-
This article describes the contents of the Architects’ Guide to Stainless Steel, an online resource containing an extensive amount of architectural information concerning stainless steel. The topics covered include grade selection, product forms, durability, economics, production and fabrication, surface finish, joining, maintenance and cleaning. The computer aided learning package Stainless SteelCAL is also described.
-
.jpg)
Aimed primarily at architects and specifiers, the BSSA Surface Finishes Pack provides details and guidance of the wide variety of stainless steel surface finishes available. The pack includes the ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ in selecting and specifying surface finishes, together with information on maintenance, cleaning and an updated, classified resources section for further information, (for ease of access, a USB stick is provided). Contained with a robust hard-back ring binder, the Surface Finishes Pack is complete with guides on applications as well as practical, technical information written very much with the end user in mind.
Additionally, there are extensive case studies showing exciting samples, both from the UK and across the world, illustrating just how versatile stainless can be. What makes this pack unique is the comprehensive range of samples it contains. These include machine-polished, electro-polished, brushed, 1 and 2-side patterned and even coloured. Provided by the BSSA’s own member companies, these will help users decide just which finish best suits their need while also giving them the opportunity to get up close to the stainless steel itself.
The BSSA Stainless Steel Surface Finishes Pack is available in the UK at a cost of £110.00 and £125 in the EU (including p&p)
CLICK HERE TO ORDER
-
This paper, presented by David Cochrane of NiDI at the IOM workshop, So You Want to Build it in Stainless Steel, firstly outlines mill and mechanically polished, (brushed), finishes to EN 10088 part 2. Patterned finishes are also widely used in architectural applications and useful for reducing distortion and ‘oil canning’. Bead blasted finishes are low reflectivity and non-directional. Electropolished finishes can facilitate in process cleaning on patterned floor plates. Coloured finishes are also very flexible and can be applied to dull or polished substrates or previously etched patterned surfaces. The range of surface roughness values for mill, (2B), and polished, (2J and 2K), surfaces is shown. The care needed when fabricating and installing stainless steel architectural items is discussed as well as maintenance and cleaning methods. Finally some stainless steel building cladding case studies are described that illustrate good grade and finish selection.
-
Life expectancy is estimated from pitting depth measurements made on exposed test samples. The results depend on steel grade, environment and surface finish. Staining from micro pitting may result in rejection of the steel on aesthetic grounds, long before pitting has perforated it. Steel types 430, (ferritic), 304 and 316, (austenitic), are considered. (104)
-
The main factor in the selection process for stainless steels is corrosion resistance. Careful consideration of the application should be done to enable a choice of grade with suitable corrosion resistance whilst keeping costs to an economic minimum. Other considerations such as mechanical properties, (strength and toughness), physical properties, (magnetic permeability), and forming, fabrication and joining methods available should be secondary. (91)
-
Stainless steel is a great material to work with. As with all materials you need to know how to treat it correctly for maximum cost effectiveness. This article summarises the typical pitfalls and remedies.
-
The effect of the surface finish on the corrosion resistance of stainless steel. This paper clearly shows the importance of polishing medium and surface profile on the corrosion resistance of stainless steel in both real and test cases. The development of the EN 10088-2 2K finish is described. This paper is of particular importance in the correct specification of architectural features where cosmetic appearance is a dominant factor.
Note. This paper is not intended to imply that the silicon carbide finish is the optimum for corrosion resistance. The smoothest surface possible, bright polished, always provides the best corrosion resistance in any environment.
-
This article describes the practical issues surrounding the definition of surface finishes on stainless steel. It provides guidance on how to agree a suitable surface finish between the end user and supplier. The author has many years of experience in this field.
-
Surface finishes for stainless steel sheet, (coil, strip), and plates, are specified in BS EN 10088-2:2005. Ex-mill hot and cold rolled finishes and special finishes are tabulated. These include mill finishes 1D, (heat treated), 1E, 2B, (skin passed), 2C, 2D, (pickled), 2E, (mechanically descaled), 2H, (work hardened), 2R, (bright annealed, reflective), and 2Q, (hardened and tempered). Special finishes include 1G, 2G, (ground), 1J, 2J, brushed or dull polished 1K, 2K satin polished 1P, 2P bright polished 1M, 2M patterned 2W, corrugated, 2L, coloured and 1S, 2S surface coated. Electropolished, shot and bead blasted and peened finishes are not covered by BS EN 10088-2. Where available representative Ra surface roughness values are given for these finishes. A comparison of BS 1449-2 DIN and ASTM A480 surface finish symbols to those now used in BS EN 10088-2 is also shown. (100)
-
Mechanical finishes for stainless steels are covered as finish codes G, J, K and P in BS EN 10088-2 and G and P in BS EN 10088-3. Terms grinding (ground) polishing, (polished), brushing, (brushed), satin and buffing, (buffed), are discussed and compared with codes used previously in BS 1449-2 and currently in ASTM A480 for flat products. Contamination rust staining on mechanically polished stainless steel surfaces is often the result of using contaminated finishing media.
.jpg)