GRP for Data Centres
GRP is used on data centres for roof walkways, riser flooring and plant platforms, because it is light, does not conduct and does not rust. At UIS, we design, fabricate and install GRP for data centres, using our own site teams.
Why use GRP on a data centre?
GRP is used on data centres for roof walkways, step-overs, riser flooring and plant platforms. It weighs roughly a fifth of the steel equivalent, it does not conduct electricity, and it does not rust on an exposed roof.
If you are fitting out the roof plant and risers on a new data hall, or adding walkways to a live one, the walkways and riser floors have to be safe at height, light on the roof, and installed without disturbing a building that has to keep running.
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Light on the roof
GRP walkways weigh roughly a fifth of the steel equivalent, so they put less load on the roof, and our team can carry the panels up by hand.
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Safe beside live cable
GRP riser flooring does not conduct. We cut it to size in our workshop, and any trimming is done outside the data hall or under dust extraction.
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Planned around a live building
We work to a method statement written for your site and plan each visit with your facilities team.
What we build for data centres
What we build on the roof, in the risers and around the plant, and what sets each choice.
- Roof walkways
- GRP grating on non-penetrating or fixed bases, with guardrails where needed
- Set by: The roof build-up and the routes to the plant
- Step-overs
- GRP stairs over pipework and ductwork, with handrails both sides
- Set by: What is being crossed
- Riser flooring
- GRP grating on a GRP or steel frame, with lift-out panels where needed
- Set by: Loads from your engineer, fire class from your fire strategy
- Plant platforms and stairs
- GRP or steel, to suit the loads
- Set by: The equipment, loads and clearances
- Work at Height Regulations 2005
- Guarded walkways where work at height cannot be avoided
- Source: legislation.gov.uk
- BS EN ISO 14122
- Platforms, walkways, stairs, guardrails and fixed ladders for access to plant
- Source: BSI (check the current edition)
- Approved Document B
- Fire safety in buildings; the fire class of riser flooring follows your fire strategy
- Source: gov.uk
- BS 4592-0
- Industrial flooring and walkways, including GRP grating
- Source: BSI
This is general information, not fire safety or engineering advice. Ask for the fire test report for the GRP grade specified.
We price data centre work from a survey or your drawings. These are the main things that affect the price:
- the length of the roof walkways and the number of step-overs
- the roof build-up and fixing method
- the number of risers and floors
- the fire grade of the GRP
- working hours and site rules
Our GRP product pages
Each of these has its own page with the full specification.
From survey to handover.
We survey, detail, fabricate and install the GRP ourselves, so one company is responsible for the whole job.
Survey and measure
We survey the roof routes, risers and plant areas with your facilities team. On an existing structure we can 3D-scan it, so our drawings match what is on site.
Drawings and quotation
Our draughtsmen detail the GRP and any support steelwork to the loads your structural engineer gives us. We then send an itemised quotation that includes fabrication and installation. On major commercial packages the quotation comes back within 1 to 2 weeks.
Fabrication
We fabricate the support steelwork and cut the GRP panels and sections to size in our Rotherham workshop, so most of the cutting is done before delivery.
Installation
Our own site team installs the GRP under an SSSTS-qualified supervisor, to a method statement written for the job. We cut the GRP to size in our workshop, so there is little cutting on site. Where a panel does need trimming, we cut it with a diamond blade under dust extraction, away from live areas where possible, and no hot-works permit is needed.
Handover
At handover we give you the O&M pack, with the manufacturer's test data for the products we installed. The 12-month defect liability period runs from practical completion, in line with standard JCT terms, unless your contract sets different terms.
Why GRP suits data centres
GRP roof walkways weigh roughly a fifth of the steel equivalent, so they put less load on the roof. GRP riser flooring does not conduct beside live cable. We design, make and install both with our own team.
Request a quote
Riser floor panels and frames.
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Where we use GRP in a data centre
These are the main places GRP goes on a data centre.
About UIS-
01
Roof walkways and step-overs
We build GRP walkways to the cooling plant on the roof, with step-overs across pipework and ductwork and guardrails where the route meets an open edge. Where the roof build-up allows, we use non-penetrating bases.
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02
Riser flooring
We fit GRP riser flooring at each floor on a support frame we make, cut around the cable and pipework, with lift-out panels where your team needs to get into the void. GRP riser flooring is a walk-on floor for maintenance access and fall protection. It is not fire stopping: the fire separation between floors comes from the shaft enclosure or a tested fire-stopping system, as your fire strategy sets out.
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Plant platforms and stairs
We build platforms and stairs at generators, tanks and external plant, in GRP where corrosion or conductivity matters, or in steel where the loads need it.
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Installed by our own site teams
Our own site teams install every job. Each job has an SSSTS-qualified supervisor, every operative holds a CSCS card, and the teams are PASMA and IPAF trained. We write a method statement for each job and plan the work around your site, out of hours where your programme needs it.
"I've worked with UIS for several years on some high profile and very complex projects. Their attitude and work ethic are second to none - providing high quality services and products which are delivered safely and on time every time. Overall they are a pleasure to do business with and wouldn't hesitate recommending UIS for any steelwork or metalwork packages."
Questions we get asked.
GRP weighs roughly a fifth of the steel equivalent, so GRP walkways put less load on the roof and our team can carry them up by hand. GRP does not rust on an exposed roof, and the open grating drains. Where the roof build-up allows, the walkway sits on non-penetrating bases.
Yes, where the GRP grade specified meets the fire class your fire strategy sets. GRP does not conduct beside live cable, and we can make panels lift-out for access to the void. Ask for the fire test report for the product. GRP riser flooring is a walk-on floor for maintenance access and fall protection. It is not fire stopping: the fire separation between floors comes from the shaft enclosure or a tested fire-stopping system, as your fire strategy sets out.
Yes. We plan the work with your team around your change-control process, work to a method statement under an SSSTS-qualified supervisor, and cut the GRP to size in our workshop. Any trimming on site is done outside the data hall or under dust extraction, so no GRP dust gets into the data hall, and no hot-works permit is needed.
Yes. We build platforms and stairs at generators, tanks and external plant, in GRP or in steel where the loads need it, as part of the same job.
Your structural engineer sets the loads and your fire strategy sets the fire class. We design and install the walkways, riser flooring and platforms to meet both.