Steel handrails are an indispensable component in both civil and industrial projects, ensuring safety during movement and work. Depending on the project scale, installation location, and usage environment, steel handrail manufacturer will provide suitable solutions. In the article below, Newinds will help you understand the technical characteristics, functions, and advantages of steel handrails.
WHAT ARE HANDRAILS? DETAILED TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Steel handrails are handrail systems made of steel, designed to provide support for safe movement on stairs, walkways in high-rise areas, or to define safe paths in public areas or industrial factories.
Steel handrails are typically manufactured from:
- Carbon steel with powder coating or paint coating
- Hot-dip galvanized steel
- Stainless steel grades 201, 304, or 316
Areas requiring the use of handrails
- Stairs and ramps
- Balconies and rooftops
- Walkways and operating platforms
- Factories and industrial projects
- Commercial buildings and public infrastructure
Advantages of steel handrails
- Superior durability and high load-bearing capacity
- Flexible design to meet customization for each installation location
- Optimal cost with long service life
- Easy installation and maintenance
Disadvantages of steel handrails
- Prone to corrosion if not regularly inspected and maintained
- Heavier weight compared to wood or aluminum, making transportation and installation more difficult
- When used in marine environments or near chemicals, stainless steel 316, thicker galvanization, or multiple layers of paint are required for better protection. This increases the initial cost.
COMMON TYPES OF STEEL HANDRAILS
- Industrial Safety Handrails
- Walkway Handrails
- Stair Handrails for Industrial Stairs
- Platform & Mezzanine Handrails
- Rooftop Safety Handrails
- Machine Guard Handrails / Safety Barriers
- Handrails for Energy & Utility Facilities
- Removable / Modular Handrail Systems
APPLICABLE STANDARDS
For international orders, steel handrails suppliers must comply with the following standards depending on the region or country of direct use:
American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. (AISC)
American Welding Society (AWS) – AWS D1.1, structural steel welding standard (USA)
ASTM International (ASTM)
- ASTM A36 / A53, technical standard for structural carbon steel
- ASTM A123, technical standard for hot-dip galvanizing of steel structures
EN Standards
- EN 199, standard on loads acting on railings (likely referring to Eurocode series, e.g., EN 1991 for actions on structures)
- EN 14122, industrial safety standard for access ways, stairs, and guard-rails
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN HANDRAILS AND BALUSTRADES
Many people often confuse handrails and balustrades due to their similar appearance and function, but in reality, they are two different systems.
| Criteria | Handrail | Balustrade |
| Main function | A bar to grip while moving, helping maintain balance. | The entire protective barrier system at the edge of floors or stairs, creating a safe boundary in special areas. |
| Structure | Single bar | Main posts, vertical bars, horizontal bars, and often includes handrails |
| Installation location | Along stairs, corridors, ramps, escape routes | Balconies, edges of high floors, terraces, open sides of stairs |
| Safety aspect | Support safety | Provides direct protection |
IMPORTANT FACTORS WHEN FABRICATING STEEL HANDRAILS
-
Safety in use
This is the top priority factor from the design drawing stage to the installation and use of steel handrails. To ensure this factor, careful calculations are required for:
Handrail height: minimum 1.1m for residential housing, minimum 1.4m for high-rise projects (>9 floors)
Spacing between vertical bars must not exceed 10-11cm to prevent children from inserting their heads or slipping through. Avoid designing horizontal bars below to prevent children from climbing.
Handrail with good grip, non-slip: handrail diameter typically ranges from 40-50mm, surface needs good grip to hold firmly without slipping.
-
Selecting suitable steel material
Use carbon steel with powder coating/anti-rust paint if handrails are used indoors, not near chemical environments or marine areas.
Use galvanized steel for outdoor handrails
Use stainless steel 304 for use near marine environments, chemical plants, etc.
-
Inspecting weld joints carefully
Any small defect in the weld can cause the entire handrail system to break, leading to users falling from height and serious accidents. Therefore, welds must be solid, uniform, and free of any welding defects.
-
Inspection and acceptance
To ensure handrails meet load-bearing capacity and safety in use, the following factors must be checked:
- Check for vibration/looseness after installation; if loose, tighten to secure the handrail firmly.
- Check the load-bearing capacity of the handrail: standard horizontal load for residential is 0.3 kN/m, public projects range around 0.8 kN/m, operating platform walkways range around 30 daN at any point
- Steel handrails must not have sharp edges or excess burrs
STEEL HANDRAIL SUPPLIER IN VIETNAM
Increasingly, clients and companies in Australia are choosing Vietnamese steel fabricators for outsourcing metal products, especially steel handrail suppliers. Not only cost-effective, Vietnamese steel fabricators are selected by many international clients because they provide comprehensive services, always ready to support from A to Z, and strive to find solutions for any issues that arise without avoidance.
As a metal fabricator in Vietnam with over 18 years of experience, Newinds has been and continues to be a steel handrail supplier for many clients in Australia, New Zealand, the US, UK, Canada, and many other demanding markets.
If you need a high-quality steel handrail supplier offering tailored metal solutions that meet international standards.
Contact Newinds:
Email: sales@newindscorp.com
Phone/Whatsapp/Zalo: Ann Yen +84 868 482 038