Handrail and guardrail systems play a vital role in providing a safe barrier between people and hazards, so it’s essential that you can always guarantee the performance of the system and that its integrity is maintained many years after installation.
Fabricated handrails
Many people believe that fabricated handrails offer greater strength and stability and are quick to install as they’re fabricated on-site/off-site and then simply installed into place. While fabricating off-site may be a faster solution for other forms of construction, it’s not the case when it comes to safety barrier systems.
Designing a fabricated handrail is not a quick process. Firstly, a detailed site survey is required before drawings can be prepared. Once the design is finalized, sections are then fabricated off-site before the system can be installed on-site by a skilled worker. Installation on-site also requires welding which in turn leads to several health and safety implications, for example special work permits will be required for on-site welding.
Fabrication does not guarantee strength and stability. Fabricating a system involves cutting which breaches the metal’s anti-corrosion properties, this is further compromised by the on-site welding. Corrosion properties can be restored by applying zinc rich paint, but this must be applied meticulously otherwise it could merely offer protection to the external welded area only. The tube could still be unprotected internally which will lead to corrosion over time. The problem here is that the corrosion won’t be evident until it is too late which could mean the barrier breaks or collapses when it is supposed to be offering protection at a critical moment.
If a fabricated structure is found to be faulty, then damaged sections will need to be cut out and a new section welded. The new section will then need to be prefabricated off-site and then transported to the location.
Handrails made from Aluminum Structural fittings
Fittings tend to be aluminum structural castings in mill finish / anodized /powder coated along with precoated pipes so systems constructed from modular fittings and pipes are more resilient to corrosion, in some cases lasting up to 10 times longer than fabricated ones. In harsh environments of water treatment or sewage treatment plants and at saline area near sea or Desalination plant, Aluminium structural tubular fittings will provide the highest level of corrosion resistance. Fit it and forget it. No maintenance is required for many years and modular so you can remove an reinstall if required.
The Modular handrail solution
Fittings have proven their longevity and resistance to the harsh environments at many locations all over the world for many years, e.g. at
- Water Security Mega Reservoir- PRSP1, Package-A,B,C,D ,Qatar General electricity and Water Corporation, Qatar.
- Al Madina Al Shamaliya STP, Ministry of Housing Bahrain, Bahrain
- SWTP-9 Phase 1, MARAFIQ Sewage Treatment Plant project at Jubail, KSA
- Reliance Jamnagar, Adani Hazira Port, Ultratech Cement, Torrent Pharma, India
