Precolour : What is a GRP Enclosure?
What is a GRP Enclosure?
Perhaps you have come across the phrase ‘GRP enclosure’ whilst researching water systems for your workplace or business premises. It is not a commonly used phrase, so you may well be wondering what it means, and why you would use one in your business.
What is a GRP enclosure?
In the simplest terms, you could say that a GRP enclosure is a box that is specifically designed to be long lasting and hard wearing, even if it is outside. That is a very simplistic way of describing it, but it is a good starting point. The enclosure can be located outside, as it does not require any protection from the elements, even in cold weather or bright sunlight. They are sometimes referred to as kiosks, though this might not be the name that you use for them. They can be used for many purposes, but a common use is as a place to store water tanks including the associated connections, piping, thermostats, pumps and other plumbing elements in the system.
What is GRP?
GRP stands for ‘glass reinforced plastic’. It is also known as ‘fibre reinforced plastic’, or FRP – it is simply another name for the same material. Whichever name you use, this is a material that is a combination of a plastic resin and a mesh of long fibres, usually glass. The resin provides the solid, water tight material that is resistant to the weather and sunlight. The fibrous mesh provides reinforcement that makes the plastic rigid and able to maintain its strength for many years. This material is used in many situations that require long lasting construction. For example, the hull of many modern boats is made from this material, enabling them to stay in the water for years and to withstand bumps and knocks that happen under the surface. One of the important features of this versatile material is that it is watertight and resists the cold as well as harsh weathers, making it ideal for outdoor use. It is also resistant to UV light, meaning that it will not become weakened in sunlight.
The enclosures are created using a mould; a layer of resin is placed into the smooth mould, with a hardening agent and any colour that is required. Then a fibre mesh is laid on top, followed by more resin and hardener. This is repeated until the required thickness of the overall material is achieved. The material is then cured to become hardened, before being removed from the mould.
What types of industry would make use of them?
We could use a full blog article to mention the types of industry that make use of these structures. To put it simply, any industry that uses cold water storage tanks or glass reinforced plastic water tanks might use this type of construction. This could include factory complexes, marine sites like docks or harbours, agricultural centres and processing plants, building sites and industrial complexes, or any other business which makes use of tanks and water storage.
Are all GRP enclosures the same?
Although all enclosures have some commonalities, such as the materials used and the overall purpose, there are also many differences in the structures that are created. For example, an obvious difference might be the size or the colour of the finished unit, but also it could be that a customer requires a particular thickness of the reinforced plastic.
Whatever you require in terms of GRP enclosures, GRP water tanks or GRP storage tanks, Precolor Tank Division are the specialists you can rely on. We specialise in high quality manufacturing at competitive prices. For more information, contact our team today.