At Lockinex, we supply a comprehensive range of structural tube and fittings — including ball standards, key clamp fittings, DDA handrail systems, and galvanised steel tube — that give contractors, builders, and fabricators everything they need to build robust railing systems on site.
Ball Standards
Ball standards (or ball stanchions) offer a fully fabricated upright post guardrail system which typically consists of a base plate for bolting the upright to a structure and 2 balls, each with its own grub screw for passing tube through and locking in place. Various styles are available to suit site requirements such as side mounted, top mounted and even angled balls and base plates to suit staircases and/or ramps. We even offer raw steel ball standards for fabricators to cut, weld and galvanise as required.
When used in conjunction with our galvanised tube range, a safe, long lasting guardrail system can be created. Ball standards are commonly used in the water treatment industry to help meet their stringent guardrail specifications with companies such as Thames water, Anglian water, Veolia and many more frequently using our ball standard range to help maintain safety and functionality on their sites across the UK.
Key Clamp Fittings
Key clamp fittings are one of the most versatile and widely used components in handrail and guardrail construction. These malleable iron fittings connect lengths of steel tube together without the need for welding, making them ideal for on-site assembly and adjustable configurations.
Available in a wide range of types — including elbows, tees, crosses, end caps, and rail brackets — key clamp fittings can be used to construct:
- Staircase handrails and balustrades
- Roof edge guardrails and workplace safety barriers
- Pedestrian barriers and crowd control systems
- Industrial safety rails and mezzanine guardrails
The key clamp system works by tightening a grub screw (using a hex/allen key) to lock the fitting securely onto the tube. This allows for quick installation, easy adjustment, and straightforward disassembly if required — a major advantage for quick and secure installation.
DDA Handrail Systems
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) — now incorporated into the Equality Act 2010 — sets out requirements for accessible design in public buildings and spaces. DDA-compliant handrails are specifically designed to meet these standards, ensuring that ramps, staircases, and walkways are safe and accessible for all users, including those with mobility impairments.
Key features of DDA handrail systems include:
- Continuous graspable rail: The handrail must be easy to grip along its full length, with no obstructions and typically have a powder coated finish to provide a 'warm to the touch' surface.
- Correct diameter: Typically between 40mm and 50mm outer diameter to allow a comfortable grip.
- Horizontal extensions: Rails should extend horizontally at the top and bottom of ramps and stairs to assist users in steadying themselves.
- Contrasting colour or finish: To aid visibility for partially sighted users.
Our DDA handrail components are designed to work seamlessly with key clamp fittings and galvanised and powder coated tube, making it straightforward to build fully compliant access handrails for public buildings, transport infrastructure, and commercial developments.
Galvanised Steel Tube
Galvanised steel tube forms the structural backbone of any handrail or guardrail system. Galvanised tube offers excellent corrosion resistance, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use — including exposed environments such as car parks, bridges, rooftops, and coastal locations.
Our galvanised tube is available in a range of diameters to suit different applications:
- 33.7mm OD (1" NB) – Ideal for light-duty handrails and infill rails
- 42.4mm OD (1¼" NB) – Popular for standard handrails and DDA-compliant systems
- 48.3mm OD (1½" NB) – The most widely used size for key clamp guardrails and structural handrails
- 60.3mm OD (2" NB) – Used for heavier-duty guardrails and main posts or even to construct bump rails and low level barriers
Galvanised tube can cut to length on site and connects directly into our key clamp fittings and ball standard range making it easy to work with even in complex or irregular layouts.
Building a Handrail or Guardrail System
Combining the above four product ranges gives you a complete, flexible system for constructing handrails and guardrails to suit virtually any construction project. Here's a typical approach:
- Plan your layout – Determine the run of the handrail or guardrail, including any changes in direction and height requirements.
- Choose your system and components – Select which system you plan to use depending on project specifications and requirements. Then you can decide what individual components you require and their respective quantities. You might find our technical brochures useful here to aid in understanding and viewing system components.
- Select your tube diameter – Choose the appropriate galvanised tube size based on the above system chosen and any DDA or building regulation requirements. Depending on what tube size you opt for, post centres may vary as larger diameter tube is stronger (post spacings typically vary between 1.1m to 1.5m centres).
- Assemble on site – Once you have received delivery of your order, you can assemble and install your system. Measure and cut your galvanised tube for rails and posts to the required lengths as needed. If you have opted for ball standards, tube for posts won't need to be cut as the ball standard posts are already fabricated.
Why Choose Lockinex?
At Lockinex, we stock a comprehensive range of tube and fittings for handrail and guardrail construction, with fast UK delivery and competitive trade pricing. Whether you're a contractor working on a large commercial development or a fabricator building bespoke balustrades, our team is on hand to help you specify the right products for your project.
Browse our full range of key clamp fittings & galvanised tube, DDA handrail components, and ball standards online, or get in touch with our team for expert advice and bulk pricing.