47059

Use of SUS430 in coastal areas [Saudi Arabia] 

November 13, 2007

Is it alright to use SUS430 in coastal areas, our building is two kilometers away form sea.
we are in the prosess of renovating our apartment and we would like to have the elevator hall way steel cladded.
will be able to save a substatial amount from our budget if we use SUS430 in place of SUS304.

Nizar Ahmed
Architect - Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Neither of these grades of steel (430 or 304) will stand up to salt spray. Even two miles from the sea you could have some salt spray if the prevailing winds are wrong, but it should be okay if this is "indoors" in a hallway. If this is the case either grade should work okay.
Make sure that they are passivated to remove iron from the surface so that corrosion does not start. Watch it carefully, and if you ever see any rust starting on the surface have it removed immediately before pitting can start. Cleaning the surface regularly also helps.

Lee Kremer Stellar Solutions, Inc. Algonquin, IL, USA