When you’re working on a project that requires a stainless steel commercial sink, there are a few important things to take into consideration. If this is your first time working with commercial sinks, you may have noticed that you have choices between different thicknesses, or gauges, but how do you decide which to pick?
What’s A Gauge?
Stainless steel thickness is measured by gauge: the thicker the steel, the lower the gauge. So for instance, if you are looking at an 18 gauge vs. a 16 gauge, then the 16 gauge would be thicker (and therefore, more durable) than the 18 gauge. With an 18 gauge, you’re looking at a thickness of 0.0478 inches whereas the 16 gauge comes in at 0.0598 inches. 18 gauge is best for lighter applications like residential kitchens, gardening, or light assembly manufacturing factories. 16 gauge, on the other hand, is much more durable and is best for bakeries, laundry rooms, any industrial space that would lead to wear and tear on weaker materials.
The Best Gauge for Commercial Sinks
Commercial sinks are expected to withstand long and intensive wear and tear so a smaller gauge, or higher thickness, is necessary to hold up over time. If you were buying this sink for a residential project, you would be encouraged to get something around an 18 gauge, but generally commercial sinks are between 14 and 16 gauge. Generally, the heavier your industrial needs, the stronger the metal needs to be. Machine shops or kitchens that would be in use 24 hours a day, like in diners or ghost kitchens, would need something durable and economic like 16 gauge stainless steel.
Stainless Steel is Best for Your Commercial Kitchen
The food processing industry in North America is one of the largest users of stainless steel, utilizing about 200,000 tons per year on various types of products used for many applications in the kitchen environment. As you consider what equipment to purchase for your commercial kitchen project, you should know that the price does increase as the gauge lowers, so think about your project’s budget and what you can afford. For residential consumers, 16 gauge is at the upper end of the price point, but for commercial needs, 16 gauge is the minimum because anything above that wouldn’t hold up against the wear and tear of dinner service, heavy duty cleaning, or other industrial applications. That said, if you don’t want to go below 16 gauge, you don’t have to! It’s a good, sturdy gauge for what a restaurant or commercial space would need in order to stand up to high volume use for years to come.
How Aero Can Help You With Your Commercial Sink Needs
Stainless steel is a durable, sleek, and easy to clean. It is also remarkably resistant to rust and corrosion. It’s also 100% recyclable, so if you ever need to make changes to the equipment in your commercial kitchen, you can rest easy knowing that your old equipment can be put to further use. There really isn’t a comparable metal to outfit your commercial space with, especially if you need it to keep working well for years to come. Still overwhelmed? Reach out to Aero and we can discuss your project’s needs, and even custom create exactly what you need to make your commercial kitchen a success.
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