STAINLESS STEEL STRUCTURAL DESIGN RESOURCE CENTER

Maintenance and inspection costs are significantly reduced when you use stainless steel because of the need to reapply protective coatings, maintain galvanic protection, or closely monitor corrosion-related structural deterioration. Furthermore, the term “corrosion allowance” has no meaning because stainless steel does not suffer gross corrosion, which can allow the use of reduced section sizes. When these factors are taken into consideration, stainless steel is often the most cost effective choice for long-term applications in corrosive exterior and interior environments.

Stainless steel is 100% recyclable and has a high scrap value. In addition, there is no need for coatings, which can out-gas, contaminate the environment or production lines as they deteriorate, and make recycling more difficult and expensive. There are also no corrosion products to contaminate the environment. These characteristics make stainless steel a green material. Additional information about stainless steel’s environmental advantages can be found in the SSINA publications Stainless Steel The Green Material and Environmental Brochure on Stainless Steel.