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For outdoor applications, aluminum stair treads are the material of choice in stairway construction due to their strength and lasting durability when compared to wood or concrete.  Aluminum is quickly replacing steel as the preferred metal of architects, contractors, and fabricators.


Why Aluminum?


Here are a few of the leading reasons why aluminum treads are growing in popularity:

  • Aluminum is naturally resistant to rust and therefore does not require the regular, costly, and time-consuming processes necessary to maintain steel. 
  • Aluminum is easier to install than most other types of metal treads.

  • Because aluminum is much more malleable than steel, treads are available in nearly unlimited styles while still being cost efficient

  • In certain configurations, such as I-beam grating, aluminum provides the same load-bearing capabilities as steel.
outdoor

 

Overall, safety is one of the leading reasons for choosing aluminum stair treads. Consider these slip and fall statistics:

  • Every day, 25,000 people are victims of slip and fall accidents – an expense of over $30 billion every year.

  • Nearly 100,000 children under the age of 5 are taken to hospitals every day for stairway related falls.

  • Of those injured in stairway related accidents, 65% require medical attention.
  • Plaintiffs win 51% of premises liability claims.


Examples of Outdoor Stair Tread Use


With safety in mind, here are a few of the leading applications of aluminum and how these treads reduce maintenance costs while minimizing the potential for injury in outdoor environments


Marine Applications

For decades, the marine industry relied on steel as one of the sole materials for stairways, treads, and ladders. Steel was cheap and readily available for these applications; but in recent years, aluminum has become the sensible alternative. 


Inherently, aluminum does not need to be treated for most marine stair applications as it will not rust and does not require painting and repainting. Anodizing, however, is a common measure for added protection; it is relatively low-cost and offers years of resiliency. Furthermore, aluminum stair treads are not compromised by moisture.


Sports Complexes

Gymnasiums and sports arenas around the world choose aluminum plank treads for bleacher seating. These configurations allow for easy removal and mobility. Because of its low cost and high strength-to-weight ratio, aluminum delivers the best investment value by keeping maintenance fees to a minimum.  


But many stadiums and ballparks are also using aluminum in stairwell treads for their certain safety benefits. High-friction aluminum surfaces are unaffected by spilled beverages or foods and can be cleaned easier than almost every other alternative.


Stair Treads for Playgrounds

Aluminum treads are also replacing wood and steel at many public playgrounds. With aluminum available in textured tread grating, the potential for slips and falls is greatly reduced. Aluminum’s all-weather resiliency also allows for decades of maintenance-free use.

Schools and park services that have chosen aluminum will conserve funds by eliminating the need for regular painting and replacement of treads. And where wood playgrounds exist, aluminum stair nosing provides added security and durability to these softer treads and surfaces.