Metal grilles and gratings feature in a multitude of internal or external applications. From walkways, ceilings, façades and soffits, to trench covers or even wall features – the applications are only limited by your imagination.

For a high-end finish for your corporate office heating trench or a practical ceiling solution for your shopping centre, metal grilles can provide the perfect solution.

With an endless variety of options available, specifying metal grilles can be a minefield. To ensure your building and its grilles stand the test of time, it can be helpful to consider these 5 criteria before writing your specification:

1 Building Environment

Will the grilles be internal or external? Will they be subject to foot traffic? Light or heavy wheeled traffic? Is the environment particularly humid?

These basic questions will start to dictate your choice of materials and finishes. It will also help a manufacturer recommend the right configuration of profile and support. For example, to be heel-proof, the slot gap should be no wider than 6mm.

2 Situational requirements

Will the end user need access behind the panels for ongoing maintenance?
Do they need to sit flush against adjacent materials, or will they be surface mounted?
Are there any corners, angles or curves to accommodate?
Do you need a specific percentage open area to provide adequate airflow for the services behind? Or a drainage system for moisture?

These are critical questions to consider when narrowing down your requirements to ensure an accurate specification.

3 Loading

What distance do the grilles need to span and what will they need to support?

With the correct combination of support and profile grilles can support the heaviest of loads. Heavier loads require more robust support profiles so this may have a knock-on effect for other areas of your specification, such as the depth of the trench or recess.

4 Design Scheme

How much screening do you want? Would a shaped or coloured finish be appropriate? What about combining with acoustic inserts, lighting or biophilic elements for practical benefits or design interest?

We can help advise on the best options to meet your design aspirations, from cutting and shaping, to powder coating in your desired RAL colour.

5 Standards and Certifications

With sustainability and safety at the heart of all modern building schemes, what certifications do you want from your suppliers and for the products?

You should expect ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications from your supplier as standard. For materials, consider how the finishes may affect safety. For example, metal grilles that are subject to foot traffic will benefit from a shot peen finished to increase slip resistance, and powder coatings will reduce fire ratings from A1 to A2-s2.

Find out more with our brand new CPD

With so many aspects to consider why not recommend our brand new CPD seminar on specifying metal grilles to your CPD co-ordinator and we’ll help you specify these vital elements of your building with creativity and confidence.

Unlike other seminars that cover either the specific material or application, the INTRAsystems session examines the wide range of uses, working through the specification requirements and considerations for each:

• Explore where and how to use metal grilles
• Discuss practical grille sizes and fixing options
• Examine configuration options for load bearing and airflow
• Understand materials and finishings
• Review sustainability credentials and applicable legislations

To book a lunch and learn or breakfast briefing, email cpd@intrasystems.co.uk or call the team on 01425 472000.

In the meantime, for more design ideas, product and technical information, download our grille brochures today.