Food and beverage processing facilities place unique demands on building materials. Production areas are washed down frequently, sometimes multiple times per shift. Cleaning agents range from mild detergents to strong caustics and acid-based sanitizers. Organic acids from fruit, dairy, or fermentation processes can also attack conventional materials. At the same time, walking surfaces must remain safe for workers even when wet or covered with food residue.

Fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) is used in these environments because it resists corrosion from many cleaning chemicals and organic acids, and it can be supplied with slip-resistant surfaces. However, specifying FRP for a food or beverage plant is not simply a matter of choosing “corrosion-resistant” material. The specific resin, surface finish, and design all need to be evaluated against the actual production and sanitation conditions. This page explains the main engineering considerations based on general industry knowledge.

What Food and Beverage Environments Demand from Materials

Unlike a dry warehouse, a food processing floor is a wet, chemically active environment. Key stressors include:

  • Frequent washdowns: high-pressure water and steam are used to clean equipment and floors. Materials must tolerate constant moisture without absorbing water or delaminating.
  • Cleaning and sanitizing chemicals: chlorine-based sanitizers, quaternary ammonium compounds, phosphoric acid cleaners, and caustic foams are common. Each chemical interacts differently with different resin systems.
  • Organic acids: citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, and others from food products or fermentation can be corrosive over time, especially when combined with heat and moisture.
  • Hygiene expectations: surfaces must be cleanable, with no crevices or exposed fibers that could harbor bacteria or absorb food particles.
  • Slip hazards: grease, oil, and water make floors slippery. Walking surfaces need reliable traction without creating areas that are difficult to clean.

No single material meets every requirement perfectly, but FRP offers a combination of corrosion resistance, light weight, and surface design flexibility that makes it a practical choice in many wet processing zones.

FRP Grating and Platforms in Wet Processing Areas

The most common FRP products used in food and beverage plants are grating panels and platform systems installed in wet processing areas, mezzanines, and around tanks or conveyors. They serve two main functions: providing a safe walking and working surface, and resisting the chemical and moisture exposure that would quickly degrade steel or wood.

Two types of FRP grating are frequently considered for these environments:

Mini Mesh Grating

Mini mesh grating has smaller openings than standard open mesh grating, which makes it more comfortable for foot traffic, reduces the chance of small objects falling through, and still allows liquids to drain. The tighter mesh pattern also helps prevent debris from becoming trapped. It is often selected for areas where employees stand for long periods or where small tools or food particles could otherwise drop through. See mini mesh grating for product details.

Solid Top Checker Plate Grating

In some food processing areas, a solid surface is preferred because it prevents any liquid or debris from passing through and simplifies cleaning. Solid top checker plate grating has a textured surface that provides slip resistance while presenting a continuous, easy-to-clean top layer. This type of product is often used in dry processing areas or where washdown water must be contained and directed to drains rather than falling through the floor. Visit solid top checker plate grating for more information.

Both options can be manufactured with anti-slip surfaces. The choice between them depends on the specific drainage requirements, cleaning methods, and traffic patterns in each zone.

A Critical Note on Food Safety Compliance

It is important to distinguish between “corrosion-resistant” and “food-safe.” FRP as a material category is not automatically approved for direct food contact or for use in all food processing areas. Any claim that a product meets food safety regulations, such as FDA, EU food contact standards, or specific hygienic design criteria, requires product-specific compliance evidence. Without such evidence, no statement of food safety certification should be made.

When evaluating FRP for food and beverage applications, ask the manufacturer for documentation that clearly states what the product has been tested for and which standards it meets. If that information is not available, the material can still be considered for non-contact applications such as walkways, platforms, and equipment supports, where the primary concern is corrosion resistance rather than direct food safety.

Selection Factors for Food and Beverage Environments

Engineers and plant managers typically evaluate the following variables when specifying FRP for a food or beverage facility:

  • Resin system: must resist the specific cleaning chemicals and organic acids used at the site. Isophthalic polyester and vinyl ester are common options, but compatibility with each sanitizer should be confirmed.
  • Open area percentage: determines how much liquid drains through the grating. In washdown areas, a higher open area reduces pooling, but it must be balanced against comfort and the need to prevent small items from falling through.
  • Slip resistance: wet and greasy surfaces require a textured or gritted finish. The level of slip resistance should be matched to the specific conditions, not assumed from a general “anti-slip” label.
  • Ease of cleaning: surfaces with fewer crevices and a smoother top layer are easier to sanitize. Solid top products offer an advantage where complete containment of liquids is required.
  • Impact and load requirements: carts, pallet jacks, or occasional forklift traffic may affect panel thickness and support spacing.

These factors interact. For example, a high open area that drains well might not be the best choice if workers find it uncomfortable or if small food particles fall through and create cleaning problems below. The final selection should be based on a realistic assessment of how the area is actually used and cleaned.

Summary

FRP grating and platforms offer real advantages in food and beverage processing environments: corrosion resistance, slip resistance, and design options that accommodate drainage and cleaning. However, the specification process must be grounded in the actual chemicals, temperatures, and sanitation practices of the facility. And when food safety compliance is part of the requirement, only product-specific evidence can support a claim of compliance. Corrosion resistance is not the same as food safety, and the two should never be conflated.