Company Announcement - Two of the more troublesome issues in industry can be addressed by using stainless steel handrailing. Safety of personnel and hygiene continue to plague a number of market sectors and cost companies thousands of Rands every year in downtime and lost profits. “Stainless steel tube offers many advantages to the manufacturing, petrochemical/chemical, food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Exhibiting high levels of corrosion resistance, stainless steel can be used in rigorous environments, retaining strength at high temperatures. Furthermore, its non-porous properties offer a hygienic surface which when coupled with its easy cleaning ability makes stainless tube the primary choice for applications that require strict hygiene control, such as food and beverage processing plants,” Andrew Mentis’ marketing manager, Elaine van Rooyen, says.

The aesthetic appearance of its polished surface is not only an added benefit, providing a modern and attractive appearance for most architectural metal applications, but stainless steel also increases ease of maintenance and provides improved corrosion performance. This not only enhances the long term value created by stainless steel and its long useful life cycle, but since rusting handrailing can be a major factor in accidents, it also increases the safety factor.

Handrails are expected to meet both structural safety and aesthetic requirements. Traditional carbon steel, cast iron, and aluminium handrails can deteriorate quickly in exterior or industrial installations with aggressive pollution and/or chloride exposure. Andrew Mentis provides a variety of handrails in three alternative grades: 3CR12, 304 and 316 stainless steel.

Stanchions on the Andrew Mentis stainless steel handrails are 45 mm in diameter with a 2 mm wall thickness and base plates are designed to allow moisture to drain from the stanchion itself, adding to the corrosion resistant benefits. The centre hole for the knee rail is drilled and then flared on both sides. The top is also flared and a half round cap is welded into place. The base plate is 8 mm thick and welded to the tube.

Hand-, knee-rail and bends are manufactured from 31.8 mm diameter tube with a 1.5 mm wall thickness. Bends and closures have swaged ends, improving speed of installation and preventing moisture from penetrating into the joints.

“Typically, the more corrosion resistant Type 316 stainless steel handrails are the most cost effective choice in demanding environments. They require minimal maintenance, no paint or coating and provide safety and an attractive appearance. The service life of carbon steel and aluminium is typically limited by corrosion damage, which reduces structural integrity and appearance,” says van Rooyen.

She points out that an important aspect of structural integrity is the perceived ability of a handrail to withstand the load associated with one or more large persons or individuals accidentally falling against or climbing on it. In general applications, where corrosion is not a big factor, stainless steel handrailing can remain in situ with little or no maintenance, for many years. In more corrosive environments, for example close proximity to the sea or in locations with aggressive pollution and/or chloride exposure, 316 stainless steel provides a major maintenance cost savings over other handrail types.

“Customised advice by our team of technical specialists ensures that the best handrail material is selected for the customer’s specific application. Factors such as environmental conditions, amount of human traffic and aesthetics come into play and dictate the final product used. Solutions for even the most arduous conditions are available,” van Rooyen concludes.