Project: Williamstown Pier Handrail
Location: Williamstown, Victoria
Scope: 95 lineal metres, galvanised 2-rail handrail, AS 1657 compliant
The Challenge
Uni-Fit was engaged by a national builder specialising in infrastructure remediation to supply and install compliant handrailing at Williamstown Pier as part of a broader remediation project.
The site added a layer of complexity. Williamstown Pier is an active working waterfront on Port Phillip Bay, which meant the installation needed to hold up in a coastal marine environment long-term. Salt air and constant moisture exposure accelerate corrosion on any exposed metalwork. A standard painted or powder-coated finish wouldn’t cut it here.
Twenty lineal metres of the run sat on a ramp descending to the pier at a 4-degree slope (1:14 gradient), which complies with AS 1428 for walkways and ramps. Standard fittings don’t handle that angle cleanly. Either the rail looks wrong, or the connections end up compromised.
The Uni-Fit system’s on-site adjustability made it the right specification for this job. The fittings can be raked to suit the exact gradient, allowing the handrail to run parallel with the slope without fabricating a one-off solution from scratch.
The Solution
Uni-Fit supplied and installed 95 lineal metres of AS 1657-compliant galvanised 2-rail handrail across the full length of the pier.
The entire installation used fully welded stanchions and closure bends throughout, giving the finished rail a clean, continuous profile with no visible mechanical joins.
For the 20-lineal-metre ramp section, the Uni-Fit system was adjusted on site to follow the 4-degree slope (1:14 gradient) and run parallel with the ramp for the full length of the run. No custom fabrication required. The fittings were raked to the correct angle on site, the rail tracks the slope cleanly from end to end, and every connection is structurally sound.
Hot-dip galvanising was specified for the full 95 lineal metres. In a coastal environment like Williamstown, galvanised steel is the practical choice. It resists salt corrosion significantly better than painted or powder-coated alternatives and requires far less maintenance over its service life. The finish you see on day one should still look the same in ten years.
Project breakdown:
- 95 L/m galvanised 2-rail handrail, AS 1657 compliant.
- 75 L/m standard run, fully welded stanchions and closure bends.
- 20 L/m adjusted on site at 4-degree slope (1:14 gradient, AS 1428 compliant) to suit ramp grade.
- Hot-dip galvanised finish throughout.
The Outcome
The handrail now runs the full length of Williamstown Pier, with the Melbourne CBD skyline visible across the bay. It meets AS 1657 compliance requirements, handles the ramp transition cleanly, and is built to last in one of the more demanding environments you can install metalwork in.
Questions about this project or a similar application? Call 1800 868 544 or email sales@uni-fit.com.au
