Carbon Steel Checkered Plate — Factory Direct Supplier | Huaxia-Steel
Checkered plate, also known as diamond plate or tear-drop plate, provides a raised anti-slip surface on carbon steel sheet. It is used for walkways, platforms, stair treads, truck beds, and industrial flooring where safety underfoot matters.
Huaxia-Steel supplies carbon steel checkered plate in diamond, tear-drop, and lentil patterns, with grades including Q235, SS400, and ASTM A36. We deliver cut-to-size sheets from Chinese mills direct to your project.
Product Overview
Our checkered plate is hot-rolled from quality carbon steel and finished with a raised pattern on one side. The pattern increases friction, improves drainage, and hides minor surface damage. The reverse side remains smooth for easy welding and fastening.
- Product form: Hot-rolled checkered steel sheet / plate.
- Pattern: Diamond (rhombus), tear-drop, lentil.
- Standard grades: Q235B, SS400, ASTM A36, S235JR, S275JR, Q345B.
- Surface: As-rolled, mill scale; shot-blasted or galvanized on request.
Specifications and Size Range
| Parameter | Range |
|---|---|
| Base thickness | 2.0 mm to 12.0 mm |
| Pattern height | 0.5-2.0 mm above base thickness |
| Width | 1,000 mm, 1,210 mm, 1,250 mm, 1,500 mm |
| Length | 2,000-12,000 mm; cut-to-length available |
| Edge | Mill edge or cut edge |
| Tolerance | GB/T 709, ASTM A6, or EN 10029 |
| Bundle weight | 3,000-8,000 kg typical |
Approximate Weight Table
| Base thickness (mm) | Approximate weight kg/m2 |
|---|---|
| 2.5 | 21.6 |
| 3.0 | 25.6 |
| 4.0 | 33.4 |
| 4.5 | 37.3 |
| 5.0 | 42.3 |
| 6.0 | 50.1 |
| 8.0 | 65.8 |
| 10.0 | 81.6 |
Available Grades
| Grade | Standard | Yield MPa | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q235B | GB/T 700 | 235 | General flooring, platforms, stairs |
| SS400 | JIS G3101 | 245 | Walkways, truck beds, shelving |
| ASTM A36 | ASTM A36/A36M | 250 | Industrial flooring and platforms |
| S235JR | EN 10025-2 | 235 | Construction and infrastructure |
| Q345B / S355JR | GB/T 1591 / EN 10025-2 | 345 | Heavy-duty flooring and ramps |
Manufacturing Standards
- GB/T 3277 – Hot-rolled checkered steel sheet and strip.
- ASTM A786 / A786M – Rolled steel floor plates.
- EN 10025-2 – Hot-rolled products of structural steels.
- JIS G3101 – Rolled steels for general structure.
- ASTM A36 – Carbon structural steel plate.
Applications
- Industrial walkways, platforms, and stair treads.
- Truck and trailer beds, loading ramps.
- Warehouses, workshops, and mezzanine floors.
- Ship decks, offshore platform walkways.
- Agricultural and mining equipment floors.
- Catwalks, scaffolding platforms, and trench covers.
Quality Assurance
Every checkered plate order is verified before shipment:
- Chemical analysis by spectrometer.
- Tensile test for yield, tensile strength, and elongation.
- Dimensional check of thickness, width, length, and pattern height.
- Visual inspection for pattern uniformity, edge condition, and surface defects.
- Flatness check.
- MTC to EN 10204 3.1; third-party inspection available.
Packaging and Shipping
Sheets are lifted with magnetic clamps, bundled by size, and prepared for ocean or truck transport. Packing options include:
- Anti-rust oil coating or VCI film.
- Steel strapping at multiple points.
- Wooden separators for thin sheets.
- Marking with grade, heat number, dimensions, and standard.
- Bulk or container shipment with loading photos.
Pattern Types and Dimensions
| Pattern | Appearance | Typical height | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond (rhombus) | Raised diamond pattern | 0.5-1.2 mm | Industrial flooring, stairs, platforms |
| Tear-drop | Single raised lobe pattern | 0.8-1.5 mm | Truck beds, ramps, walkways |
| Lentil | Round raised dots | 0.5-1.0 mm | Decorative and architectural |
Surface Treatment Options
Checkered plate can be supplied with several surface treatments to extend service life:
- Mill scale: As-rolled surface with natural oxide layer. Lowest cost, suitable for indoor use.
- Shot blasting: Removes mill scale and prepares the surface for painting.
- Hot-dip galvanizing: Zinc coating for outdoor and corrosive environments. Coating weights from Z120 to Z275.
- Primer and paint: One-coat or two-coat systems for color coding and corrosion protection.
Design and Safety Notes
The raised pattern improves slip resistance but reduces the effective flat contact area. When designing supports and fastener layouts, engineers should use the base thickness for structural calculations, not the overall thickness including the pattern. For walkways subject to frequent traffic, a tear-drop pattern often provides better traction in wet or oily conditions than a diamond pattern.
Cutting and Fabrication
Checkered plate can be cut by oxy-fuel, plasma, laser, or shearing. For thicknesses up to 8 mm, guillotine shearing is economical. For thicker plates or complex shapes, plasma or laser cutting is preferred. Welding follows the same procedures as the base grade – for Q235B and A36, standard mild-steel electrodes such as E6013 or ER70S-6 are suitable.
Order Example
A typical order might read: “Carbon steel checkered plate, Q235B, tear-drop pattern, base thickness 4.5 mm, width 1,500 mm, length 6,000 mm, 20 tonnes, mill edge, MTC to EN 10204 3.1.” Specifying the base thickness rather than overall thickness avoids disputes with the supplier.
Fire Resistance and Safety Ratings
Carbon steel checkered plate retains structural strength at elevated temperatures better than aluminum or plastic alternatives. It does not burn, melt, or emit toxic fumes. For fire-escape routes and industrial platforms, steel checkered plate is often the preferred flooring material. Always design the supporting structure to the relevant fire-resistance rating, as the plate itself does not provide fire rating.
Comparison with Plain Plate
Checkered plate costs slightly more than plain plate of the same base thickness because of the additional rolling step that creates the pattern. The weight is also higher due to the raised pattern. However, the anti-slip surface often eliminates the need for separate non-slip coatings or grating, reducing total installed cost. For purely structural applications where slip resistance is not required, plain plate is more economical.
Installation and Maintenance
Checkered plate is usually welded or bolted to a supporting steel frame. For walkways, ensure that the pattern runs perpendicular to the main traffic direction for maximum traction. Drainage holes should be provided in outdoor installations to prevent water pooling. Periodic cleaning with degreaser and water maintains slip resistance in oily environments. For galvanized plates, inspect the coating annually and touch up damaged areas with zinc-rich paint.
Load Table Guidance
The allowable load for a checkered plate floor depends on the base thickness, support spacing, and grade. As a general guide for Q235B plate simply supported at 600 mm centers:
| Base thickness | Approximate uniform load | Deflection limit L/200 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | 3-4 kPa | 600 mm span |
| 4.5 mm | 6-8 kPa | 800 mm span |
| 6 mm | 10-12 kPa | 1,000 mm span |
| 8 mm | 18-22 kPa | 1,200 mm span |
Always confirm the design with a structural engineer for your specific loading and support conditions.
Finishing and Fabrication Services
We offer additional processing to reduce your on-site work:
- Cutting to size by plasma, laser, or shearing.
- Drilling holes for bolting.
- Edge bending for stair treads and nosings.
- Welding of support frames and stringers.
- Hot-dip galvanizing and painting.
Export Packing and Container Loading
Checkered plates are heavy and bulky. We optimize packing to maximize container payload:
- Flat rack containers for oversized sheets.
- Open-top containers for crane loading.
- Standard containers for cut-to-size bundles.
- Load distribution calculations to avoid container damage.
- Loading supervision and photos on request.
Recycling and Sustainability
Carbon steel checkered plate is 100 percent recyclable and often contains significant recycled content. At the end of service life, it can be recovered through magnetic separation and reprocessed into new steel products. Choosing steel plate over non-recyclable alternatives supports circular economy goals and reduces landfill waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the pattern included in the thickness?
No. The base thickness is measured below the pattern. The overall thickness includes the raised pattern.
Can checkered plate be used outdoors?
Yes, especially when galvanized or painted for corrosion protection.
What is the slip resistance rating?
Slip resistance depends on the pattern and surface condition. Tear-drop patterns generally provide the best wet traction.
How is checkered plate cut?
Shearing, plasma cutting, laser cutting, and waterjet cutting are all common methods.
Why Buy Checkered Plate from Huaxia-Steel
- Direct sourcing from Chinese hot-rolling mills.
- Diamond, tear-drop, and lentil patterns available.
- Cut-to-size service reduces your fabrication time.
- Multiple grades and standards for any project.
- Full MTC and optional third-party inspection.
- Competitive FOB pricing for export volumes.
Request a Quote
Tell us the grade, pattern, base thickness, width, length, and quantity. We will confirm availability, packing, and delivery within one working day.
Related Images
