44030

Stainless steel vs galvanized steel for Curacao bus shelters?

+++++++

On the island of Curaçao, Dutch Antilles we are renovating our bus station in town, which is very close to our beautiful Caribbean Sea. We are now trying to find documentation for the use of either the material galvanized steel or stainless steel for the new bus shelters, benches and litter bins.
Does anyone have information about which material will be more durable in an aggressive environment for a Caribbean island?

Denise Pieters
Public Works Curaçao - Curacao, Netherlands, Antilles

If you want to avoid rusting in the future you need to spend a little more money and use 316L stainless steel or better. Galvanized steel or 304 stainless steel will rust.

Lee Kremer Stellar Solutions, Inc. McHenry, Illinois

Denise,

As Lee says,SS 316 is the better choise, but it will also stain and rust if you do not electropolish your construction.
Galvanised steel is an alternative if yo add a supplementary powdercoating as additional protection of your construction.

Marc Quaghebeur
- Brugge, Belgium

I construct and install bus shelters in Barbados, and have for the last 15 years. Tropical hardwood is the way to go - it does not rust at all!

Barney Gibbs
- Maxwell, Christ Church, Barbados