For those unfamiliar with “street furniture”, this originally British and Canadian English phrase describes all of the objects and equipment installed along roadways such as benches, planters, tree protection, traffic barriers, bollards, postal boxes, public phones and lighting. Other typical items include signage, traffic signals, shelters, public lavatories, memorials, public sculpture, waste receptacles, and fire hydrants. “Park furniture” is defined in the same way as street furniture but is specifically found installed in a garden or park and can include features such as bandstands.
Besides aesthetics, the most common reasons for selecting stainless steel are long-term maintenance cost reduction, safety, and security. Stainless steel is substantially more corrosion resistant than other architectural metals. Specification of an appropriate alloy and finish is necessary for optimal durability. It can absorb higher levels of impact energy than any other architectural metal, a difference that increases at lower temperatures.