Considering the many choices in material grade, size and structure, deciding which wire or cable to use in a railing project can be confusing. According to Miami Stainless Steel, stainless steel wire rope or cable rope is used in a range of different projects, which is why there are so many options.

When determining the best material for railings, Miami stainless steel recommends that the grade of railing wire rope depends on the application environment. The two most commonly used grades of wire are 304 and 316. Grade 304 contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel, while grade 316 contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum. When exposed to chlorides such as sea water and deicing salt, the molybdenum content helps resist corrosion.

Therefore, grade 316 wires are more suitable for exposed areas such as outdoor or coastal environments.

The most commonly used wire ropes or cables are 1 x 19, 7 x 7 and 7 x 19. For railings, Miami Stainless recommends the use of 1 x 19 steel wire ropes for the precast system because these steel wires are smoother, harder, and have a more beautiful appearance. If installed correctly, they also comply with NCC regulations. The 7 x 7 structure is another popular choice because it is more flexible and easier to use DIY hand forging methods.

The wire size also depends on the railing system. Most railings will use 3 mm or 3.2 mm wire rope. The Miami Stainless website provides an online railing builder, which automatically selects the correct wire rope size based on the system selected by the user.

Picture: Miami Stainless website offers online railing manufacturers

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