Guide
Steel Grating Glossary: Terms Buyers Actually Need
By DONGFU GRATING Engineering Team · Published 2026-07-17 · Updated 2026-07-17
Steel grating quotations use compact technical language. Bearing bars are the load-carrying bars that run in the span direction; cross bars hold the grid together. Span is the unsupported distance between supports, while panel width is measured across the bearing bars. A designation such as 19-W-4 describes welded construction and bar spacing but does not state bearing bar depth and thickness. Banding closes panel edges, nosing strengthens the leading edge of a stair tread, and saddle clips provide removable fixing. Hot-dip galvanizing protects fabricated carbon steel after cutting and welding. Using these terms consistently prevents orientation, opening-size and fixing mistakes.
Panel anatomy
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|
| Bearing bar | Load-carrying bar standing on edge and running in the span direction |
| Cross bar | Smaller bar across bearing bars that stabilizes the grid |
| Span | Clear unsupported distance measured along the bearing bars |
| Banding | Flat bar closing an open panel edge or cut-out |
| Nosing | Front edge member on a stair tread |
| Saddle clip | Removable bolted fixing that saddles adjacent bearing bars |
Construction and finish terms
- Welded grating joins bars at every intersection by resistance or manual welding.
- Press-locked grating mechanically presses cross bars into pre-punched bearing bars.
- Swage-locked grating locks cross bars through bearing bars by deformation.
- Serrated bearing bars have teeth in the walking surface for additional slip resistance.
- Hot-dip galvanizing coats the completely fabricated carbon steel panel in molten zinc.