[MassHistPres] Alternative Suggestions to Corten (Rusting Guardrail) use in Historic Districts

[Dennis De Witt]

James

You are absolutely correct.  As with all materials, proper design detailing and appropriate use must be understood.  I was about to add that the 60s & '70s was a period of particular arrogant or naive ignorance, as far as new materials were concerned, but then I recalled some recent, willfully awful, failed detailing at MIT.  

Dennis


On Mar 22, 2012, at 1:00 PM, James Hadley wrote:

> It is I fear more complicated than an assertion that CorTen is more corrosion resistant than galvanized steel. The use of CorTen has been curtailed greatly since it was introduced, largely because of the staining it causes to its surroundings. For proof, speak with the property managers at Mt. Sinai Hospital in NY, where their large SOM- designed Annenberg tower from the 1970's has been turning the area dark brown for years.
> Metal finishes should be evaluated and chosen on a case-by-case basis.
> James Hadley
> Orleans, MA
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
> On Mar 22, 2012, at 11:18 AM, Dennis De Witt <djd184 at verizon.net> wrote:
> 
>> When MassHighway rebuilt Rte. 9 in Brookline next to the historic Brookline Reservoir they used standard bright silver galvi guardrail.  I would have loved to have had them spend the extra for Corten in that context.
>> 
>> As Corten costs more, your DPW may have been trying to be sensitive -- or they were factoring in long term costs.  
>> 
>> FYI, for anyone unfamiliar with it, Corten steel contains some copper.  When it rusts the rust becomes a stable oxidized patina and, absent abrasion, which is self-"healing", further rusting is prevented.  Conventional galvanized guardrail is electrolytically protected by a surface coating of zinc which is sacrificed rather than the steel.  But it is not self-"healing" if abraded.  Eventually the zinc and the protection is lost and the steel then rusts away.
>> 
>> Dennis De Witt
>> 
>> 
>> On Mar 22, 2012, at 10:58 AM, edmond nickerson wrote:
>> 
>>> Help! Looking for alternatives to the use of the hideous Core 10, a/k/a "rusting guardrail" by
>>> Department of Public Works in pristine Historic District, which also addresses "safety" and 
>>> "liability" issues.  Surely in this great land of ours, someone must have employed an alternative
>>> fabric which addresses both code/safety issues and aesthetics in areas abounding with historic
>>> landmarks and period homes/businesses. Looking for a natural (not man-made) solution which
>>> passes muster for all stakeholders.  E-mail edmondr.nickerson at gmail.com or call 401-255-7854
>>> Thank you!
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