Some companies claim that their 0.9mm 304 grade stainless steel mesh is stronger than  0.8mm 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel Mesh because it is thicker.

 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel Mesh gains its strength from the Ultra High Tensile wire from which it is woven. Even thicker wires can be easily cut if they are “Soft” or of low tensile strength.

It is interesting to note that there is video evidence of 316 marine grade mesh failing knife-shear tests and being cut by hand with a “Stanley Knife”. These test samples are not   mesh. ALSPEC have had  mesh independently tested to Australian Standards and  316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel Mesh passes the Australian Standards AS5039-2003 for Knife-Shear. ALSPEC also have their own knife-shear test rig which is used in ongoing tests of  Mesh as well as samples of other mesh available in the market from various sources. Many of the samples tested from other sources can in fact be cut quite easily and would offer little resistance to attack from an intruder.

Why doesn’t  316 Grade Stainless Steel Mesh cut like so many others? The basic process used in the weaving of  316 Grade Stainless Steel Mesh is not a lot different from that of any other woven Stainless Steel mesh. The difference is in the tensile strength of the wire used to weave the mesh. As the wire used in the  mesh is of such high tensile strength, the weaving process is made more difficult. The mesh is much harder to keep flat and straight and requires specialised weaving equipment and techniques to achieve the quality and flatness that is a hallmark of  mesh. This explains why many cheap imported meshes either pass the knife-shear test but fail on weave quality and flatness, or pass on weave quality and flatness but can be cut like butter.

 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel Mesh is covered by a 10 Year Warranty subject to the conditions on the  Warranty and Care and Maintenance forms.

Only  Stainless Steel Security Products incorporate the Patented EGP Retention Method which locks the 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel Mesh into the Heavy Duty Extruded Aluminium perimeter framing.

The EGP Retention Method completely isolates the Stainless Steel from the Aluminium as the mesh is captured between the Insulator (an “L” shaped co-extrusion) and the Keeper (a straight, ribbed co-extrusion). A rigid PVC Wedge is driven into the receiver channel around the full perimeter of the screen applying uniform pressure at all points and locking the mesh into the frame. This innovative configuration grips the 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel Mesh so well that it easily passes the Australian Standards requirements for security screens and doors AS5039-2003. 

 Stainless Steel Security Products do not require screws or any other form of mechanical fixing to secure the mesh to the perimeter frame. As a result of this, the potential for corrosion through dissimilar metals contact is avoided. 

Hinged security doors are often the first line of defense for the home owner. Most homes incorporate hinged doors as part of the front entry and many homes incorporate an ornate timber door as a feature of the front of the house. In the past it has been difficult to add security doors that do not detract from the decorative value of the timber entry door.  Hinged Security Doors offer excellent security without compromising the vision through the door.

Incorporating the unique patented EGP Retention System.  Hinged Security Doors can be ordered as a Standard Door with or without a midrail. 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel Mesh is used in all  Stainless Steel Security Products and it is because of this Marine Grade Stainless Steel that  out performs all other stainless steel security products when it comes to corrosion resistance.

Product strength and performance are key factors in deciding which security door to purchase. All  Hinged Security Doors have been tested to Australian Standards AS5039-2003 so you can be assured that when choosing  , you are choosing the finest in Stainless Steel Security Products.

Sliding Security Doors are growing more popular in today’s new and renovated homes. Many homes incorporate one or more sliding doors as access to entertainment areas, back yards and patios. In the past it has been difficult to add security doors that do not detract from the views or obscure vision.  Sliding Security Doors offer excellent security without compromising the vision through the door.

Incorporating the unique patented EPG Retention System,  Sliding Security Doors can be ordered as a Standard Door with or without a midrail. 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel Mesh is used in all  Stainless Steel Security Products and it is because of this Marine Grade Stainless Steel that  out performs all other stainless steel security products when it comes to corrosion resistance.

Product strength and performance are key factors in deciding which security door to purchase. All  Sliding Security Doors have been tested to Australian Standards AS5039-2003 so you can be assured that when choosing , you are choosing the finest in Stainless Steel Security Products.

Your new  Stainless Steel Security Screens have been manufactured using the highest quality materials available to the security industry. Constructed from Architectural Grade Aluminium and 316 Stainless Steel Mesh, both of these metals are highly corrosion resistant and exceptionally strong. With a moderate amount of maintenance, your  Stainless Steel Security Screens will retain their good looks, and resist the elements for years to come.

 Stainless Steel Security Screens are the product of years of development and are designed to resist corrosion and rusting, but as with all external fixtures on your home, they require some maintenance to keep looking good and performing well. Depending on how harsh the environmental elements are, the maintenance period will vary. Refer the suggested maintenance table below.

Your  Stainless Steel Security Screens should only ever need to be washed down with a soft bristled brush using warm water and a mild detergent. Rinse well with fresh water to remove any detergent residue. Care should be taken to avoid excessive amounts of water entering the main lock and auxillary 3 point locks. Strong detergents and abrasive cleaners should never be used to clean your  Stainless Steel Security Screens as these may scratch or damage the surface finish.

Periodic lubrication of the main lock and auxillary lock components should only ever be done using graphite powder. Liquid or aerosol lubricants can cause corrosion and damage the locking mechanism.

SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE PERIOD TABLE

Aluminium Specialties Group Pty Ltd A.B.N 63 001 252 259 (ALSPEC) offers the following warranty to the original purchaser of the  Stainless Steel Security products.

Under the normal conditions of use in a residential - non commercial application, ALSPEC warrant for a period of 10 Years from the date of installation, the Aluminium Framing and Stainless Steel Mesh components of your Stainless Steel Security products, to be free of defects in manufacturing and workmanship, when fabricated and installed in accordance with the  Fabricator Manual.

As with any valued purchase, effective maintenance is essential to prolonging the life of your  Stainless Steel Security products. To maintain your rights as stated in this warranty, the care and maintenance instructions on the reverse of this warranty form should be followed. Where a claim against this warranty is to be made, initial contact should be made with the licensed  fabricator shown below. In the event that the original  fabricator cannot be contacted, then contact should be made with ALSPEC for further assistance.
Aluminium Specialties Group P/L : Phone During Business Hours 1300 130 171.

ALSPEC offers this warranty to the original purchaser in addition to statutory warranties under the Trade Practices Act 1974 relating to consumer transactions. This warranty will not apply to damage as a result of abuse, accident, fire, owner disassembly or alteration of the product in any way, installation of non original parts, failure to comply with product safety instructions / warnings, act of God, or failure of the owner to follow the care and maintenance instructions on the reverse side of this warranty form. These exclusions will not contravene any statutory rights that the owner may have and which cannot be modified of excluded.

Stainless Steel – The Grades - The Facts

Stainless steel is a generic term for a family of corrosion resistant alloy steels containing 10.5% or more chromium.

All stainless steels have a high resistance to corrosion. This resistance to attack is due to the naturally occurring chromium-rich oxide film formed on the surface of the steel. Although extremely thin, this invisible, inert film is tightly adherent to the metal and extremely protective in a wide range of corrosive media. The film is rapidly self repairing in the presence of oxygen, and damage by abrasion, cutting or machining is quickly repaired.

 

Grade 304 has excellent corrosion resistance in a wide range of media. It resists ordinary rusting in most architectural applications. Exposure of a particular grade of stainless steel to a more aggressive environment than it can resist will result in tea staining and or pitting and corrosion. Grade 316 should be selected as a minimum within five kilometres of the surf. The less expensive grades (such as 304 or 430) will probably become tea stained or even suffer more severe corrosion.

 

Grade 316 has excellent corrosion resistance in a wide range of media. Its main advantage over grade 304 is its increased ability to resist pitting and crevice corrosion. It resists ordinary rusting in virtually all architectural applications, and is often chosen for more aggressive environments such as sea-front buildings and fittings on wharves and piers. Grade 316 has virtually the same mechanical, physical and fabrication characteristics as 304 with better corrosion resistance, particularly to pitting corrosion.

 

 Stainless Steel Security Products use only 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel ensuring that your new security doors and screens will look great for years with a moderate amount of maintenance.

 Corrosion – Why Are Some Products More Likely To Corrode.

When two metals are connected and in contact with a conducting liquid, the more active metal will corrode and protect the noble metal. Aluminium is more negative than stainless steel and so the aluminium will corrode to protect the steel at scratches or cut edges. The stainless steels, including 304 and 316, are more positive than aluminium, so when stainless steel is in contact with aluminium and is wet, the aluminium will corrode first, while the stainless steel will be protected by this galvanic activity and will not corrode. The rate of galvanic attack is governed by the size of the potential difference.

 

As a rule of thumb, if the potential difference is less than 0.1 volt, then it is unlikely that galvanic corrosion will be significant. In the case of Stainless Steel and Aluminium the current difference ranges from between 0.175 and 0.55 volts depending on the specific alloys concerned. It can be seen that there is a high likelihood that corrosion will occur in any installation where the two metals are allowed to come into contact either directly or by way of mechanical fixing.

 All  Stainless Steel Security Products incorporate the Patented EGP Retention Method which locks the 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel Mesh into the Heavy Duty Extruded Aluminium perimeter framing. The  Pressure Retention Method completely isolates the Stainless Steel from the Aluminium and because it does not rely on screws or any other form of mechanical fixing, corrosion through dissimilar metals contact is avoided. 

Tea Staining

Like all materials, stainless steel may become stained or discoloured over time, impairing the overall look. This brown discolouration, tea staining, has been identified in coastal applications in Australia and overseas.

Tea staining can be defined as: Discolouration of the surface of stainless steel that does not affect the structural integrity or the longevity of the material.

Tea staining occurs most commonly within about fifty kilometres of the surf and becomes progressively worse closer to the marine source. However, wind exposure, pollution levels and higher temperatures can create environments where tea staining might occur 50 kilometres from sea water. These same factors also increase corrosion rates of alternative materials.

Exposure of a particular grade of stainless steel to a more aggressive environment than it can resist will contribute to tea staining. Grade 316 should be selected as a minimum within five kilometres of the surf. The less expensive grades (such as 304 or 430) will probably become tea stained or even suffer more severe corrosion.

The Stainless Steel Woven Mesh used in  Stainless Security Products is 316 Marine Grade. The excellent stain and resistance of 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel makes this grade an absolute must in harsh environments such as coastal or industrial areas. Where lesser grades will ultimately stain and corrode, the 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel used in all  Stainless Steel Security Products will retain its good looks and high strength for longer.