Technical Information

Listed below you will find technical data relating to product and material specifications, strength and load-bearing testing results, instructions for measurement and assembly, and educational materials. We provide this level of transparency to our customers as a testament to the products we manufacture and the processes we adhere to. Please browse the below links to discover the exceptional level of quality that you will receive from Superior Aluminum, and Contact Us or call 800-548-8656 with any questions or to speak with a sales representative.

Superior Aluminum regularly works with Professional Engineers to conduct job-specific evaluations of railing design selections and environmental factors to certify that the provisions of applicable building codes are met. If you are interested in obtaining a Sealed PE Drawing of your project, please contact your Superior Aluminum representative.

How To Measure

Stair and Ramp Measuring for Railing [Download PDF]

Ramp Measurement

Stair Measurement

Assembly Instructions

Before performing any work, be sure to refer to and follow all standard industry safety precautions. In addition, Superior Aluminum Products, Inc. recommends that all Installers wear appropriate protective items, such as safety glasses, work gloves, and steel-toed shoes, whenever performing work on Superior’s Products.

Material Specifications

SERIES 9P, 9H, 7P, 7V, 6E

All rails, posts, and pickets shall be formed from 6063-T5, 6063-T52, 6063-T6, or 6005A-T61 extruded aluminum alloys depending on exact application. All post reinforcement rods (where applicable) shall be formed from 6061-T6 extruded aluminum alloy. All railing accessories shall be cast from industry standard aluminum alloys according to the requirements of the application. All exposed fasteners used in the system shall be aluminum or stainless steel. All PPG Duracron paint finishes and anodized finishes adhere to the specifications set forth by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association.

SERIES 5H, 5P

All rails and posts shall be formed from 6063-T6 extruded aluminum alloy, except where there are formed elbows, whereby 6063-T4 is used. All pickets shall be formed from 6063-T6 extruded aluminum alloy. All post reinforcement rods shall be formed from 6061-T6 extruded aluminum alloy. All railing accessories shall be cast from industry standard aluminum alloys according to the requirements of the application. All PPG Duracron paint finishes and anodized finishes adhere to the specifications set forth by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association.

SERIES 9C

All rails and posts shall be formed from 6063-T6 or 6005A-T61 extruded aluminum alloys depending on exact application. All cable shall be 3/16” 1×19 Type 316 stainless steel. All railing accessories shall be cast from industry standard aluminum alloys according to the requirements of the application.  All metal cable fittings shall be stainless steel.  All exposed fasteners used in the system shall be aluminum or stainless steel. All PPG Duracron paint finishes and anodized finishes adhere to the specifications set forth by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association.

SERIES 5C

All rails and posts shall be formed from 6063-T6 extruded aluminum alloys, except where there are formed elbows, whereby 6063-T4 is used. All cable shall be 3/16” 1×19 Type 316 stainless steel. All post reinforcement rods shall be formed from 6005-T5 extruded aluminum alloy. All railing accessories shall be cast from industry standard aluminum alloys according to the requirements of the application. All metal cable fittings shall be stainless steel.  All exposed fasteners used in the system shall be aluminum or stainless steel. All PPG Duracron paint finishes and anodized finishes adhere to the specifications set forth by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association.

SERIES 9M

All rails, posts, and infill frames shall be formed from 6063-T6 or 6005A-T61 extruded aluminum alloys depending on exact application. Wire Mesh infill shall be formed from 1350-H18 aluminum alloy.  Perforated Panels shall be formed from 3003-H14 aluminum sheet.  All railing accessories shall be cast from industry standard aluminum alloys according to the requirements of the application. All exposed fasteners used in the system shall be aluminum or stainless steel. All PPG Duracron paint finishes and anodized finishes adhere to the specifications set forth by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association.

SERIES 9G

All rails and posts shall be formed from 6005A-T61 extruded aluminum alloy.  Glass shall be clear, laminated and tempered, with EVA innerlayer unless otherwise specified.  All railing accessories shall be cast from industry standard aluminum alloys according to the requirements of the application. All exposed fasteners used in the system shall be aluminum or stainless steel. All PPG Duracron paint finishes and anodized finishes adhere to the specifications set forth by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association.

ALUMINUM COLUMNS

All columns shall be formed from 6063-T5 aluminum alloys. All column accessories shall be cast or extruded from industry standard aluminum alloys according to the requirements of the application. Polymer accessories shall be cast from high-density urethane composite. All PPG Duracron paint finishes and anodized finishes adhere to the specifications set forth by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association.

FIBERGLASS COLUMNS

All columns shall be formed from fiberglass-reinforced polymers. All column accessories shall be formed from fiberglass-reinforced polymers or lightweight polyurethane.

PVC COLUMNS

All columns shall be formed from cellular PVC.

Colors & Finishes

Download Color Card

COLORS & FINISHES FAQS

*What is Satin Anodized?

Anodizing is an electrochemical process that converts the metal surface of aluminum into durable, corrosion-resistant, anodic oxide finish. Please note that deviations are common among similar alloys with even greater deviations occurring among different alloys.

Do PVC Column Wraps require special paint?

All Superior PVC Column Wraps come in a standard white finish that does not require painting. If painting is desired, it is recommended that 100% acrylic paint with or without a urethane additive is used. Additionally, it is recommended that a light reflective value (LRV) of 55 units or greater is chosen.

Do your finishes adhere to any standards or codes?

Yes, all standard finishes offered by Superior adhere to the provisions set forth by the American Architectural Manufacturer’s Association.

What type of paint is used on Superior’s standard color options?

Extruded pieces (top/bottom rail, posts, pickets, etc.) are painted with PPG Duracron paint, while castings (brackets, caps, bases, etc.) are powder coated.

What type of Anodized finish is standard?

The standard Satin Anodized finish for all railing is 15M Clear Anodized, Aluminum Association Designation AA-M12-C22-A21, which has a minimum coating thickness of .15mils. Series 500 and 550 have two additional anodized options: A 60M Clear Anodized, Architectural Class 1 finish, with the designation AA-M12-C22-A41, and a 60M Brushed Anodized, Architectural Class 1 finish, with the designation AA-M35-C22-A41, both with minimum coating thicknesses of .7mils. Any Anodized railing outside of the standard 15M Clear Anodized finish may be subject to additional costs.

What coating thicknesses are your standard finishes applied to?

The minimum thickness specifications include .8mils for painted finishes and.15mils for anodized finishes. Actual thicknesses typically exceed these figures.

Are any products available in Duranodic finishes?

Yes: Duranodic coatings can be applied to any of our products at an additional fee. Colors available range from Champagne to Black.

Are custom finishes available?

Yes: Any of our products can be custom painted with a special color or high performance paint at an additional fee.

What if I would like to paint your products myself?

All of our products are available in a mill finish if painting or chemical treating by a 3rd party is preferred. However, Superior does not recommend that any of its products be installed permanently without adequate surface protection.