What Makes Steel Grating “ADA-Compliant?”

Morgans Welding
  • February 12th, 2025

The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) has many requirements regarding public accommodations, even for steel grating. Learn more in this post.

  • Blog
Metal lattice platform and galvanized steel. Industrial walkways, platforms or mezzanines due to their high strength, slip resistance and ability to withstand various weather conditions.

Steel grating has many applications in the industrial and municipal sectors, including platforms, walkways, catwalks, stormwater drainage covers, utility access, ventilation grating, and more.

When grating is used in public spaces, it must be compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act to prevent injuries. Any type of grating, including welded, press-locked, and swage-locked, can be ADA-compliant.

What Is the Americans With Disabilities Act?

The Americans With Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and ensures they can participate fully in society. While many people associate the ADA with employment, public accommodations are a huge aspect of the act, which includes steel grating.

ADA Requirements for Steel Grating

Diagram showing ADA requirements outlined under chapter 3
Image from the U.S. Access Board

ADA-compliant steel grating follows the two requirements set by Chapter 3 of the ADA:

  • Opening Width: The width of the bar grating (opening) must not exceed half an inch. This limitation ensures wheelchair casters and other mobility devices don’t get stuck or wedged into the grating.
  • Opening Orientation: The second requirement is specifically for elongated openings. If the openings are elongated, the grates have to be oriented perpendicular to the dominant direction of travel.

Outside of these two primary requirements, manufacturers may provide serrated grating, which features several notches along the bearing bars to improve grip. They may also provide a hot-dip galvanized finish to further increase slip resistance. Hot-dip galvanized finishes are textured, so they are less likely to be slippery (especially when wet) compared to mill and paint finishes. However, there is no coefficient of friction value limitation for grating, so these are just extra precautions.

Get Help From Morgan’s Welding

Morgan’s Welding has been a trusted manufacturer of standard and custom municipal grating, including bike grates and ADA-compliant grating, since 1977. Please visit our website to learn more about our products and capabilities.

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