Things to consider when choosing metal railings Part 1 – Appearance

When choosing metal railings for your project there are a range of things that should be considered. As well as the technical side of things, aesthetics also plays a big part in the style of railing chosen.

Whether you want simple and modern, or something more ornate to suit a 13^th Century church, Alpha Rail can help you achieve the end result you want on your project. This series of articles will highlight the three main considerations, with part one being about appearance.

Appearance

Within the Alpha Rail product range is a plethora of different styles of railings. The benefits of opting for a more basic product such as the standard vertical bar is the clean, straightforward style that looks good in most settings. This is also a more cost-effective option compared to its decorative counterparts.

However, on projects where something special is required, there are five more styles of vertical bar railing that have decorative features such as railheads and post tops. Different types of infill bars are also available, which can be round, square, or flat.

Alternatively, flat top railings have proven to be popular with landscape architects looking to achieve a more modern feel. Flat top railings have been a common choice on commercial developments such as supermarkets and car parks.

Depending on the setting for the flat top railings, a potential downside is that people may sit on the top rail, which could be a safety risk or cause damage to the railings.

Where vertical bar railings or flat top may not fit your project requirements, for example on a school or playground, bow top railings could be more suitable. As well as coming in an additional five styles, they can be manufactured to meet BS EN 1176, which is the play equipment safety standard. Railings manufactured to this standard are designed in a way that the infill bars do not exceed a gap of 89mm, reducing the risk of head and neck entrapment between the bars.

All of the different styles of metal railings can be viewed on our website. Further to this, Alpha Rail is able to manufacture bespoke metalwork to your requirements – whether it’s a design you have in mind, or to match existing metalwork, our sales team is always available to discuss requirements – contact us today on 01623 750 214 or via email, websales@alpharail.co.uk.