Other components

Stainless steels can also be used as e.g. castings, concrete reinforcement or supports for a glass façade. They are often used for their fire resistance or in roofs.

Castings in construction (SCI-P172)

This resource is a guide aimed to provide engineers, architects and fabricators with the properties and capabilities of iron, carbon steel and stainless steel castings. Castings provide high strength, ductility and toughness, efficient production methods, excellent surface finish, and have good welding and machining characteristics. These properties allow savings on materials and minimise manufacturing costs.  This guide explains the basic processes and techniques of castings and provides information for the designer on welding, surface finishes, tolerances and inspection and testing methods. It emphasises the importance of correct specification of the casting techniques and the appropriate level of quality. The procurement process is explained and illustrated with flowcharts. Appendices give examples of recent projects using structural castings, including 4 detailed case histories featuring main truss connections, glazing connections, beam to column connections and compression members in a bridge. Lists of sources of further information and the addresses of some UK foundries are also given.

Date: 1996
Provider: Steel Construction Institute

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Fire resistance rating and testing of stainless steels

This resource explains fire testing and fire rating of stainless steel components. Stainless steels do not have an intrinsic fire rating but all families (austenitic, duplex, ferritic) have inherent oxidation resistance and elevated temperature strength. Testing is done on specific grades under precise conditions according to BS 476 Parts 20, 21 (load bearing elements) and 22 (non load bearing elements). The results of fire test show that for load bearing applications stainless steel has better heat resistance than carbon steels, melting at 1375 degrees C and maintaining 55% of its ambient temperature 0.2% proof stress at 800 degrees C.

Provider: British Stainless Steel Association

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Guide for the use of stainless steel reinforcement

This resource is a technical guide to designing stainless steel reinforced concrete. For suitable grades of stainless steel, information is given on the chemical composition and corrosion properties, particularly resistance to chloride attack and carbonation and mechanical properties (stress-strain relationship, heat resistance and fatigue). Guidance on handling, installation and welding stainless steel reinforcing bar is also given. The optimum concrete mix is also discussed with relation to preventing corrosion.

Date: 2006
Provider: Norwegian Building Research Institute

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Stainless steel and glass

Frame elements and profiles in stainless steel are used to hold broad expanses of glazing in place in both interior and exterior applications. Depending on the size of the glass panes and the spans between the supports, these elements can be designed with an extremely slim cross section. Further reduction of the metal parts of the frame can be achieved through the use of point-fixed glass. The examples presented in this brochure show the interplay of stainless steel and glass.

This brochure is available in Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.

Stainless steel doors can stand up to fire and corrosive environments

No matter what the building type or application, a door is expected to remain functional, secure and attractive for the life of the building. Fire, blast and sound resistance; ease of cleaning; and corrosion resistance are all practical reasons for selecting stainless steel doors, but they can also have decorative raised design and elaborate surface finishes which provide limitless creative design possibilities.

Date: August 1997
Provider: Nickel Institute

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Stainless steel for designers

This brochure provides a handy reference source to help engineers and designers to decide whether to use stainless steel, and, if so, which grade to use. The brochure has chapters dealing with a wide range of relevant topics, from abrasion resistance to fire resistance and further on to mechanical and physical properties. The publications to which it refers can be downloaded from links provided in the brochure.

Date: 2020
Provider: world stainless association

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Technical guide to stainless steel roofing

This resource is a guide to stainless steel and its use as a roofing material. The mechanical, physical and environmental properties of stainless steel are described and a cost comparison is presented against carbon steel. Guidance is given on grade and finish selection, compatibility and required corrosion resistance. Detailed roof design is described, considering the shape, folding operations and fasteners. Finally best practice techniques for welding to achieve water tightness is discussed.

Date: 2004
Provider: Euro Inox

This guide is available in Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish and Swedish.

Architects Guide to Stainless Steel (SCI-P179)

This resource provides information on the design, specification, manufacture and maintenance of stainless steel architectural components. The ‘Design and Technology’ section includes structural and performance information on stainless steel and reviews production and finishing techniques. The ‘Case Studies’ section provides numerous examples of the contemporary use of stainless steel in architecture. In each case the design criteria, finish, joining techniques, structural drawings and images for the stainless steel element are described and presented. The Appendices summarise the standards relating to stainless steel, the mechanical and physical properties the product range and the finish designation.

Date: 1997
Provider: Steel Construction Institute

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