Inspect Your Railing for Rust to Ensure Proper Fall Protection

You'll pay extra for aluminum but, if you are looking to the long term, the results will be worth the cost.

Poor Quality Rusted Guardrail

Rust is more than just a visual problem. Rust is the cancer of the metal world. It eats away at the material from the inside. Many railing manufacturers do not galvanize their railings. The result is a product that rusts after a few years of use. A rusted railing is not just an eyesore, it is unsafe. When metal is rusted, it loses its structural integrity which results in a product that will not perform to the manufacturer's specification. In short, if your railing is rusted and someone falls into the railing, what's to say that both the railing and the person won't fall off the roof!

Inspection

To assure a safe environment while working at heights, be sure to annually inspect railings for rust. Pay particular attention to the joints where welds are made. If the joint is rusty, it may no longer be structural.

Prevention

The best way to prevent rust is to invest in a railing product that is properly treated. There are a number of solutions to prevent rust.

  • The railing should be galvanized. If the railing is merely painted or powder coated, the paint will chip and the metal will rust. If the railing is galvanized, the metal has been treated to resist rust. Railings such as KeeGuard Rooftop Railing are galvanized to prevent long term rust problems.
  • Avoid railing that is welded. Even if your pipe is galvanized, welding requires that the galvanization be removed. Most of the time on a welded railing, the joints begin to rust long before the main sections of pipe. To avoid welding, build a railing based on pipe fittings. Fittings provide a connection as strong as a weld, but the galvanization is not broken, resulting in a longer-lasting railing.
  • Build with aluminum. Aluminum is great for moisture-rich environments. It will not rust and it provides a great look. You'll pay extra for aluminum, but if you are looking to the long term the results will be worth the cost.
  • Add powder coating for an added level of protection. Standard paint usually chips off easily. Powder coating is a baked-on paint that provides a protective coating over the entire surface of the metal. Powder coating can usually be done in any RAL color and adds longevity and aesthetic value to the railing. Be sure that the metal underneath is galvanized to prevent rusting if the paint coating should chip.
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