Stainless Steel Handrails benefits

History...

The metal derives its name from alumen, the Latin name for alum. In 1761 L. B. G de Morveau proposed the name alumine for the base in alum, and in 1787 Lavoisier definitely identified it as the oxide of a still undiscovered metal. In 1807 Sir Humphrey Davy proposed the name aluminum for this metal and later agreed to change it to aluminum. Shortly thereafter, the name aluminium was adopted to conform to the "ium" ending of most elements, and this spelling is now in general use throughout the world. Aluminium was also the accepted spelling in the United States until 1925 when the American Chemical Society officially reverted to aluminum.

Advantages of aluminium extrusions are that they are light, strong, high strength to weight ratio, resilient, corrosion resistant and 100% recyclable.

In terms of strength to weight ratio, aluminium outperforms other materials. Aluminium's advantage in this respect founded the modern aerospace industry and serves widely in various forms of transportation and other applications.

Aluminium extrusions are also preferred for use in construction purposes as they are corrosion resistant. As aluminium is a metal that is resistant to corrosion, and because of the oxide that is formed during the extrusion process, it is easily possible to colour aluminium extrusions as required. This helps in preventing carrion of the extrusions, and also makes the structure look more attractive.

Aluminium is the most abundant (8,13%) metallic element in the earth's crust and after oxygen and silicon, the third most abundant of all elements in the crust. Because of its strong affinity to oxygen, it is not found in the elemental state but only in combined forms such as oxides or silicates. Recycling reduces the CO2 footprint of an aluminium component even further, by about 80%. And aluminium can be recycled again and again, using only 5% of the energy needed for primary production.

In Germany, the remelting rate amounts to 100 percent in the production chain; more than 90% is recycled in the traffic sector, more than 85% in construction, and a total of 75% in packaging. These are all major areas where the use of aluminium products benefit energy-efficient solutions in many ways.

Balcony systems glass balustrade system is considered very cost effective and costs between £280 to £320 a metre.

Balcony systems offer an array of finishes and colours and have also developed a proprietary finish on the system the looks like stainless steel called "Royal Chrome"

Summary:

Both Balcony Systems glass balustrades and stainless steel balustrades are very corrosion resistant - yet stainless steel handrails will require a lot more maintenance to prevent contamination and staining.

Stainless steel balustrades are very appealing but the use of glass clamps does inhibit the aesthetics, the Balcony system balustrade, possessing clean lines and no clamps leaves a clean line of handrail to glass.

Stainless steel balustrades, cost between £500 to £800 a metre. Balcony systems glass balustrade system costs between £280 to £320 a meter.

And finally Aluminium is clearly the "greener" product, due to the recyclability and abundance of the material.