Types of Safety Railings and Fences

You will always find all sorts of safety equipment or features on almost anything. When driving a car, the driver will tell you to wear your seatbelt to keep you secure during a car accident. And when walking on the stairs, you can always hold the side rails to prevent you from falling and tripping over.

But if you were to talk about safety railings and fences within the construction industry, you can find different types that provide a specific safety level. That’s why contractors need extensive knowledge about the construction materials, including what railings and fences they require for their construction job.

Why the Need for Safety Railings and Fences?

You may think that the railings and fences you see are only for decorative purposes. That’s untrue because they provide different benefits that make the building or structure safe. The different benefits of installing safety railings and fences include:

Higher Safety Level – People can get hurt when they fall from a three to five-foot elevation. Depending on which body area they land on, they can get sprains or broken bones. Fortunately, having a safety railing and fences at the edge of dangerous drops can prevent anyone from getting into severe accidents.
Comply with Building Codes – Some states in America require buildings or structures to have three, four, or five feet of railings or fences. Those who fail to comply with the building codes acquire hefty penalties.
Improve Structural Aesthetics – Any building or structure needs to look appealing, and that’s why building owners install decorative safety railings and fences. Depending on the building or structure’s overall design, you have free range to create your type of railings or fences.

Learning the Three Most Common Safety Railing and Fence Types

Out of the many safety railings and fences, you have to learn about the three most common ones used by many building owners and contractors. You have wood, steel, and aluminum railings and fences, and each type has advantages that the others don’t have.

Wood – Out of the three types, wood has the least durability and can lose its strength over time when exposed to everyday weather elements. You’ll also need constant maintenance to keep it clean and appealing. However, the best thing about wood is its inexpensiveness and availability. Usually, contractors and building owners use wood railing and fences to achieve a natural, rustic aesthetic that steel and aluminum can’t pull off.
Steel – You can form steel railings and fences in any shape or form you prefer, making it a versatile construction material for making construction materials. It’s also a more durable material that will last longer if you install it on the interior or exterior. You may think that steel will rust right after a few years, but manufacturers found a way to lower the chances of rust forming. Due to moisture, they add multiple coats designed to prevent the steel from wearing out.
Aluminum – You can either get frail or hi-tech aluminum, so you need to consider how and where you’re going to use it. The best aluminum railings and fences will always cost you a lot, but they will give you outstanding durability and rust-free properties. You can take it as an investment because you won’t have to worry about doing costly maintenance on it each month.

You have to discuss what type will work best with your contractor because not all of them will give you the features or benefits you need. However, you should always note the importance of safety around your building or structure, so you have to choose the ones that provide the highest safety level.