Stainless Steel Kick Plates – Heavy Duty Protection for Doors
Posted by admin , on Sep, 2014
In certain commercial and industrial environments – hospitals and restaurants, for example – doors need to be opened quickly, and often without having to push or pull on a handle. In these instances, doors are pushed open using feet, or the base or wheels of an item such as a trolley or gurney.
Repeated opening of doors in this way can damage the base of door. It is for this reason that stainless steel kick plates are attached to the door to protect it and keep it looking good for a much longer period of time – indefinitely if it is properly looked after.
Why Stainless Steel?
Stainless Steel is highly resistant to corrosion, rust and environmental elements, making it ideal for use in commercial, retail, warehouse and hospital locations. It is easy to maintain, and, with proper care, will look good for many years.
What Size Kick Plate Do I Need?
Kick Plates should always be approximately two inches narrower than the width of the door, so that they don’t interfere with the doorjamb when the door is being opened or closed.
The height of the plate depends largely on what your specific application is. Plates of about six inches are standard height for a “mop plate” – to protect the door against wet mops being pushed up against them while floors are being cleaned. Traditional kick plates are usually between eight and 12 inches high. Stretcher plates, typically found on hospital theatre doors, for example, can be much taller. In hospitals and other environments where wheelchairs are commonly used, plates should be at least 16” high.
How Thick is the Ideal Kick Plate?
The industry standard for a stainless steel kick plate is 0.05” thick. However, for heavy-duty applications – such as the stretcher plates – the preferred thickness is 0.06”.
How are Kick Plates Mounted?
Most stainless steel kick plates are mounted to the push side of a door using either an adhesive or screws, although some can be magnetic. For adhesive mountings, some plates are mounted using liquid adhesive, in which case the back of the plate is given a rough surface. Other plates can be attached using double sided industrial tape.
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