Aluminium checker plate is one of the most commonly used building applications worldwide. There are many ways in which it can be used and brings many benefits to work environments, public establishments or in the home.
But what are the most frequent and advantageous uses of aluminium tread plate and where will you find it?
Want to learn more? Keep reading to find out, we hope our expert knowledge will answer all your questions about aluminium checker plate.
What Is Aluminium Checker Plate?
Aluminium checker plate, also known as chequer plate, is a functional and conventional material often used in the construction and transport industry.
It features a raised five bar pattern that acts as a non-slip surface. It can also come in a one bar, three bar or diamond bar tread pattern. Furthermore, aluminium is a reflective metal so it has a shiny silver surface which can give it an attractive appearance.
Checker tread plate is generally made from aluminium steel. We use 1050 grade, because it’s resistant to corrosion and is a lightweight material to work with. Tread plate can also be made from other metals such as galvanised steel and stainless steel. However, these aren’t as common as aluminium because aluminium is easier to cut and bend and it’s most cost effective.
Ways To Use Tread Plate?
Aluminium cheque plate has a huge variety of uses on both small and large scale applications. Here are the top 10 most prevalent uses:
10.) Interior decoration
Because of the patterns you get on aluminium chequered plate create texture and aesthetic, it can be an effective approach to interior design. Checkerplate can have an attractive appearance that could be used to complement the design of a room if you’re looking for an industrial or modern look.
9.) Tool boxes
Aluminium checkered plate can make a good surface for the inside of tool boxes. Aluminium is a reflective metal so this will allow light to reflect off the checker sheets and make it easier to find tools. Also tread plate has a grip texture, this will allow tools to not slide around as much due to the anti-slip surface.
8.) Fire escapes
Aluminium checkerplate has a good grip surface, this makes it great for using as cladding on floors and walls of fire escapes because in the event of a fire, there is the reduced risk of someone slipping whilst in a rush to leave a building therefore they won’t hurt themselves. Aluminium is also a good conductor of heat, this means it has a high melting point so it’s a good resistor to heat.
7.) Treads for escalators
Checker plates are often used at the beginning and ending of escalators. Because it’s a non-slip surface, it creates grip for people getting on and off a moving escalator in which people could slip or trip over the threshold.
6.) Kick plates
The next most common use for aluminium chequer is kick plates that you see at the bottom of doors. This is useful as it protects the foot or side of a door from damage by kicking or slamming.
5.) Cargo and aircraft flooring
Aluminium chequered five bar tread grips makes a good anti-slip surface which is perfect for moving vehicles. When in an aircraft or train where there can be consistent movement and turbulence, tread plates reduce the risk of people slipping and falling over with it’s anti-slip surface. It is also a lightweight material so it doesn’t add a lot of weight to a vehicle or aircraft.
4.) Wall and floor cladding
Checker plating make great wall and floor cladding as it adds a layer of protection. Cladding on the wall normally consists of checker plate being added to the bottom half where people are likely to cause marks or denting to a wall than if it wasn’t added. It is often used in buildings with high footfall such as airports, shopping centers and hospitals. These kind of places also use cladding on the floor, this is often enforced when slowing down a stream of people is required. The raised 5 bar treads can act as a source of friction when people walk over it when they have a suitcase or trolley which influences them to slow down.
3.) Stairways and ramps
These applications can regularly cause people to slip and hurt themselves especially when there is no grip or nothing to grab onto. By attaching aluminium checker plate to a stairway or ramp, there is the reduced risk of slipping due to its anti-slip surface. Furthermore, it will also make it easier for wheelchairs to go up and down ramps specifically in wet or icy conditions.
2.) Vehicle steps and floors
Similar to the cargo and aircraft flooring, checker plating prevents people from sliding around the floor when a vehicle is moving. It’s also great for using on steps leading into a truck as it can be slippery. Also, with it being high up, you want to reduce the risk of falling as much as possible.
1.) Anti-slip surfaces
The number one use for aluminium checker plate is for slip resistant surfaces. This material is used globally as a grip surface to reduce the risk of people slipping and sliding in industries that can be dangerous such as construction and transport therefore reducing the chance of injury.
Advantages of Aluminium Chequer?
- Lightweight
- Resistant to corrosion
- Easy to clean
- More cost effective than stainless steel
- Easy to cut and bend
- Flexible
- Recyclable
- Good conductor of heat and electricity
1050 Grade Aluminium
1050 is the grade of aluminium that we supply despite it having other grades. However we choose to supply this grade because we believe it’s the most beneficial and allows you to get the most out of it compared to other aluminum grades. Some advantages of 1050 grade aluminum are:
- Lightweight
- Easy to work with
- Great welding abilities
- Resistant to corrosion, heat and chemicals
- Good conductor of heat and electricity
- Recyclable
- Reflective
- Non-magnetic
- Strong and ductile
How Do You Cut Aluminium Chequer Plate?
The cutting process we use to cut the aluminum checker sheets is with an industrial guillotine. We simply feed the sheet into the cutting line of the guillotine at the required length. It then get’s held into place and the single blade cuts the sheet into two pieces at the necessary point.
Cut To Size
Our industrial guillotine means we can cut down our aluminum checker sheeting to any size you require.
All of our aluminium checker plate comes in no larger than 500mm x 1000mm (1 Metre) size sheets but we can cut them down to any size with our industrial guillotine. If we don’t have the size on our website that you require, you can contact us about what you are looking for and we will assist you the best way we can.
If you found our blog post informative, be sure to check out our article about Aluminium Sheeting.
As always, thank you for checking out our blog. We hope that this helps you with your project.
Please also check out the other articles in our helpful guide series. We have written about aluminium sheeting and checker plate recently to name but two of our articles.
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If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us.