Grating Stair Treads

Fabricated grating stair treads — serrated or plain surface, welded or bolted carrier plates, anti-slip nosing — in hot-dip galvanized steel, 304/316L stainless and FRP, dimensioned to OSHA 1910.25 and EN ISO 14122-3.

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US complianceOSHA 1910.25
EU complianceEN ISO 14122-3
Slip rating (serrated)R13 available
Rise range covered165 mm–225 mm
02 · Quick Spec

Standard tread sizes (US customary)

Screenshot-ready. Every dimension below is a standard tooling size — custom spacings are cut to your drawing at no extra mold cost.

Tread widthDepth (clear)Bar sectionWeight (kg/pc)Fixing
24″ (610 mm)9.5″ (241 mm)25×3 / 32×36.8Bolted carrier
30″ (762 mm)9.5″ (241 mm)25×3 / 32×38.2Bolted carrier
36″ (914 mm)9.5″ (241 mm)32×39.6Welded or bolted
42″ (1067 mm)9.5″ (241 mm)32×311.1Welded or bolted
48″ (1219 mm)9.5″ (241 mm)32×515.4Welded

These are steel-grating treads (open mesh) — not checker plate. For platform-tread landings in the same family, order the matching panel pitch.

04 · Material & Finish

Four material systems, one factory

Zinc thickness is measured per ASTM A123 (70–85 µm), salt-spray tested to 1,000 h. Stainless is pickled and passivated; FRP resin is matched to your chemical media.

Material selection matrix
MaterialSpecificationBest ForQC Note
Carbon Steel, Hot-Dip GalvanizedQ235B / A36, zinc 70–85 µm per ASTM A123Walkways, platforms, trench covers, stair treads — the default choice1,000 h neutral salt-spray test before white rust
Stainless Steel 304 / 316LAISI 304 (indoor / general chemical), 316L (marine / chloride)Food processing, pharma, offshore, chemical plantsPassivated and pickled finish, 316L for >3% chloride media
Aluminum 6061-T6Mill or anodized finish, riveted or press-locked constructionWeight-critical platforms, water treatment, architectural meshes≈ 1/3 the weight of steel at comparable spans — cannot be hot-dip galvanized
FRP / Fiberglass (GRP)Molded (isophthalic / vinyl ester) or pultruded profilesElectrolytic areas, sewage plants, coastal platformsNon-conductive, non-sparking, corrosion-free alternative to metal
05 · Load & Deflection

Tread point-load performance (per OSHA mid-rail test spirit)

Values calculated to NAAMM MBG 531 with deflection limited to L/200. Need a stamped calculation sheet for your span? Ask in the quote form.

Tread bar (mm)Max distributed load (kN on 1 tread)Mid-span point load (kN)Deflection @ mid-span
25×34.42.0< 2.0 mm
32×37.23.3< 2.0 mm
32×512.05.5< 1.5 mm
40×518.88.6< 1.0 mm

All treads far exceed the OSHA 1910.25 minimum of 1,000 lbf (4.4 kN) mid-tread point load with S Factor 3 for 32×3 and above.

05B · Slip Resistance

Slip resistance & compliance data

Slip ratings measured per DIN 51130 (oily ramp test — the R-scale EN ISO 14122-3 references). Wet barefoot ratings (BGR 181, class A–C) for pool/aquatic applications on request.

SurfaceRamp test (oily)Wet conditionCompliance fit
Plain steel, mill/galvanizedR9–R10ModerateDry indoor stairs only
Serrated steel, galvanizedR12GoodOSHA wet-location default
Serrated steel, deep-toothR13GoodIce-prone, oil & mining stairs
Checkered-plate nosing addedR11GoodVisibility + edge slip
FRP grit top (fine silica)R12GoodCorrosive + wet stairs
FRP grit top (coarse)R13ExcellentOffshore, sewage, pool areas

OSHA 1910.22 requires slip-resistant surfaces in wet locations; EN ISO 14122-3 recommends ≥ R11 for normal industrial access. Serrated steel treads satisfy both.

06 · Applications

Where grating stair treads works hardest

Reference projects available per industry on request.

Industrial

Plant access stairs

Bolted carriers bolt through stringers — no hot work permits needed.

Outdoor

Exterior fire escapes

Hot-dip galvanized with serrated surface for rain and ice.

Food

Food plant stair towers

316L, passivated welds, hygienic flush nosing.

Marine

Dock & gangway steps

316L or FRP with R13 slip rating for wet decks.

Water

Wastewater channel stairs

FRP over H₂S zones where metals corrode.

Mining

Sloped hopper access

Heavy 40×5 treads for steel-cap boots and tools.

07 · Fabrication & Custom

Send a drawing, receive a finished panel

Upload DXF or DWG with your RFQ — we return a dimensioned shop drawing for approval within 24 hours. No approval, no production.

In-house fabrication

  • Cut-to-size from DXF / DWG drawings — band saw and plasma, ±2 mm tolerance
  • Notching and cutouts for pipes, cable trays and manholes in any shape
  • Banding (closed ends) in flat bar or checkered plate, toe plates to EN ISO 14122-3
  • Curved and radial panels for tanks, towers and architectural projects
  • Stair tread fabrication with welded or bolted carriers, nosing options
  • Pre-assembly of clips, anchors and support steel into kit form for site speed
Close-up of hot-dip galvanized welded steel bar grating showing weld points and zinc coating
08 · Standards & QC

Everything is auditable

Third-party inspection (SGS/BV/TÜV) welcome at any stage. MTC per EN 10204 3.1 ships with every order by default.

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ASTM A36 — carbon structural steel bar and plate

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ASTM A123 — hot-dip galvanizing, 70–85 µm zinc coating on bearing bars

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ASTM A1011 / Q235B — flat bar feedstock with mill certificates

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NAAMM MBG 531 — load & deflection tables (uniform + concentrated load, L/200)

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EN 1090-1/-2 — structural steel execution, CE-marked assemblies

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ISO 9001:2015 — quality management system, audited annually

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MTC (EN 10204 3.1) material test certificate with every shipment

09 · MOQ · Lead Time · Shipping

Ordering terms at a glance

MOQ

1 pallet (approx. 20 m²) for stock sizes; custom sizes from 100 m²

Lead time

15–25 days after drawing confirmation

Container loading

20GP ≈ 26–28 t · 40HQ ≈ 26 t (varies with panel size)

Terms & ports

FOB Shanghai / Ningbo · CIF & DDP available on request
T/T 30% deposit, L/C at sight for orders over USD 50,000

Grating stair treads are steel-grating panels fabricated into stepped units with end carriers, pre-drilled and ready to bolt or weld to stringers. Unlike checker-plate treads, open mesh sheds water, ice, snow and oil — and the serrated variant keeps slip resistance when the surface is visibly wet.

Stair treads are a compliance product: OSHA 1910.25 fixes the load, EN ISO 14122-3 fixes geometry and slip class. Everything below is organized so your safety officer can sign off, and so your installer can bolt them up in a day.

What OSHA and EN actually require

OSHA 1910.25 (fixed ladders & stairs context) and the general walking-working-surface rule 1910.22 require: treads that support at least a 1,000 lbf (4.4 kN) concentrated mid-tread point load, uniform rise between 6″ and 9.5″ (150–240 mm), minimum clear width 22″ (560 mm) for normal service stairs, and a slip-resistant surface in wet locations.

EN ISO 14122-3 adds geometry classes and slip classes: rise 160–225 mm, going (tread depth) ≥ 210 mm for normal access, and surface slip class measured per DIN 51130 (R9–R13, oily-to-extreme). Our serrated treads test at R12–R13 depending on bar profile — data sheet available with every order.

  • Rise (R): vertical step height, 160–225 mm EN / 6–9.5″ OSHA — treads are made to your measured rise ±1 mm.
  • Going (G): horizontal depth — 241 mm (9.5″) standard matches a 165–190 mm rise with 2×R+G in the comfort band.
  • Nosing: a 25×3 flat bar welded proud of the front edge — improves both slip and step visibility; checkered-plate nosing optional.
  • Carriers: flat-bar end plates pre-drilled 2ר13 mm for M12 bolts, or blank for welding.

Serrated vs plain: the trade

Serration (the notched top edge of bearing bars) roughly doubles wet slip resistance (R10 plain → R12/R13 serrated) at a cost of 10–15% load capacity in the same bar section — usually corrected by stepping up one bar size. Plain treads remain correct for clean, dry, indoor stairs and for food areas where serrations trap soil. See the serrated grating page for the full capacity-loss table.

Ordering treads correctly

The RFQ that avoids rework has five numbers: clear width between stringers, rise, going, stringer type (channel / plate), and fixing (bolted / welded). Send those plus quantity and material — we return treads pre-drilled to your stringer layout, plus the matching fixing hardware if your stringers are grating-supported.

10 · FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Are grating stair treads OSHA compliant?
Yes — our standard 32×3 treads pass the 1,000 lbf mid-tread point load (with safety factor > 3) and serrated versions meet the slip-resistant-surface requirement for wet locations. Compliance geometry (rise, width) is cut to your stair.
Serrated or plain treads?
Wet, oily, icy or outdoor stairs → serrated (R12–R13). Clean dry indoor stairs → plain, or when hygiene serrations are unwanted (food interiors often choose plain + nosing).
What tread width do I need?
Tread width equals the clear distance between stringers. OSHA general industry requires ≥ 22″ (560 mm) clear width for standard stairs; 24″–36″ treads cover most industrial stairs, 42″–48″ for wide access.
Bolted or welded carriers?
Bolted if the stringers are in place and you want no hot-work permits; welded for permanent outdoor towers. Both arrive pre-drilled/blank accordingly.
Can you match a tread I am replacing?
Usually yes — send the overall width, rise, going, and a photo of the end carrier. We fabricate treads to any width up to 48″ in matching bar sections.
Do you supply FRP treads?
Yes — molded or pultruded FRP treads with grit top (R12–R13), non-conductive and corrosion-free. See the FRP grating page for resin selection.
What is the difference between grating treads and checker plate treads?
Open mesh sheds water, oil and snow and stays non-slip when wet; checker plate holds liquids and gets treacherous when oily. Code officials in wet locations increasingly expect grating.
12 · RFQ

Get a quote within 24 hours

Include panel size, load requirement and quantity — or just upload your drawing. Our engineers respond with a price and a load check.

Attach your file, then send the form — your email client will open with the details pre-filled. For files over 10 MB, email sales@yhsteelgrating.com directly.

✓ Your email client has opened with the RFQ details. Didn't open? Write to sales@yhsteelgrating.com.