BALL CAP is a versatile modular railing system based on a historical Olmsted design, improved through superior construction methods. BALL CAP is MADE IN USA and is used extensively on bridge, highway, maritime, government, and commercial projects.
MADE IN USA
Brooklyn Public Library, Williamsburg Branch, New York, NY
Bridge 0-23 Monmouth County, Long Branch, NJ
Martin Luther King Park, Boston, MA
Rt 546, Washington Crossing Bridge, PA
History
The Ball Cap railing system has its origins in the 1860s. The original design is attributed to Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture, who first used this simple, elegant railing system in New York’s Central Park. Olmsted’s firm continued to utilize Ball Cap railings in their groundbreaking designs for many of our most celebrated public spaces. Ball Cap railing has become part of the DNA of historic American parks, public works, and government buildings.
Strength
DURABLE MATERIALS
Our Ball Cap fittings are made in the USA of ductile cast iron, which is far more durable than traditional gray iron. Individually, each 2 ½” SCH 40 pipe post resists over 600lbs of force and each 1 ½” pipe rail resists over 300lbs of force.
WEB EFFECT
Assembled, the interlocking system of posts and rails exceeds by a factor of three the federal deflection standard. The force of any impact is spread over the entire run of fence, because rail joints (made using splice pins or welding) are alternated across multiple posts. This creates a web effect which, combined with the performance of the individual materials, means that Century Metropolitan Ball Cap Railing acts as a safety net, absorbing and containing impacts.
Section of fence showing staggered rail joints.
Structure
FABRICATION
The designer specifies post height and rail spacing. We custom fabricate posts to your specifications using continuous SCH 40 pipe stems with holes cut through for rail passage. Our use of continuous pipe posts is a tremendous improvement in durability over the historic system, which used threaded pipe segments. To support the rails, ductile iron Ball Cap fittings are welded to the posts internally for strength and appearance.
FINISH
After welding, the fabricated units are hot dip galvanized and then painted to customer specifications using a 2 part system.
Versatility
MODULAR COMPONENTS
We build Century Metropolitan Ball Cap Railing to your design. A versatile selection of ductile iron Ball Cap fittings make the possible configurations endless.
INSTALLATION ON GRADES
Line rail collars allow for 3% deflection in all planes allowing the railing system to follow grades without modification or compromise of strength. 10% deflection can be obtained by inserting rail sections into only one collar.
CURVES AND STAIRS
Further design options emerge from bending rails to follow curves or from creating dog legs for stair rails.
EMBEDMENT
Multiple embedment options are available for installation in various substrates.
