Aluminium Chequered Plate for Floors, Steps and Vehicle Bodies

Weight is the obvious reason. Aluminium is about 2.7 g/cm³ against 7.85 for steel, so a plate of the same thickness weighs roughly 35 percent as much. On a vehicle body, every kilogram saved in the floor is a kilogram of payload. On a walkway cover that has to be lifted by hand for cable access, it is the difference between one person and two.

Corrosion is the second. Aluminium forms its own oxide film and does not need painting for most indoor and outdoor work. Steel plate is stiffer and cheaper per square metre, and it is still the right answer for heavy plant flooring where forklifts run. Our MS chequered plates page covers that side.

Five-bar has groups of five raised bars set at right angles to the neighbouring group, like a woven basket. It is the more common pattern in Indian trade, it is easy to clean, and it grips well in all walking directions.

Diamond, also called one-bar or propeller pattern, has single raised lozenges set in a diagonal grid. It looks sharper and is popular for vehicle trim, tool boxes and decorative kick plates. Bright-finish 3003 in this pattern is the shiny plate you see on pickup trucks and display stands.

Neither pattern makes the plate non-slip in a certified sense. Wet, oily or dusty aluminium tread plate can still be slippery, so for ramps and stairs with a slip rating requirement, look at an anti-slip coating or grating on top.

Always ask whether a quoted thickness is the base or over the pattern. The standard practice is to quote the base thickness, measured on the flat between the raised bars. The pattern adds height above that, which depends on the rolls used, and it also adds weight compared with plain sheet of the same base thickness. Commonly traded base thicknesses run from about 1.5 mm to 6 mm. Check with a vernier on the flat, not across a bar.

3003, the aluminium-manganese alloy, is the general choice. It forms and bends well, takes a bright finish, and suits trims, steps, kick plates, cabinets and light vehicle flooring.

5052 has 2.2 to 2.8 percent magnesium and is noticeably stronger. It handles salt air and road splash better and holds up under more traffic, so it is preferred for heavier truck floors, coastal sites and marine fittings. The general alloy background is on the main aluminium page.

Aluminium chequered plate can be sheared, sawn with a carbide or non-ferrous blade, and bent on an ordinary press brake. Bend with the pattern on the outside, use a generous inside radius on 5052, and protect the face if appearance matters.

It welds by TIG or MIG with 4043 or 5356 filler. When fixing it to a steel frame, separate the two metals with a rubber strip, tape or paint, and use stainless or galvanised fasteners. Bare aluminium bolted straight to bare steel in a wet location will corrode at the joint.

• Quote base thickness, pattern, alloy and sheet size.
• Say whether you need full sheets or cut pieces.
• Mention bright finish if the plate is for display or trim.
• Ask for a test certificate if the job needs one.