The Situation:

ISP Fine Chemicals, Inc., a pharmaceutical preparations plant, was struggling with slippery substances building up on their existing stair treads and landings at their Columbus, OH location.  The current treads were not allowing for drainage and were prone to be very slippery due to wet conditions.

The Solution:

SlipNOT® Metal Safety Flooring was contacted to help find a solution that would allow for drainage and slip resistance at the same time.  A SlipNOT® sales representative suggested using either using galvanized perforated plate or expanded metal for their application, depending on how thick they wanted the product to be.  Both ISP Fine Chemicals and the SlipNOT® sales representative agreed on using galvanized expanded metal to cover the existing stair treads.  Galvanized expanded metal is not only lightweight and cost effective, but the open diamond pattern would permit air flow in addition to allowing water, snow and mud to pass through.  Galvanized steel expanded metal not only allows drainage of the slippery substances to drain through, but maintains its slip resistant properties, even if completely submerged.

ISP Fine Chemicals ordered (14) pieces of 11-1/2’’ x 29’’ galvanized expanded metal with two (2) bend downs 2’’ each per piece to cover the existing stair treads.   Three (3) additional pieces of various sizes were ordered to cover the landing area.  SlipNOT® custom cut these pieces to meet the job requirements of the project and then sent them to be galvanized; galvanizing helps prevent corrosion and provides rust resistance in environments, like outdoor applications, that come in contact with a wide array of elements and substances.  Once SlipNOT® received the galvanized expanded metal pieces from the galvanizer, the pieces were shipped to ISP Fine Chemicals to be tack welded over the existing treads and landings.

The Impact:

The galvanized expanded metal with SlipNOT®’s slip resistant coating applied is meeting and exceeding the expectations of ISP Fine Chemicals.  The stairs that used to be very slippery when coming in contact with elements and chemicals are now withstanding all slippery substances, thus providing ISP Fine Chemicals with a safe walking surface for their employees.