FOLLOW US

Author: Ultra-Tec

Texas Hill Invisiware® Installation

On a small private ranch, nestled in the trees in the Texas Hill Country, is a residential home on the edge of a bluff with impressive views. There are four elevations of the house, and on the second floor, boasts a wrap-around deck.

One of the unique things Texas Railing Systems owner, Wayne Uecker, noticed when looking at the plans was a 40-foot-long ramp that ran from the ground level to the second floor. “It was a steep ramp not made for ADA use because it was only four-feet-wide.” The ramp was, however, built for the owners’ dogs. 

First, Texas Railing Systems installed cable railings and fittings for the full wrap-around deck and stair runs. During this installation, using the CR Laurence aluminum railing system as the framework, crews with Texas Railing Systems installed Ultra-tec’s Invisiware® 1/8-inch cable, a tropical hardwood for the top rail. This showcased a striking appearance. It’s no surprise that the project won a top place in the 2020 Ultra-tec Photo Contest.

cable railing system on deck
interior cable railing system

Enhanced Aesthetic

“Ultra-tec’s Invisiware is our cable railing fitting preference; it is sleek and nearly invisible hardware,” said Mr. Uecker. “The hardware is easy to adjust and is our first choice go-to for cable products. Moreover, it’s incorporated into our standard fabrications.”

Texas Railing Systems is a leading architectural contemporary railing specialty company. They have more than one thousand projects throughout the Texas Hill Country. They have long-standing relationships in commercial, residential, and manufacturing, including their long-time supplier, Cable Art.

“Above all, we feel Ultra-tec is a superior product line for our cable business,” added Mr. Uecker.

The new $1.8 billion architectural marvel, Allegiant Stadium includes thousands of feet of Ultra-tec cable rail.

You can’t blame long-time NFL football fans of the Raiders for feeling waves of wonder, awe, and delight when they enter the team’s new 65,000-seat Las Vegas stadium.

The one reaction Keith Robinson, the project’s design team lead, probably didn’t expect are tears.

Robinson is a director for Kansas City, Kan.–based Manica Architecture. The firm worked in partnership with the architect of record, HNTB Corporation, on the just-completed $1.8 billion Allegiant Stadium.  “When Las Vegas Raiders fans experience the passion that went into designing and building this stadium, it’s bound to stir very powerful emotions,” Robinson says. “It’s a tribute to the owner’s vision. There are many legacy moments. It also connects the team’s future. It’s well-rounded and thoughtful.”

The Manica team is ideally suited for this project. Their credits include an elite global roster of sport and entertainment venues, including Wembley Stadium and the O2 Arena in London; the Chase Center in San Francisco; the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai; Stadio Cagliari Calcio in Sardinia; and Nuovo Stadio Milano in Milan. The work of the firm demonstrates how form and function connect to deliver unforgettable experiences.

Reimagined Fan Experience

And what a vision. The sleek, futuristic black-and-silver cladded stadium represents a new chapter in the fan experience. Take loge seating. “We imagined these seats like international business class plane seat,” says Robinson. “What amenities would a ticket-holder expect? Bigger lounge seats with padded armrests and phone charger, of course. We also added a refrigerated compartment stocked with pre-ordered drinks along with a personal monitor in front of each seat with integrated television.”

The word connections come up a lot in discussing the stadium: Connections between fans and action on the field; with the team’s storied history; with the allure of the Vegas Strip, visible to fans through an immense, retractable window.

Enhanced Aesthetic

That spirit of connection pervades every detail of the project. Take railing infill, for example: While glass infill for railings isn’t an unusual sight, “… you don’t use them everywhere. There are certain areas where you need them, other areas where you don’t. Glass can create distracting reflections,” Robinson says.

One way to minimize distractions and maintain maximum connection is with cable rail infill. “It blends right in,” Robinson says. “We lean on cable rail in many contemporary settings because detailing is so important in modern design. Cable rail enhances the aesthetic.”

Architectural Cable Rail

Allegiant Stadium incorporates tens of thousands of feet of 1/4-inch-thick cable rail. The project’s cable rail subcontractor and commercial construction fabrication firm, Raydeo, turned to a supplier with its own portfolio of stadium work, G&F Southeast Distributors of Peachtree City, Ga.

“We’ve supplied cable rail for arenas and stadiums in St. Louis, Jacksonville, New Orleans, and elsewhere—including the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta,” says G&F co-founder Don Goddard. The company supplies cable rail from Ultra-tec, a leading U.S. manufacturer that specializes in architectural-grade cable rail, free of sharp edges, uneven hand-crimped shanks, exposed nuts, and other coarse effects.

Meanwhile, Robinson looks forward to one day experiencing a packed Allegiant Stadium rocking with 65,000 screaming Raiders fans, though it’s not likely going to happen this season, due to COVID-19. “The seating bowl is very tight to the field. It’s going to be a tremendous atmosphere. It’s going to be very loud,” he smiles.

Ready to add stainless-steel cable rail infill and fittings to your next project? Contact us at 800-851-2961 or info@ultra-tec.com.

Photography by Matt Aquirre/Las Vegas Raiders

Ultra-tec stainless steel cable railing products are an excellent choice for a variety of commercial designs, offering unobstructed views and a spacious appearance. The most common use of cable railings in designs today are horizontally run cable railing system for interior and exterior applications.

The use of cable railings for commercial projects offer architects and designers flexibility, versatility, and a modern approach to any design. Cable railings also allow a creative and easy to install alternative for fabricators and installers. In addition to design and creativity, there are key design considerations for a successful cable railing system installation.

Stainless-Steel Cable Railing Strength

Cable, also referred to as wire rope or aircraft cable, is very strong in tensile strength and is designed to be flexible. The degree of flexibility varies depending on the cable’s diameter and construction (1×19, 7×7, 7×19, etc.), the tradeoff for flexibility is strength, and the opposite is also true.

For commercial projects or anywhere there is heavy pedestrian traffic, we recommend a 3/16-inch diameter cable (316-grade stainless steel). It is most commonly used and is durable, low-maintenance, and is attractive. For a variable aesthetic option, other diameters are available from 1/8-, 1/4-, 5/16-, and 3/8-inches.

Stainless-Steel Cable Railing Flexibility

Cable flexibility is an important consideration when designing a cable railing application. The International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC) require that a 4-inch sphere shall not pass through any portion of the installed railing. Because of this code requirement, the use of the most rigid of cable construction possible is ideal. Having the rigidity to prevent deflection of a horizontal run cable subjected to a vertical load is partly mitigated by the cable’s lack of flexibility.

The IBC requires cable designs to withstand a single concentrated load of 200 pounds applied in any direction at any point along the top. Also, attachment devices and supporting structures — handrails and guards — transfer the load to structural elements of the building.

Other factors include the tension — to at least 225 pounds — of the cable, the span between supporting intermediate members, the cable’s diameter, the vertical spacing of the cables on center, and temperature at the time of installation. Temperature fluctuations can cause variations in cable tension due to differing thermal expansion of the railing frame and the cable.  Depending on geographic locations, cable railings installed outdoors may experience large swings in temperatures; hot summer days to the cold winter nights may be a 140-degree difference.

The use of a stainless-steel railing frame virtually eliminates temperature-induced tension changes because it contracts and expands at the same rate as the stainless-steel cable.

Alternative materials like carbon steel, aluminum, and wood each expand differently than stainless and railing frames made from these materials and will exhibit varying cable tension with changes in temperature.

Post Spacing for Cable Railing

Intermediate posts or braces support the cable as it passes through the railing frame’s posts. An intermediate post is a structural post that runs from the top rail to the mounting surface, and a brace is a lighter weight material, supporting the cable and placed between posts.

While cable can run quite long distances (as much as 60-feet or more) between end posts, it will need support at intervals — intermediate posts or braces — to avoid cable deflection in excess permitted by building codes.

It is recommended to space posts or braces at a maximum of 48-inches with center cables 3-1/8-inches apart.

stainless-steel metal railing

Stainless-Steel Cable Railing Tension and Top Rail

Mounting and tensioning hardware is attached to end posts and work together to minimize the deflection. Posts must not deflect perceptively as the cables are tensioned to a minimum of 225 pounds at heights of 36- to 42-inches. It is crucial to minimize end post deflection, and potential bending, as an incredible amount of force is placed on the end post with ten or more lines.

A sturdy top rail is required to support the tensioning end posts and prevent bending under the strain of the tensioned cables. The most commonly used top rail for commercial use is stainless steel due to its resistance to corrosion and low maintenance.

Designing with Stainless Steel Vertical Railings

Vertical cable railings — cables run from the top rail to the bottom rail — are becoming increasingly popular to differentiate a project for either interior or exterior use. The building code requirements apply to vertical cable railings; however, the installation of vertical railings differ.

Framing material — pipe, or structural square or rectangular tube framing (stainless steel for exterior use) — with a minimum wall thickness of ¼-inch is ideal.  Cable braces are appropriate for replacing every eight cables to keep the top and bottom rails from bending when the cables are tensioned.

In this example, we recommend using the Invisiware® Threaded Stud on one end of the cable and screwed into a drilled and tapped hole in the underside of the top rail. An Invisiware® Receiver inserted into a hole drilled through the bottom rail. A threaded stud on the other end of the cable, tensioned by turning the receiver with an Allen wrench, completes the run.

Stainless steel cable railings and fittings offer a beautiful, low maintenance option to enhance interior and exterior designs. Ultra-tec products also contribute to LEED® credits benefiting architects, designers, and building owners to achieve required building certifications.

To learn more, contact us.

Aesthetically pleasing, cable railings offer an impressive installation option for a variety of commercial applications like rooftop decks, interior and exterior stairways, and stadiums where unobstructive views are ideal. Before installing cable railing, however, it’s important to understand how to install cable railing and the recommended framework for a successful and long-lasting installation.

Ideal Metal Frame Variations for Cable Railing

Metal frames and cable railing components, typically constructed using carbon steel or stainless steel, are commonly used in commercial applications for both interior and exterior. While carbon steel or stainless steel are the most common metal frame materials, other can be used. They need to be engineered to meet code requirements and other necessary considerations in the design of a sound cable railing system.

Carbon steel or stainless steel are recommended frames and cable railing components for commercial use because of their outstanding performance in use with cables. In choosing between carbon or stainless steel, it’s important to note the differences to determine what is best to use for your project.

Stainless Steel

Generally preferred for its corrosion resistance and low maintenance, stainless steel is specified typically for its aesthetic appeal for classic and modern designs. It is also resistant to high and low temperatures in most grades while maintaining its strength.

Carbon Steel

Harder and stronger than stainless, carbon steel is an excellent choice for more industrial use where appearance is not an issue. It is subject to corrosion if not coated and can tarnish or rust if not applied regularly. Carbon steel is  ideal for hidden areas and for cost-conscious projects.

Metal Railing Framing Construction

Properly tensioned cables will exert 225 pounds of tension each. A properly constructed metal framing and sturdy top rail is critical to prevent the end posts from bowing when the cables are tensioned. Three metal frame variations we recommend include:

Double End Post Construction 

double end post construction

This type of construction is strong, yet its elements are thin enough to have minimal visual obstruction created by the frame. This railing style uses an end post and two vertical members separated by stainless steel spacers. Intermediate posts are only one-inch thick, contributing to a seamless design.

Wall Structural Steel End Post Construction

End posts are slightly thicker for wall mounting; the intermediate posts can be smaller to minimize the frame’s bulkiness.

Pipe and Round Steel Tube Posts

Round tube used with a wall thickness at least comparable to schedule 80 or heavier pipe, or ¼-inch tube wall thickness. Top and bottom rails and intermediate posts constructed from schedule 40 pipe, or a minimum of 1/8-inch tube wall thickness.

Cable Railing Components

We recommend stainless steel cable railing components for exterior applications due to their low maintenance and longevity in extreme and fluctuating temperatures.

Stainless Steel Cable Brace

Since cable runs between terminating end posts can be quite long, it’s necessary to support the cable with intermediate posts or cable braces every 48-inches or less to prevent cable flexing beyond a 4-inch opening between cables (needed per the 4-inch sphere rule for guards). Cable braces come in two lengths, 36- or 42-inch, are ¼-inch by 1-inch and must weld to metal frames.

Stainless Steel Cable Brace Floor Plates

Used for mounting cable braces to the top or bottom rail or deck.

Stainless Steel Spacers

Stainless steel spacers, round, 1-inch in length, and are used to support thin-walled double end post design or allow for receiver extension in a stair system.

Detailed and downloadable drawings and material specifications are available.

Looking for information on how you can add cable railings to your project? View our inspiration or our products pages to learn more.

Sustainability in building materials

In today’s environment, building a sustainable structure is no longer a nice to have; it is a basic need. Sustainability is measured through various rating systems subscribed to by architects, designers, building owners, and benefiting occupants and the environment. While there are several green building rating systems, the industry most widely used is the LEED® green building program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design™) program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC®).
USGBC-LEED

The LEED rating system offers tools to measure a buildings’ performance. Credits are acquired to achieve points toward a level of building certification: certified (40-49), silver (50-59), gold (60-79), and platinum (80+).

Materials and Resources Credit

Most building materials, like stainless steel cables and fittings, fall within the Materials and Resources credit. Materials are measured based on where they come from and their makeup and disposal. LEED gives points for green, renewable, recycled, and natural materials specified in a building.

Stainless Steel Bridge

It’s important to note that virtually all new stainless steel materials contain post-consumer content, defined as waste material that is no longer usable for its intended purpose.

Ultra-tec® cable railing products are made of recycled materials, helping our customers qualify for LEED credits in:

  • LEED for New Construction – Material & Resources Credit 4.1 and 4.2
  • LEED for Commercial Interior – Material & Resources Credit 4.1 and 4.2
  • LEED for Schools – Material & Resources Credit 4.1 and 4.2

All stainless-steel products produced and supplied by Ultra-tec in our U.S. facility contain a minimum pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled content of 65 percent, with a minimum post-consumer recycled content of 25 percent. All other steel products produced and supplied by Ultra-tec contain a minimum post-consumer recycled content of 25 percent.

Stainless steel is recyclable, durable and economical

Stainless steel is one of the most environmentally friendly metals used in construction. If chosen correctly, stainless steel will last the life of the project. Ninety-two percent of the stainless steel used in architecture, building, and construction applications is recaptured and recycled to produce more steel products at the end-of-life.

Along with its corrosion-resistant properties, stainless steel is highly durable. Stainless steel is composed of corrosion-resistant alloys, offering a long life and an attractive lifecycle cost-benefit versus low-cost alternative materials.

Stainless steel has been used in a variety of interior and exterior building applications contributing to LEED points for the service life of more than 50-years, making it an ideal material to specify for the long-term. 

What is stainless steel?

Stainless steel is from the iron-based alloy family. It contains, on average, 12 percent chromium, which is the chemical element that produces an anti-corrosive, invisible thin layer of oxide, better known as the passive layer, and is the protective property. A corrosion-resistant layer naturally forms when chromium reacts with sufficient oxygen (via air and water). If this layer is damaged or removed during fabrication or polishing, it will self-repair immediately as long as the surface is clean. Although more resistant to corrosion than other carbon and alloy steels, stainless steel describes the metal’s rust-resistant properties. However, it does not mean it is entirely stain-resistant in certain conditions. So, it is essential to follow a preventative maintenance program to keep the desired look.

Corrosive environments

The most common situations —those that contain salts — such as swimming pools and ocean, seawater and ice melting agents, will actively attack stainless steel. Heat and humidity also increase the corrosive activity of chlorine and bromine salts.

Other chemical reactions that may cause deterioration include carbon picked up from bending or fabricating tools, finishing equipment, or steel covered workbenches. The fumes from the muriatic acid solution used by contractors or masons on masonry can attack stainless steel.

When considering the material’s mechanical finish —satin or mirror—corrosion-causing agents will collect within the fine lines of a satin finish instead of a smooth surface of a mirror finish.

There are varying levels and types of corrosion, and it is advisable to seek additional technical reading on the subject if corrosion is a concern.

Preventative maintenance

Stainless Steel and Corrosive Environments products

Keep your stainless-steel cable railing looking as new as the day of installation with regularly scheduled maintenance and cleaning. Remove any noticeable discoloration and stains using a two-part method designed to clean and protect. We recommend E-Z Clean, a high-performance formula that is easy to apply and is long-lasting.

SITESEARCH

WHERETO BUY