| Decision | FRP proposal | Steel proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Structural acceptance | Construction-specific load and deflection table | Section and support-specific load and deflection table |
| Exposure | Resin and surface selected for the actual medium | Steel grade and protection system selected for exposure |
| Fire | Offered construction's required fire evidence | Assembly performance against the project requirement |
| Maintenance | Inspection, damage and replacement plan | Inspection, corrosion protection and replacement plan |
| Installed cost | Panels, supports, clips, fabrication and handling | Panels, supports, fixings, fabrication and handling |
Approve a replacement layout, not just a panel
For a retrofit, survey support spacing, bearing length, removable sections and access constraints. Ask the designer to evaluate the complete replacement assembly. Document changes to fixing details or support steel in the quotation. Do not purchase a nominally matching panel depth as evidence of structural equivalence.
Make lifecycle assumptions visible
Create separate rows for installation, planned inspections, surface treatment, repairs and replacement access. Set the comparison period and maintenance assumptions before calculating totals. Record which costs come from quotations and which are planning assumptions. A claimed maintenance saving is not meaningful without exposure conditions and an explicit inspection plan.
Use a location-specific decision record
For each walkway zone, state the controlling issue, such as access for replacement, corrosive splash or a required fire assessment. Attach the relevant drawing and evidence. Compare both options against that same issue. The selected material can differ across one facility, so preserve zone identifiers in the order schedule.
Sources and scope
These references support the stated technical context. The purchasing checklists are GetFRP recommendations. Manufacturer documents do not certify other suppliers' products.
- Strongwell: molded and pultruded grating
Manufacturer reference for construction and fabrication differences; its product approvals do not apply to other suppliers.
