Construction, architecture, interior design

Stainless steel was invented over 100 years ago, but only recently has it become widely used in the construction and architecture sector. It adds a modern look to the biggest offices and shopping centres all over the world - La Defense in Paris, Canary Wharf in London, Sony Center in Berlin, Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

Photo: RIMEX

Stainless steel is a material that is extremely durable and practical, but at the same time looks dignified and elegant. The variety of stainless steel grades and surface types, as well as the wide range of products made of it, allows to meet the most sophisticated requirements of architects and interior decorators.

In addition to very high resistance to corrosion, other advantages of stainless steel include:

• large variety of available metallurgical products (sheets, tubes, profiles, bars, flat bars etc.),

• wide range of surface types (polished, mirror finished, matt, embossed and etched, as well as coloured),

• large variety of available grades with different properties,

• workability,

• strength and rigidity,

• low thermal expansion,

• high melting point.

Photo: ZACK-MIDA POLSKA

The durability of stainless steel components is unparalleled compared to the majority of finishing materials, and its look remains unchanged for decades.

Stainless steel is very resistant when exposed to both high and low temperatures. It has much higher fire resistance than other steels (important to ensure fire safety).

Stainless steel is most often used in the construction industry as a material for balustrades, column and pillar covers, canopy elements, window and door profiles, fire doors, swimming pool equipment, façade fixing systems (anchors), lift cabins, building façades, etc.

It is also a very attractive solution as a decorative element of interior design in restaurants, offices, hotels, shops, pubs, discos or metro stations. More and more often it is also used for the production of office furniture and shop fittings. In combination with glass, wood or stone, they give the structure a stately and elegant appearance.

Stainless steel is an ideal finishing material in places where high standards of hygiene are required, including hospitals, health clinics, laboratories, food processing plants, etc.

Photo: Alvo

Decorative stainless steel sheets are also available on the market - with embossed, etched and/or coloured patterns. These patterned sheets have many advantages over conventional stainless steel sheets – ground or polished.

A very important feature is their resistance to scratches. Special hardening during the rolling process ensures high durability of the surface. This feature is particularly important if the sheets are to be used in public places, which are particularly vulnerable to damage or acts of vandalism, such as ATMs, bus stops, benches, etc.

Another advantage of embossed sheets compared to conventional sheets is their fingerprint-resistant surface.

The resistance to mechanical damage and fingerprints allows to reduce the costs of repair, maintenance and cleaning of such products.

Decorative sheets have significantly higher rigidity than sheets with a smooth surface. This makes it possible to use thinner sheets, thus saving costs and reducing the weight of the structure.

Another advantage of decorative stainless steel sheets is that, unlike conventional sheets, they do not reflect light. This is particularly important when we are dealing with large surfaces, such as building façades.

What should also be emphasised is their aesthetic aspect, especially in case of coloured sheets. Their colour is permanent and does not fade even during bending, since it is produced not with dyes, but by pickling.

In the last few years, Poland also picked up on the trend for this elegant and modern material. Its advantages have been appreciated not only by architects and investors constructing office buildings, shopping malls and entertainment venues, but also by individuals who more and more often opt for stainless steel products for their flats and houses. We believe that this is not just a passing fad, but a lasting trend resulting from the mentioned advantages of the material. We hope that stainless steel will become more widely used, replacing materials of poorer quality, such as carbon steel.