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‘The choice of visual effects which stainless steel can now provide includes linen, lozenge, leather and chequer patterns in a palette of different colours’
appearance combined with exceptional smoothness. It provides a shimmering envelope; in this case partly through use of an installation technique which creates visible waviness in flat areas of the standing seams and consequent abstraction of reflected forms. A standard mill surface was used but greater reflectivity could have been achieved by bright annealing and full mirror polishing. The choice of visual effects which stainless steel can now
provide includes linen, lozenge, leather and chequer patterns in a palette of different colours. Processes such as bead and sand blasting are used with rolling techniques which provide consis- tency of surface finish as well as lower cost. A roofing surface which takes on the patination of aged lead sheet has been approved by English Heritage as an alternative to lead where metal theft is considered a threat. A 0.5mm system weighing 4kg/m2
compares with zinc at 5.04kg and lead at 30kg or more.
Introduction of a nickel-free ferritic grade has also done much to enhance price stability and competitiveness without com- promising performance. A material low in weight and as thin as 0.4mm can be used for standing seam, self-supporting and cleated seam systems. The specification of compact, non-ventilated systems in
St Barnabas Church Erdington (above) and Mirror-faced material used to good effect (right)
warm roof build-ups has brought with it problems of underside corrosion with metals such as lead and zinc. Moisture trapped during installation or which passes through an inadequate vapour barrier provides the source for condensation to develop. Consequent failures are all the more costly as the problem invariably goes unnoticed until it is too late. Of the many reasons, therefore, why stainless steel is enjoying resurgence, its corrosion resistance in such situations is undoubtedly one of the most compelling. Once installed, stainless steel presents no risk to potable
water, rainwater harvesting systems or water run-off, and will not stain masonry or timber. It is 100 per cent recyclable which means material can be re-used to manufacture roofing, facade, rainscreen or rainwater products rather than as a raw material for other industries. An exceptionally high melting point gives high fire resistance, while tensile strength is twice that of copper and more than four times that of aluminium. Surfaces offer the benefit of extremely low surface roughness and maximum resist- ance to the accumulation of contaminants. For over 100 years, the metal’s high performance has prompted use in the most demanding industries and environments. Outstanding corro- sion resistance and design life is prompting its use in increas- ingly complex construction specifications and with demands for extended service life and low maintenance, stainless steel is surely set for a greater proportion of high profile projects.
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