Australia rates stainless steel higher over alternatives
Sunday, 18 Jan 2009
It is reported that the city council of Melbourne has recently conducted a life cycle costing analysis inspired by the successful performance of austenitic stainless steel street furniture. The results show that stainless steel enables design flexibility and ensures low maintenance costs.
Ms Marika Mulqueen, one of Australia’s most renowned industrial designers said that "Using S30400 stainless steel instead of powder coated steel significantly reduces ongoing maintenance costs. A comparison found that while stainless steel can initially cost more, but over a 20 year period, maintenance costs can be up to 50% less than those for steel protected by powder-coated paint. Maintenance involves a once a year pressure cleaning instead of regular repainting to repair scratched and peeling paint. Scratches do not show up easily because the furniture is brushed stainless steel. Unlike coatings, stainless steel is not prone to fading."
MME Surface Finishing (Vic) Pty Ltd, a member of the Australian Stainless Steel Development Association, provided smooth mechanical finishing that minimizes dirt retention while optimizing corrosion resistance. The Mall features new stainless steel seating, drinking fountains, recycle bins, banner poles and a new fit-out (shell space) for the streetcar zone.
Among the other stainless steel architectural pieces in Melbourne are commemorative totem poles fabricated by ASSDA member TRJ Engineering of Southeastern Australia. The poles use grade S31600 stainless steel with a No. 4 polished finish. Each pole has a base consisting of two rolled half cylinders with LED lights mounted between them. The cylinders were formed in a brake press which reduced the risk of surface damage.
The Melbourne Technical Design Department has recommended that all future street furniture commissioned by the council be made of stainless steel.
