How do I choose the right anti-skate stud?

Choosing the right anti-skate stud

Choosing the right anti-skate stud depends on where it’s going to be installed, the shape of the surface or edge it needs to protect, and the requirements of the installation. Walls, coping stones, handrails and street furniture can all require different designs. Once the installation surface and its profile are understood, factors such as coverage, fixing method and appearance can then be considered.

What should you consider when choosing an anti-skate stud?

There are five main factors to consider when choosing the right anti-skate stud:

• Installation location
• Edge profile or shape
• The amount of coverage needed
• Fixing method
• Appearance

The installation location will usually be the best place to start, as it will immediately narrow down the designs that are suitable.

Where will the anti-skate stud be installed?

There are four common situations in which an anti-skate deterrent may be required, and the installation location will largely dictate the most suitable design.

Walls and ledges

There are two main types of anti-skate deterrent that can be used on walls and ledges: anti-skate studs and anti-skate blades. The most suitable option depends partly on how visible the deterrent needs to be.

Radius-less designs, such as the Sleeper Anti-Skate Stud and Hemisphere Anti-Skate Stud, can be installed directly onto the top of a wall or ledge and provide a prominent physical obstruction.

For a more discreet solution, an anti-skate blade can be installed within a mortar joint close to the top of the wall. Two versions are available: a standard Anti-Skate Blade designed to be incorporated during construction, and a Retrofit Anti-Skate Blade for installation into existing walls.

Coping stones

Coping stones require an additional consideration because they often have a radiused edge. Matching the internal radius of the anti-skate stud to the profile of the coping stone is important for creating a secure installation and avoiding unnecessary movement or loading on the fixing.

Several anti-skate studs are available to suit common coping stone radii, including 4mm, 5mm and 20mm internal radius designs. Where the coping profile falls outside the standard range, a bespoke anti-skate stud can be manufactured to suit.

There is also the option of bypassing the radius-matching requirement by using anti-skate blades installed within the mortar joints, in much the same way as they would be installed into a standard brick wall.

Benches and street furniture

Benches and street furniture generally utilise flat or radius-less designs, such as the Sleeper Anti-Skate Stud and Hemisphere Anti-Skate Stud. This is due to the prevalence of flat or square-edged surfaces, as well as features such as deep seat edges, backrests and armrests that can provide skaters with a surface to grind or slide along.

Radius-less studs can be positioned directly on these surfaces to interrupt that path without needing to match a specific edge profile.

Handrails

Handrails have a dedicated anti-skate stud, simply referred to as the Handrail Anti-Skate Stud. It is designed for 50mm diameter handrails, one of the most commonly used handrail sizes.

Its compact form factor disrupts the path of a skateboard while minimising interference for pedestrians using the handrail.

Does the edge profile or radius matter?

The edge profile or radius is one of the most important factors when matching an anti-skate stud to a wall or coping stone. The aim is to achieve as close a fit as possible between the base of the stud and the surface beneath it. This creates a neater installation, improves stability and reduces exposed gaps around the fixing.

A close fit also makes the stud more difficult to lever or force away from the surface, helping improve resistance to vandalism.

Anti-skate studs are available with different internal radii to suit a range of edge profiles:

Slightly radiused edges

• 4mm radius – Bar Anti-Skate Stud
• 4mm radius – Torpedo Anti-Skate Stud
• 4mm radius – Sphere Anti-Skate Stud
• 5mm radius – Lozenge Anti-Skate Stud

Heavily rounded coping

• 20mm radius – Torpedo Anti-Skate Stud

Flat installations

• Hemisphere Anti-Skate Stud
• Sleeper Anti-Skate Stud

How much of the edge needs to be protected?

Alongside appearance, the amount of surface that needs to be protected is an important consideration when choosing an anti-skate stud. The available width of the ledge or surface will often help determine whether a longer or more compact design is most suitable.

For wider surfaces, a longer anti-skate stud can provide greater coverage and interrupt more of the usable grinding surface. Suitable designs include:

• Bar Anti-Skate Stud
• Torpedo Anti-Skate Stud
• Lozenge Anti-Skate Stud

Where the available width is more limited, or where a less visually prominent deterrent is preferred, a more compact design may be suitable. These include:

• Sphere Anti-Skate Stud
• Hemisphere Anti-Skate Stud

The Sleeper Anti-Skate Stud sits somewhere between these two groups. Its radius-less design allows it to be positioned at different angles across the surface, giving greater flexibility over how much width it occupies.

How are anti-skate studs fixed?

There are two main fixing methods for anti-skate studs, largely determined by the type of surface they are being installed onto.

Walls, ledges and concrete street furniture

Anti-skate studs designed for these applications typically feature one or two M8 fixing pins. Installation generally involves:

• Drilling the required hole or holes into the surface
• Removing dust and debris from the holes using a push pump
• Filling the holes with epoxy resin
• Inserting the M8 fixing pins into the resin-filled holes
• Seating the stud firmly against the surface

For more information on preparing the fixing and using resin correctly, read our guide on how to use epoxy resin to install architectural studs.

Handrails

Handrail anti-skate studs use a mechanical security fixing. Installation involves:

• Drilling two parallel holes through the handrail, 7mm in diameter
• Removing any dust and debris
• Positioning the stud on top of the rail
• Passing the security fixing through the stud and both holes
• Securing the locking mechanism beneath the handrail

The strength, condition and depth of the substrate should always be considered before installation to ensure it can securely support the fixing.

What material should an anti-skate stud be made from?

Due to exposure to harsh weather, repeated impact, attempted vandalism and environmental contaminants, Studmarc manufactures its standard anti-skate range from 316L stainless steel.

Compared with 304 stainless steel, another material commonly used for architectural products, 316L stainless steel provides greater corrosion resistance, particularly in environments where the studs may be exposed to salts or chlorides.

You can read more about the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel or take a closer look at 316 marine-grade stainless steel.

What should I consider when choosing anti-skate studs for a handrail?

There are several factors to consider when selecting an anti-skate stud for a handrail application, including:

Handrail diameter – The diameter of the handrail should match the internal radius of the stud as closely as possible. This allows the stud to sit flush against the rail, creating a more secure installation and making it more difficult to remove by force.

Security fixing – The fixing needs to be dimensionally suitable for both the anti-skate stud and the handrail. It must pass through the stud and handrail while providing sufficient length for the locking mechanism to be securely fitted beneath the rail.

Positioning – The anti-skate stud should sit on top of the handrail so that it interrupts the surface a skateboard would otherwise use for grinding.

Preventing a hazard – The stud should have a compact, rounded form with no unnecessarily sharp edges. This reduces the risk of snagging clothing or bags and helps preserve the handrail’s normal use by pedestrians.

Approved Document K – Approved Document K provides guidance relating to handrails and guarding but does not specifically address the use of anti-skate studs. Any installation should therefore be designed so that the handrail continues to perform its intended function. Read more about how Approved Document K relates to handrail anti-skate studs.

Which Studmarc anti-skate stud should I choose?

Once the installation location and surface profile are known, the options can usually be narrowed down considerably.

You can view the complete range of anti-skate studs and deterrents to compare the available designs.

What if a standard anti-skate stud doesn’t fit the surface?

If a surface features an unusual coping profile, handrail diameter or wall radius, Studmarc can manufacture bespoke anti-skate studs to suit a specific application.

Simply email us with images, plans or measurements and our team will come back with a suitable anti-skate solution.

Bespoke designs can be particularly useful where an existing architectural feature cannot be modified to accommodate one of the standard internal radii.

Anti-skate stud selection checklist

Before selecting a stud, establish:

• Where is it being installed?
• Is the edge square, flat or radiused?
• If radiused, what is the approximate radius?
• How much of the edge needs protecting?
• Can the surface be drilled and resin-fixed?
• Is it a handrail or guarding application where Part K needs considering?

Once these details are known, the suitable anti-skate stud can normally be narrowed down quickly.