to corrosion — and see how Dura’s d² technology takes these advantages even further.

Why Choose GRP?

GRP has a number of desirable properties and benefits, which is why it’s so popular for such a vast range of applications. These include:

• Long lifespan – GRP has an extremely long lifespan, outlasting many metals including steel. It can also outlast concrete. Exactly how long your GRP products live will depend on the quality of the materials used.
• Requires little to no maintenance – because there’s minimal upkeep needed, GRP is ideal for hard to reach locations, including those in the oil and gas industry.
• Flame-retardant GRP available – flame retardant GRP is particularly useful for civil infrastructure and construction projects when certain fire ratings are required.
• Sustainable process – when compared to some traditional materials, such as steel or concrete, GRP has a low-energy manufacturing process. It can also be repurposed and even recycled, making it a more sustainable choice.
• Fantastic strength-to-weight ratio – one of the biggest advantages of GRP is how light it is, given its strength. It can be used in projects where strength is prioritised, while saving time and therefore money due to being more easily transported, manoeuvred and installed.
• Non-conductive – unlike steel, GRP is non-conductive, making it perfect for uses in particular sectors, such as the trackside walkways in the rail industry, or fencing for electrical substations.
• Corrosion-resistant – unlike metal, GRP is resistant to water and acid, making it ideal for marine environments, and anywhere that requires protection from the elements.
• Chemical-resistant – similarly, GRP has good resistance to a wide range of chemicals, so it’s able to withstand the conditions often faced in projects within the oil and gas, construction and marine sectors.
• Excellent durability – aside from being corrosion and chemical-resistant, GRP is able to withstand wear and tear, pressure or damage, making it suitable for regular use and areas with a high footfall.
• Anti-slip – the anti-slip surface of GRP grating and flooring is perfect for wet, oily or icy environments, or anywhere where safety is a priority. The gritted anti-slip surface of Dura’s GRP grating maintains 95% performance even after one million footfalls.
• Flexible solution – GRP can be moulded into complex shapes, and allows for easier fabrication than other materials, allowing you to find a solution that meets your exact requirements.

d² is the next generation of GRP

Many people are now familiar with the advantages of using composites over traditional materials, but not all composites are created equal.

Dura’s tried and tested patent-pending d² technology GRP grating is manufactured for maximum performance and is safer, stronger and lighter than other GRP grating products, as well as achieving an industry-leading Class B fire rating according to BS EN 13501-1*.

Our market-leading d² product range includes station platforms, trackside walkway grating, trench covers, structural profiles, handrailing, fencing, end of platform gates and access structures. Their weight-reducing designs minimise on-site logistics, saving time and money.

The innovative design of our d² range, using only the finest quality raw materials, and cutting-edge manufacturing, means our GRP products all save at least 33% embodied carbon. They’re also fully recyclable at the end of their lifecycle, helping the UK meet its 2050 net zero target.

Read more about d² GRP grating here.

*excludes 23mm mini and micro mesh variants