Heavy Duty Load Tables

Design basis

• Material: carbon steel, ASTM A1011 / A36-equivalent, F_y = 36 ksi (250 MPa).
• Pattern: welded 19-W-2 (bearing bars 1-3/16" / 30 mm on center; cross bars 2" / 50 mm on center) for highest capacity, or 19-W-4 with heavier bearing bars.
• Bearing bar thickness: 1/4" (6 mm).
• Allowable bending stress: 0.66 F_y = 24 ksi (165 MPa) per AISC ASD.
• Deflection reference: L/240 for vehicle traffic, L/360 for forklifts and point loads.
• Support condition: simple span, two ends, banded panel with reinforced edge band where required.

Allowable uniform load — welded 19-W-2, 1/4" bearing bar

Values in pounds per square foot (psf). Bending-stress controlled, AISC ASD; verify deflection for long spans or vehicle loading. 1 psf ≈ 47.9 N/m².

Forklift / point-load guide

For forklifts, pallet jacks, and service vehicles, the governing load is almost always the wheel concentrated load, not uniform load. Typical equivalency for a 3,000 lb wheel on a 4" × 4" tire contact patch:

Typical applications

• Petrochemical and power-plant platforms with vehicle access.
• Mezzanines supporting pallet jacks and 3,000–5,000 lb forklifts.
• Offshore topsides, FPSO grating with H-rating requirements.
• Mine and aggregate screens, dump grates, trench covers over drive aisles.

FAQ — heavy-duty load tables

What grating size should I use for a 48" span and 1,000 psf uniform load?

A 3" × 1/4" bearing bar in welded 19-W-2 provides 1,040 psf allowable, just above 1,000 psf. Select 3-1/2" × 1/4" for comfortable deflection margin.

Can heavy-duty grating handle forklift traffic?

Yes, provided the wheel concentrated load is calculated explicitly. Typical 3,000 lb wheel loads at 48" clear span require 3" × 1/4" bearing bars; 5,000 lb class-3 forklifts require 3-1/2" to 4" bar with reinforced edge banding.

How do I size grating for an H20 highway load (AASHTO)?

An H20 truck equates to a 16,000 lb wheel load. This requires structural-plank or heavy welded grating 4" × 5/16" or deeper with short clear spans (typically ≤ 36"). Contact engineering for certified AASHTO-rated design.

Do I need a banded or reinforced edge?

Heavy-duty panels are normally banded to stabilize bar ends and suit handling, but banding and edge reinforcement must match the wheel path, panel joint, support and assembly calculation. Follow the approved project drawing.

Does heavy galvanizing reduce load capacity?

Galvanizing effects must be considered in material selection, detailing, distortion control, venting, drainage, coating inspection and any applicable embrittlement risk assessment. The structural calculation uses the specified steel section; the coating requirement follows the governing galvanizing standard.