Glossary

 

 

ALLEN KEY

A

 

also called "hex key", it is a tool of hexagonal cross-section used to drive bolts and screws that have a hexagonal socket in the head.  It is also known as a zeta key, derived from the sixth letter of the Greek alphabet.

 

 

ALLOY

a material comprising two or more elements, at least one of them being metal.

 

 

ALLOY STEEL

steel to which other elements, in addition to those already present, have been added for the purpose of improving properties and performance.

 

 

ALUMINIUM

a silver-white metallic element.  Light in weight, ductile, malleable and not easily corroded or tarnished.

 

 

ANODISED

 

 

ANTI CLIMB SYSTEMS

an electrolytic passivation used to increase the natural oxide layer on the surface of metal parts.

 

rotating vanes fixed to the tops of fences and walls.

 

 

APPLICATION

the act of applying to a particular purpose or use.

 

 

ARCHITECTURAL MESH

used in external and internal applications such as cladding, screens etc.  It can also be used for decorative mesh sculptures.

 

ARMCO BARRIERS                             

                                                                                          Safety barriers installed around many roads, buildings and race tracks, particularly in F1, are commonly referred to as “Armco” barriers. Search the internet for a definition of Armco and you get “Armco is an American steel company founded in 1900 as the American Rolling Mills Corporation”. “Armco” originally referred to a type of steel produced by this company from which the components of the barriers around race tracks were commonly manufactured NOT the barrier itself. The term “Armco” Barrier generically refers to barriers used to segregate vehicles and provide protection from impact, 

 

 

B

 

 

BARBED TAPE

metal strip with sharp edges, designed to prevent passage.  Also known as razor wire.

 

 

BALUSTER

one of the upright, usually rounded or vase-shaped support of a balustrade.

 

 

BALUSTRADE

BIRD MESH

a rail, and the row of balusters or posts that support it.

welded wire used for aviaries as well as to prevent birds entering buildings and alcoves to roost.

 

 

BLACK PASSIVATE

BOW TOPS

a decorative finish.

hooped top on fencing.

 

 

BRASS

an alloy of copper and zinc, can sometimes include a small amount of other materials but usually 67 percent copper and 33 percent zinc.

 

 

BRIGHT STEEL

also called silver steel, bright steel gets its name from its appearance due to the high carbon content

 

 

BRUN-MESH

 a variety of woven wire mesh

 

 

BRUNSTRUT

a range of channels and bracketry which fasten together to create a system for supporting many building services.  Also known under the brand of Cablok.

 

 

BRUNTEX

a type of textured architectural and decorative stainless steel

 

 

BRUN-WELD

 a variety of welded wire mesh

 

 

BS EN ISO 1461

a specification for hot dip galvanised coatings on iron and steel (formerly BS729)

 

 

BSI

abbreviation for British Standard Institute.

 

 

BS 4360 GRD 43A

 a specification for weldable structural steels (grade 43a).

 

 

BS729

a specification for hot dip galvanised coatings on iron and steel which was replaced in 1999 by BS EM OSP 1461

 

 

BUSHES

a type of fitting used when erecting galvanised tube structures.

 

 

 

C

 

 

CACTI

a security system suitable for fence or wall toppings.

 

 

CAPTIVE SCREW FITTING

also called Nott's Captive Screw Fitting, it is a device which can be fitted to most packing cases, allowing them to be opened and closed quickly and easily without damaging the case and requiring only a screwdriver.

 

 

CARBON STEEL

also called plain carbon steel, it has carbon as its main constituent.  The term "carbon steel" may also be used in reference to steel which is not stainless steel; in this use carbon steel may include alloy steels.

 

 

CAST IRON

an alloy of iron containing large amounts of carbon thus rendering it brittle.  Cast iron cannot be wrought and is shaped by casting.

 

 

CDS

abbreviation for cold drawn steel.

 

 

CEN

acronym for " Comité Européen de Normalisation" - European Committee for Standardisation.

 

 

CHAIN LINK FENCE

also referred to as wire netting, it is a type of woven fence usually made from galvanised or coated steel wire.

CHS

abbreviation for circular hollow section, commonly known as tube.

 

CHROMIUM

a hard metal with a high melting point.  Steely-grey in appearance and best known for its role in stainless steel production.

 

 

CLEAT

 

COLD DRAWN STEEL

a type of fitting used when erecting structures such as fences, handrails etc.

a process where the material is reduced to the size required through a series of dies.

 

 

COLD FORMING

any forging operation performed cold, such as cold extrusion, cold drawing or coining, which enables dimensional accuracy to be achieved.

 

 

COLD ROLLED

the process in which a metal is passed through a pair of rolls. If the temperature of the metal is below its recrystalisation temperature, the process is called cold rolling.

 

 

 

 

COLLARS

a type of fitting used when erecting galvanised tube structures. A metal band used to hide welds or joints in decorative ironwork.

 

 

COMPONENTS

a part or element of larger whole, from the Latin componere "put together".

 

 

COPPER

a ductile metal with a very high thermal and electrical conductivity.  It is used as a thermal and electrical conductor, building material and is a constituent of various metal alloys.

 

 

COUNTERWEIGHT

 

 

CRASH BARRIER

a PVC moulding containing a locking collar to secure and lock Roof Edge Protection tube in position.  The counterweight is slim and deemed a low trip hazard.

also known as Armco. Formed beams on posts to prevent vehicles hitting buildings.  As used on motorways etc.

 

 

 

D

 

 

DDA

abbreviation for Disability Discrimination Act.

 

 

DIMENSIONS

linear measurements other than wire spacing included in the style designation.

 

 

DUCTILE

of a metal such as gold or copper able to be drawn into wire

 

 

DURALINE

a revolutionary line marking product aimed at providing a permanent solution to a company's line marking requirements. The construction method which combines resin and fibres, means that it is an exceptionally hard wearing product designed for a long life

 

 

DURBAR

a steel floor plate with a distinctive appearance of evenly distributed and raised pattern. The Durbar pattern is easy to clean with a self-draining surface.

 

 

 

E

 

 

EAVES FITTINGS

a type of fitting used when erecting galvanised tube structures.

 

 

EDGING SECTION

steel sections suitable for framing sheets of mesh and steel.

 

 

ELBOW

a type of fitting used when erecting galvanised tube structures.

 

 

END OVERHANGS

extension of longitudinal wires beyond centreline of outside transverse wires.

 

 

ERW

abbreviation for electrical resistance Welding.  Welding by the process of passing of an electric current through two metals.

 

through two metals.

 

 

EXMET

see "expanded metal"

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPANDED METAL

is made by sitting a metal plate in a press then stretching the metal, leaving diamond shaped voids surrounded by interlinked bars of the metal.  It is made by simultaneously stretching and slitting the metal with one motion.  Often shortened to "exmet".  Expanded metal is used in gratings, flooring, security fencing and even garden furniture and is often used for guarding machinery or prevent contact with hot surfaces.

 

 

EXPERF

an alternative to perforated metal, referring to a range of expanded metal developed to emulate the circular pattern of perforated meal, considerably more cost effective and producing less waste material during manufacture.  Its many uses include: room dividers, gates, filtration, acoustics, displays etc.

 

 

 

F

 

 

FABRIC

a material made from wire, helically wound and interwoven in order to provide a continuous mesh.  A common term for reinforcing mesh.

 

 

FERRITIC

ferritic alloys are obtained when chromium is added to iron to develop corrosion resistance

 

 

FERROUS ALLOYS

metals or  alloys containing iron.

 

 

FIBREGLASS/GLASS FIBRE

a trade name for glass fibres and resins with excellent corrosion and chemical resistance.

 

 

FINIALS

a decorative items generally used as a railing head or post top.

 

 

FLANGE

a type of fitting used when erecting galvanised tube structures.

 

 

FLATTENED MESH

A type of expanded metal produced by passing the mesh through pressure rolls, this results in the angled strands being flattened back to the original plane of the sheet.  The material thickness will be reduced slightly to ensure a level and even condition.  Flattened mesh provides a more consistent open area and the finished product is easier to shear to close tolerances.

 

 

FLYSCREEN MESH

see insect mesh.

 

 

FOUR WAY CROSS

a type of fitting used when erecting galvanised tube structures.

 

 

FREE AREA

also called "open area" - the proportion of the aperture expressed as a percentage of the whole area.

 

 

FRENCH CHALK

a type of soapstone used to mark cloth and as a lubricant for shoes, gloves etc.

 

 

FUSION

the merging of different elements into a union.

 

 

 

G

 

 

GABION

from Italian "gabbione" meaning "big cage", gabions can be filled with soil, sand or stones and are used in civil engineering, road building and military applications.

 

 

 

 

GALVANISED

zinc coated steel.

 

 

GALVANISATION

refers to any of several electro-chemical processes - names after the Italian scientist Luigi Galvani.

 

 

GALVANISED TUBE

also called galvanised steel pipe, galvanised tube is covered with a protective zinc coating to prevent it from corroding. It is used in a variety of applications such as handrails, safety barriers, support structures, market stalls, exhibition stands, awing and carports, children's play equipment, garment racking etc.

 

 

GAUGE

diameter of wire.

 

 

GRADE

the metal content of an ore, measured either in grams per tonne or as a percentage.

 

 

GRATING

also called grate; grating is a network of metal bars in the form of a grille which can be set into a wall or pavement and serving as a cover or guard.

 

 

 

 

GRILLE

also called grill, a framework of metal bars used as a partition or grate.

 

 

GRP

abbreviation for Glass Reinforced Plastic.

 

 

GRUB SCREW

a type of screw designed to secure an object within an object.  A grub screw or blind screw will generally not have an external head and will be inserted into its location by means of an Allen key.

 

 

 

H

 

 

HANDRAIL BRACKET

a type of fitting used when erecting hand rail structures.

 

 

HANDRAIL STANDARDS

upright built for the purpose of providing support to handrails at the side of stairways, platforms etc.

 

 

HD1

a type of Securilath used as a heavy weight option for security in walls, partitions and ceilings.

 

 

HDR

a raised mesh Securilath, an ideal key for plaster and render finishes.

 

 

HEXAGONAL

six-sided in shape.

 

 

HOLLANDER (DUTCH) WEAVE

while the warp wires remain straight, the weft wires are plain woven to lie as close as possible against each other in a linen weave forming a dense strong material with small, irregular and twisting passageways that appea triangular when diagonally viewing to weave.

 

 

 

 

HOLLANDER TWILL WEAVE

similar to Plain Hollander weave, except that the weave is twilled, allowing a double layer of weft wires.  There are no apertures in the true sense of the word as the filtrate follows a sinuous path through the depth of the wire cloth.

 

 

HOT DIP

hot dip galvanising is the process of coating aluminium, steel or iron with a thin zinc layer by placing the metal into a molten bath of zinc at a temperature of around 460 degrees Celcius.

 

 

HOT FORGING

also called hot forming; shaping operations performed at temperatures above the recrystallization of the metal using hammers or dies.

 

 

 

 

HOT METAL

see pig iron, the product made in a blast furnace.

 

 

HOT STEEL

an alloy steel that remains hard at a red heat; used to make metal cutting tools.

 

 

HSG33

legislation purporting to Health and Safety in Roof Work

 

 

 

I

 

 

INSECT MESH

 

 

INTER CLAMPS

a fine mesh used to prevent insects from entering windows and apertures usually made from aluminium, stainless steel or fibreglass woven wire mesh.

see Tube Clamps

 

 

INTERNAL JOINT

a type of fitting used when erecting galvanised tube structures.

 

 

 

J

 

 

 

K

 

 

KEY CLAMP

see Tube Clamps.

 

 

KG/M

kilogramme per metre.

 

 

KN

kilonewton - a unit of measure determining the load which can be applied.

 

 

KNUCKLE

the selvage obtained by interlocking adjacent pairs of wire ends and bending the wire back into a loop.

 

 

 

L

 

 

LACQUER

a clear or coloured varnish that dries by solvent evaporation and is often used as a curing process that produces a hard durable finish.

 

 

LATH

a building material such as a sheet of metal mesh used to provide a supporting framework for plaster, tiles etc.

 

 

LATHING

the process of building with laths.

 

 

LENGTH

tip to tip dimension of longitudinal wires, length dimensions always include end overhangs.

 

 

LUG

type of nut used for joining tubing.

 

LW

denotes long way of mesh dimension.

 

 

M

 

 

MARTENSITIC

martensitic alloys result when chromium is added to steels with carefully chosen carbon contents ranging from the most widely used 410 grade to the 440- C grade.

 

 

 

 

MD1

a type of Securilath, a lighter option than HD1, used for security in walls, partitions and ceilings.

 

 

MESH

consists of a semi permeable barrier  made of connecting strands of metal, fibre or other ductable/flexible material.  Mesh is similar to web or net in that it has many attached or woven strands. 

 

 

MESH COUNT

the number of apertures or wires per linear inch.  Most meshes are square and will have the same count.

 

 

 

in both warp and weft.

 

 

MICRON

1/1000mm

 

 

MILD STEEL

also referred to as soft steel, an alloy of iron and carbon, discovered in 1856 in an attempt to mass produce wrought iron.  It is made by melting scrap steel and cast iron with the removal of carbon and slag (leaving a small residual content).  It has higher strength and better consistency than wrought iron.

 

 

 

 

MINARET

referring to the a shaped mesh pattern; thus called because of it's likeness to the tall slender towers attached to mosques.

 

 

MONEL

a nickel/copper alloy with a combination of strength and excellent resistance to sea water, acids etc.

 

 

 

N

 

 

NICKEL

a silvery-white metal with a high melting point and possessing corrosion resistant properties.

 

 

NOSING

also called stairnose, bull nose and landing tread.  Nosing is the portion of the stair tread extending out over the vertical riser, generally to create an anti-slip element.

 

 

 

O

 

O/D

 

overall dimension 

OPEN AREA

also called "free area" - the proportion of the aperture expressed as a percentage of the whole area.

 

 

OXIDE

 

OPEN STEEL

a chemical compound containing a least one oxygen item as well as at least one other element.

also known as open steel flooring.  Rectangular bearer bars are joined by transverse round bars to create gratings.

 

 

OVERALL WIDTH

tip to tip measurements of transverse wires.

 

 

 

P

 

 

PALISADE

a strong fence make of pales.

 

 

PASSIVATION

the process of making a material passive in relation to another material prior to using them together.

 

 

PERFORATED METAL

perforated metal is produced by placing sheets of metal into a press and perforating round, square or various patterned holed into the metal.  It is used in many applications including: balustrades, ventilation, filtration, internal or external cladding, screens etc.

 

 

PEWTER

a metal alloy made of at least 90% tin along with other metals.  Pewter is a soft material and works easily, and develops a soft grey colour when it begins to age.

 

 

 

 

PHOSPHOR BRONZE

a copper and tin alloy, it is strong and durable and will resist diluted acids and alkalis.

 

 

PIG IRON

the product of smelting iron ore, coke and limestone in a blast furnace.

 

 

PITCH

the distance in millimetres between the centre of two adjacent wires.

 

 

PLAIN WEAVE

this is the most commonly used weave.  Each weft wire passes alternately over and under each warp wire and each warp wire passes alternately over and under each weft wire.  Warp and weft wire diameters are generally the same.

 

 

POLYMER COATING

 

PRE-GALVANISED

used to describe colour coatings, i.e. PVC, polyester and other polymers used for coating purposes.

where welded mesh and security fencing have been manufactured using galvanised wire.

 

 

PVC

abbreviation for poly-vinyl chloride

 

Q

 

 

 

R

 

 

RAILHEADS

decorative items designed to emphasize the apex of a structure (usually railings), the larger of which are also called finials.

 

 

RAISED MESH

raised mesh is typically stronger than flattened mesh due to the structural strength gained from the mesh stands and bonds being set at an angle. Visibility through raised mesh will vary depending on the able at which the mesh is installed.  Raised mesh provides excellent grip when used as a decking material.

 

 

RAL

a colour matching system used in Europe, usually used for varnish and powder coating.

 

 

RAPTOR

a security system suitable for fence and wall topping and made of plastic.

 

 

REVERSE HOLLANDER WEAVE

this is the reverse of the Plain Hollander (Dutch) weave, in that the weft wires are heavier than the warp wires.

 

 

RHINOMIXTE

referring to anti-slip flooring, with holes 5mm in diameter burst embossed upwards & holes 16mm in diameter embossed downwards.

 

 

RHINOPLUS

referring to anti-slip flooring with split and embossed surface with serrated finish, very strong and non slip.  Recommended for high risk slippery areas.

 

 

RHS

abbreviation for rectangular hollow section.

 

 

ROOF EDGE PROTECTION SYSTEM

operating on a counter balance principle, REP uses curved PVC counterweights as the main component.  A galanised malleable iron foot supports the handrail post, this includes an integral toeplate facility which is a fundamental requirement if there is no perimeter edge up stand.

 

 

ROLL

unit of sale for wire mesh or netting.

 

 

RUN END CONTERWEIGHT

used in Roof Edge Protection, it is a double counterweight assembly which is used in conjunction with all end posts on installations with "free ends".

 

 

RYLOCK

a type of stock fencing used in agricultural applications.

 

 

 

S

 

 

SECURILATH

 

SECURITY FENCING

a range of reinforced security mesh for fixing to walls before plastering.

 

a welded mesh fence supplied in rolls made from galvanised wire.

 

 

SELVEDGE

the finished edge formed by looped weft wires at either side of the cloth.

 

 

SENTINEL

 a type of stock fencing used in agricultural applications.

 

 

SHAPED MESH

describes mesh patterns that are not square, rectangular or round.

 

 

SHORT TEE

a type of fitting used when erecting galvanised tube structures.

 

 

SHS

abbreviation for square hollow section.

 

 

SQUARE MESH

an expanded metal mesh stretched more in order to produce a square hole pattern.  It differs from normal expanded metal mesh is that its square aperture is its most important feature.  A cost effective alternative to welded meshes which can be used for machine guards, balustrades, animal enclosures, infill panels etc.

 

 

SIDE OVERHANGS

extension of transverse wire beyond centreline of outside longitudinal wires, facilitates the welding to a frame or additional wires.

 

 

STRETCHING

the process of putting tension at the end of a fabric to make it hang uniformly.

 

 

SELF-COLOUR

 

 

SHERARDISING

 

where mild steel is untreated.

 

discovered by Sherard Cowper-Coles, sherardising is a method of galvanising, also called vapour galvanising.

 

 

SLEEVE JOINT

a type of fitting used when erecting galvanised tube structures.

 

 

SLOTTED

style or design, having slots.

 

 

SQUARE PITCH

referring to linear perforations

 

 

STAGGERED PITCH

referring to diagonal/non linear perforations

 

 

STANCHION

an upright post or bar used to provide support for example: handrail stanchion

 

 

STAINLESS STEEL

a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5% chromium, it is also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxidable" and is sometimes called corrosion-resistant steel or CRES.  Stainless steel does not stain, corrode or rust as easily as ordinary steel and is used where properties of steel resistance to corrosion is required.

 

 

STAINLESS STEEL 304

type 304 stainless steel has a minimum of 18% chromium and 8% nickel, combined with a maximum of 0.08% carbon.  Some of its characteristics are: forming and welding properties, corrosion resistance, ease of cleaning, ease of fabrication and beauty of appearance.  It is one of the most frequently used alloys in the stainless steel family.

 

 

 

 

STAINLESS STEEL 316

type 316 stainless steel is more resistant to general corrosion and pitting than type 304.  Where a higher level of resistance to corrosion is required, type 316 is recommended.

 

 

STRAND

individual steel wires specially twisted together, individual strands are often combined in the manufacture of steel rope.

 

 

STYLE

identifies the spacings and sizes of welded wire fabric

SW 

 

denotes short way of mesh dimension. 

SWIVEL JOINT

a type of fitting used when erecting galvanised tube structures.

 

 

SWIVEL TEE

a type of fitting used when erecting galvanised tube structures.

 

 

 

T

 

 

TACTILE FLOORING

GRP tiles incorporating raised profiles and used to warn people of a change of elevation.

 

 

TREADPLATE

metal flooring, often made from aluminium or similar alloy.  Usually with a square or criss-cross pattern to reduce slipping.

 

 

 

 

TUBE CLAMPS

a range a fittings which when used in conjunction with steel tubes can be used to create a wide variety of temporary or permanent structures, also known as Kee Klamps, Key klamps and Alvin Key Klamp or Fast Clamp & Interclamp

 

 

 

 

TWILL WEAVE

each weft wire alternately passes over two, then under two successive warp wires and each warp wire passes alternately over two and under two successive weft wires, in a staggered arrangement.  Twill weave is normally used to allow a heavier than standard wire diameter in association with a given mesh.

 

 

TWIST

obtained by twisting adjacent pairs of wire ends together.

 

 

 

U

 

UNISTRUT                                   

similar product to Brunstrut.  A channel support system used by electrical contractors, suspended ceiling installers and mechanical engineers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

W

 

 

WALL FLANGE

a fitting used to provide an alternative method of finishing a run of guard rail by fixing to a wall.

 

 

WARP

the wires running length wise in a roll of mesh.

 

WARMAGRIP™

 

a "warm to the touch" handrailing component system.  This smooth continuous handrail has a high quality PVC coating and is ideal for both commercial and industrial environments.  Warmagrip™ meets DDA obligations, part M of the Building Regulations.

 

WEFT

the wires running across the width of the roll.

 

 

WELDED WIRE FABRIC

a series of longitudinal and transverse wires of various gauges, arranged at right angles to each other and welded at all points of intersection; used in concrete reinforcement.

 

 

WELDED WIRE MESH

also called welded mesh and Weldmesh, it is a series of metal wires welded to form a mesh. 

 

WELDMESH

see welded wire mesh, also called welded mesh.

 

 

WIRE CLOTH

a term used to describe material woven from metallic wire.

 

 

WOVEN WIRE MESH

woven wire mesh can be produced from any material which is ductile enough to be drawn into a wire form and woven.  Preferred materials include:  Stainless steel, phosphor bronze, monel, aluminium alloys and mild steel.

 

 

WROUGHT IRON

wrought iron is an alloy of iron with a much lower carbon content than steel and contains fibrous inclusions (slag) which are responsible for the characteristic grain appearance of the metal - especially when it is bent or etched.  Wrought iron is easily welded and is strong, malleable and ductile.  Many traditional applications of wrought iron now use mild steel instead.

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

Y

 

 

 

Z

 

 

ZINC

A bluish-white, lustrous metallic element that is brittle at room temperature but malleable with heating.  It is used to form a wide variety of alloys including brass, bronze, various solders and nickel silver, in galvanizing iron and other metals for electric fuses, anodes and meter cases; and in roofing, gutters and various household objects.  In minute amounts it is essential for life.

 

 

ZINTEC

is a trade name for cold rolled sheet andd coil that has been coated with a thin layer of zinc.  It is recognised by its matt grey appearance, significantly different to the bright surface produced by hot dip processes such as galvanising.

 

 

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