Stainless steel drain grates & channel grates

What they are

Stainless steel drain grates cover linear channel drains and floor gullies where appearance, hygiene or corrosion resistance matter more than the lowest first cost. Unlike a galvanised steel grate, a stainless grate has no coating to wear through, can be cleaned with aggressive detergents and keeps a uniform finish in public spaces. World Steel fabricates stainless grates, channel edges and frames in a segregated stainless area of our plant, using the same tooling discipline as our stainless steel grating.

Common applications are hotel and retail plazas, swimming pool surrounds, commercial kitchens, food and beverage plants, hospitals and laboratories, shower and change rooms, and building entries where a slot drain must sit discreetly in stone or tile paving.

Types and options

• Grades: 304 for interiors and mild exteriors; 316 for coastal, pool (chlorinated) and food-plant washdown environments.
• Load: pedestrian and light-vehicle classes as specified; heavier classes are possible with deeper sections and are checked case by case.
• Edges and frames: stainless angle frames or channel edge profiles with anchor lugs, removable or locked grates.

Design and compliance

The designer sets the load class – AS 3996-2019 in Australia, EN 124 in Europe or a project loading in the US – and the stainless grade from the exposure. Bar depth, slot width and support spacing are then sized for the class, with slot width also checked against heel-guard or accessibility requirements. For food and hygiene areas the design avoids closed crevices, lap joints and threaded fixings in the wet zone, and slopes surfaces to drain.

Stainless welding is to AS/NZS 1554.6, AWS D1.6 or EN ISO 3834-2 with EN ISO 15614-1 procedures, and material is to EN 10088 or the equivalent ASTM grades with EN 10204 3.1 certificates. Load testing or third-party approval, where required, is design-specific and agreed in the contract.

Fabrication and finishing at World Steel

Plate is laser cut so slots are clean and consistent, then formed and welded with stainless consumables. Stainless and carbon steel tools are kept apart to prevent iron contamination. After welding, heat tint is removed by pickling, and the surface is passivated so the chromium oxide layer reforms evenly; a brushed or bead-blasted finish can be added for architectural areas. Grates are protected with film, trial-fitted to their frames and packed in timber crates. Learn more about our manufacturing process.

Installation and site notes

• Set frames level with the finished floor and fully bed them; avoid voids that cause rocking.
• Keep carbon steel grinding sparks and tools away from stainless parts during construction.
• Remove protective film after the floor finish is complete; clean with neutral cleaners and fresh water.
• Coordinate drain falls and outlets with the channel supplier and the plumbing design; see foundation interfaces.

Selecting and specifying

Send the channel width and run lengths, load class, grate type and stainless grade, finish, any slot-width or heel-guard rule and the setting detail. We can supply grates alone to suit an existing channel or complete frames and grates. For non-standard shapes and civil items, see custom civil drainage.