Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics (FRP) Fabrication

STRUCTURAL SHAPES

Part 1 General

1.01 RELATED DOCUMENTS

A. Drawings and general provisions of Contract, including General and Supplementary Conditions and Division 1 Specification Sections, apply to this section.

B. The publications listed below (latest revision applicable) form a part of this specification to the extent referenced herein. The publications are referred to within the text by the designation only.

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS (ASTM) Test Methods:

ASTM D-635-Standard Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position

ASTM D-638-Tensile Properties of Plastics

ASTM D-790-Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics

ASTM D-2344-Apparent Interlaminar Shear Strength of Parallel Fiber Composites by Short Beam Method

ASTM D-495-High Voltage, Low-Current, Dry Arc Resistance of Solid Electrical Insulation

ASTM D-696-Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion for Plastics

ASTM E-84-Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (OSHA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Volume 29

1.02 SCOPE OF WORK

A. This section includes shop fabricated fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) pultruded shapes and structures where noted on the drawings.

1.03 SCOPE OF WORK

A. The CONTRACTOR shall furnish, fabricate (where necessary), and install all fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) items, with all appurtenances, accessories and incidentals necessary to produce a complete, operable and serviceable installation as shown on the Contract Drawings and as specified herein, and in accordance with the requirements of the Contract Documents.

1.04 CONTRACTOR SUBMITTALS

A. The CONTRACTOR shall furnish shop drawings of all fabricated systems and accessories in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

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B. The CONTRACTOR shall furnish manufacturer's shop drawings clearly showing material sizes, types, styles, part or catalog numbers, complete details for the fabrication and erection of components including, but not limited to, location, lengths, type and sizes of fasteners, clip angles, member sizes, and connection details.

C. The CONTRACTOR shall submit the manufacturer’s published literature including structural design data, structural properties data, structural shapes load/deflection tables, corrosion resistance tables, certificates of compliance, test reports as applicable, concrete anchor systems and their allowable load tables, and design calculations for systems not sized or designed in the contract documents.

D. The CONTRACTOR may be requested to submit sample pieces of each item specified herein for acceptance by the ENGINEER as to quality and color. Sample pieces shall be manufactured by the method to be used in the WORK.

E. The CONTRACTOR shall provide calculations and drawings sealed by a Registered Professional Engineer.

1.05 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. All items to be provided under this Section shall be furnished only by manufacturers having experience in the design and manufacture of similar products and systems. If requested, experience shall be demonstrated by a record of at least five (5) previous, separate, similar successful installations in the last five (5) years.

B. Substitution of any component or modification of system shall be allowed when approved by the Architect or Engineer.

C. Fabricator Qualifications: Firm experienced in successfully producing FRP fabrications similar to that indicated for this project, with sufficient production capacity to produce required units without causing delay in the work.

D. In addition to requirements of these specifications, comply with manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations for work.

1.06 DESIGN CRITERIA

A. The design criteria of the FRP products including connections shall be in accordance with governing building codes and generally accepted standards in the FRP industry.

B. Structures: Structures shall be designed for a minimum of 65 psf live load (or as required for the fiberglass grating – whichever is greater) with a maximum deflection of L/180 for the structural member being considered.

1.07 PRODUCT DELIVERY AND STORAGE

A. All fiberglass gratings and components shall be shop fabricated, piece match marked to assembly or erection drawings.

B. Delivery of Materials: Manufactured materials shall be delivered in original, unbroken pallets, packages, containers, or bundles bearing the label of the manufacturer. Adhesives, resins and their catalysts and hardeners shall be crated or boxed separately and noted as such to facilitate their movement to a dry indoor storage facility.

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C. Storage of Products: All materials shall be carefully handled to prevent them from abrasion, cracking, chipping, twisting, other deformations, and other types of damage. Store items in an enclosed area and free from contact with soil and water. Store adhesives, resins and their catalysts and hardeners in dry indoor storage facilities between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 29 degrees Celsius) until they are required.

Part 2 – Products

2.01 MANUFACTURER

A. Structural shapes shall be AmeriShapes

Above as manufactured by: Canadian Composite Structures, Inc..
1191 Center Point Dr.
Henderson, NV 89074
(702) 567-0303
(702) 567-0323 FAX

2.02 GENERAL

A. All FRP items under this Section shall be composed of fiberglass reinforcements and resins in qualities, quantities, properties, arrangements and dimensions as necessary to meet the design requirements and dimensions as specified in the Contract Documents.

B. Fiberglass reinforcement shall be a combination of continuous roving, continuous strand mats and surfacing veils in sufficient quantities as needed by the application and/or physical properties required.

C. Resin shall {VINYL ESTER or POLYESTER - choose one} for all systems.

D. All finished surfaces of FRP items and fabrications shall be smooth, resin rich, free of voids and without dry spots, cracks, crazes or unreinforced areas. All glass fibers shall be well covered with resin to protect against their exposure due to wear or weathering.

E. All FRP structural shapes shall have a tested flame spread rating of 25 or less when tested in accordance with the ASTM E 84 Tunnel Test. Fiberglass gratings shall also have a tested burn time of less than 30 seconds and an extent of burn rate of less than or equal to 10 millimeters per ASTM D635. Manufacturer may be required to provide certification of ASTM E84 test on fiberglass grating panels from an independent testing laboratory. Test data shall be from full scale testing of actual production fiberglass grating of the same type of material supplied on the project. Test data performed only on the base resin shall not be acceptable.

F. All fiberglass grating clips and hardware shall be manufactured of Type 316SS.

G. After fabrication, all cut ends, holes and abrasions of FRP fiberglass grating shall be sealed with a resin comparable to the fiberglass grating panel or structural system.

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2.03 STRUCTURAL SHAPES

A. All structural shapes are to be manufactured by the pultrusion process with a glass content minimum of 45%, maximum of 55% by weight for maximum sunlight and chemical resistance. The structural shapes shall be composed of fiberglass reinforcement and resin in qualities, quantities, properties, arrangements and dimensions as necessary to meet the design requirements and dimensions as specified in the Contract Documents.

B. Pultruded structural shapes are to have the minimum longitudinal mechanical properties listed below:

Property	ASTM Test Method	Value	Units
Tensile Strength	D-638	30,000 (206)	psi (MPa)
Tensile Modulus	D-638	2.5 x 10⁶ (17.2)	psi (GPa)
Flexural Strength	D-790	30,000 (206)	psi (MPa)
Flexural Modulus	D-790	1.8 x 10⁶ (12.4)	psi (GPa)
Flexural Modulus (Full Section)	N/A	2.8 x 10⁶ (19.3)	psi (GPa)
Short Beam Shear (Transverse)	D-2344	4,500 (31)	psi (MPa)
Shear Modulus (Transverse)	N/A	4.5 x 10⁵ (3.1)	psi (GPa)
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	D-696	8.0 x 10^-6 (1.4 x 10 ^-6)	in/in/°F (cm/cm/°C)
Flame Spread	E-84	25 or less	N/A

Part 3 – EXECUTION

3.01 GENERAL

A. Measurements - FRP structural systems supplied shall meet the dimensional requirements and tolerances as shown or specified. The Contractor shall provide and/or verify measurements in field for work fabricated to fit field conditions as required by manufacturer to complete the work.

B. Sealing - All shop fabricated cuts, drilled holes, etc. shall be coated with resin to provide maximum corrosion resistance. All field fabricated cuts, drilled holes, etc. shall be coated similarly by the contractor in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

C. Hardware - Type 316 stainless bolts shall be provided.

D. Fabrication – Structural components shall be fully fabricated and shop assembled to the fullest extent possible, generally limited only by shipping requirements

3.02 INSPECTION

A. Shop inspection is authorized as required by the Owner and shall be at Owner's expense. The fabricator shall give ample notice to Contractor prior to the beginning of any fabrication work so that inspection may be provided.

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B. The structural shapes shall be as free, as commercially possible, from visual defects such as foreign inclusions, delaminations, blisters, resin burns, air bubbles and pits. The surface shall have a smooth finish.

3.03 INSTALLATION

A. Contractor shall install FRP structural shapes and systems in accordance with manufacturer’s assembly drawings.

B. Field cut and drill fiberglass reinforced plastic products with carbide or diamond tipped bits and blades. Seal cut or drilled surfaces in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. Follow manufacturer's instructions when cutting or drilling fiberglass products or using resin products; provide adequate ventilation.

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