CASE STUDY: HOSPITAL

Location: Monroeville, Alabama
Architect: Paul Carpenter Davis Architecture

Design Challenge: This busy health-care center needed to provide a safe guardrail system to protect patients/visitors from the adjacent roadway. Matching the existing color scheme was also particular design criteria.

Solution: A complete, coordinated cable railing system was selected and specified using 3-inch x 3-inch powder-coated square aluminum posts in bronze, which formed the basis of the guardrail. Horizontal cables using ¹⁄₈-inch 1 x 19 316L stainless steel cable were connected using 316L hardware.

Result: A low-maintenance, easy-to-install product was provided quickly since it was readily available from the manufacturer.

CASE STUDY: LAKEFRONT CABINS

Location: Lake Walker, Camp Shelby, Mississippi
Architect: JBHM Architecture

Design Challenge: Existing wood posts in the cabins needed to be retained, but the guardrail infill needed to maintain code compliance, achieve maximum aesthetics, and control costs.

Solution: Surface-mounted hardware was secured to the existing posts with cable stabilizers used in post spans between 4–7 feet (on both level and stair runs), thus minimizing the amount of cable and hardware needed. The railing was ⁵⁄₃₂-inch 1 x 19 316L stainless steel cable with the same type of stainless steel tensioning and non-tensioning hardware and cable stabilizers.

Result: The solution avoided having to replace the existing posts while also giving the buildings a more modern, revitalized look.

Conclusion

When it comes to selecting a guardrail system for interior or exterior locations on buildings, there are some specific considerations to take into account related to safety, performance, and overall design. While some traditional choices have been used for years, stainless steel cable railing systems have emerged as a clear choice with many advantages due to their inherent traits for performance, appearance, and sustainability. Specifying and designing such systems in a variety of buildings and settings is a proven, long-lasting, durable, and easy-to-maintain solution, provided the architect understands the current choices and options available from manufacturers.