Are You Over-Specifying 316 Stainless Steel?
It is easy to assume that Grade 316 stainless steel is automatically the better option because it offers greater corrosion resistance.
But higher grade does not always mean better specification.
For many internal commercial projects, Grade 304 stainless steel is entirely suitable and can provide excellent durability, appearance and long-term performance.
Specifying 316 where it is not needed can simply add unnecessary cost to a project.
At Ash Door Furniture, most of our stainless steel pull handles are manufactured in Grade 304 as standard because it is well suited to the majority of internal commercial environments.
We can also manufacture in Grade 316 on request where the project genuinely requires increased corrosion resistance, such as exposed external or coastal applications.
Are you paying more for 316 without getting a better handle?
This is an important question for specifiers and contractors.
A handle manufactured from Grade 316 stainless steel is not automatically a higher-quality handle than one manufactured from Grade 304.
The final quality of a pull handle also depends on:
The quality of the raw material
Wall thickness and section size
Welding and fabrication quality
Accuracy of the manufacture
Surface preparation
Quality of the satin or polished finish
Fixing design
Overall construction
Quality control
A well-made Grade 304 pull handle can therefore be a much better product than a poorly manufactured Grade 316 handle.
Material grade should not be used as a substitute for good design, good manufacture and appropriate specification.
Specify for the environment, not the number
For most projects, the better question is not:
“Is 316 better than 304?”
It is:
“Does this particular application actually require 316?”
For a typical internal office, retail, education or commercial environment, Grade 304 will often be the appropriate choice.
For coastal, highly exposed external or chloride-rich environments, Grade 316 may be justified.
Choosing the correct grade for the environment helps avoid both under-specification and unnecessary over-specification.
At Ash Door Furniture, we would rather recommend the material the project actually needs than simply specify the most expensive option.