Can a RAZ shower chair rust?

A high-quality shower chair with all the right features can be a big investment. Especially if you’re running a care home or a hospital that’s buying in bulk.

Before you commit to new kit, you need to be sure it’s going to last — that it’ll be durable and reliable throughout years of daily use.

And with shower chairs, there’s one big question that buyers often take for granted:

Can a shower chair rust?

Here’s what you need to know about the RAZ range of chairs:

Ever RAZ shower chair comes with:

• A rust-free stainless-steel frame
• A seat with a waterproof skin
• Simple cleaning and drying
• A 5-year unconditional frame warranty

What’s the frame made from?

Every RAZ shower chair is designed to last — both through multiple users, and the wettest conditions.

(And for a shower chair, wet conditions are pretty important!)

Some low-quality shower chairs on the market have frames that are susceptible to rust — frames made from metals and alloys that haven’t been specially treated to resist rust and corrosion.

With the RAZ range of shower chairs, every model is built with a frame made of stainless steel, making it rust-free and protected against corrosion.

But it’s not just any stainless steel that we use in our shower chairs:

The RAZ range uses frames made from 316-grade stainless steel — making it even more corrosion-resistant than standard types of stainless steel.

It’s the same special steel formula used in the food industry for its processing and handling equipment, using a small amount of molybdenum in the steel to add to its protective properties.

So as well as being lightweight and durable, the frame in your RAZ chair is rust-free and resistant to corrosion — helping it to last through the years and withstand the effects of both water and other chemicals.

What about the seats?

The seats and other upholstery may not be susceptible to rust — but they still need to be waterproof in any high-quality shower chair.

It’s partly about the comfort of your users. But it’s also about avoiding the build-up of bacteria that can occur when materials sit with absorbed water.

The chairs in the RAZ range come with one of two types of seating:

• Moulded foam seats
• Or Visco foam seats.

Moulded foam seats come with an integral outer skin that’s waterproof. So any water from the shower stays outside the seat, instead of soaking in.

Visco foam seats are made with memory foam covered in a hand-upholstered bi-elastic vinyl, giving you the same waterproof protection for your shower chair.

So whichever RAZ shower chair you choose for your clients, it’s protected from water and rust — with both a stainless-steel frame, and a waterproof seat.

Do I need to keep shower chairs dry?

Any good shower chair is designed to withstand wet conditions.

But that doesn’t mean you should leave them covered in water when they’re not in use.

As well as the potential for bacteria growing in water, a wet chair can also develop mineral deposits — such as calcium or limescale.

If these deposits continue to build up, they can start to get in the way of the components in your chair (especially around the wheels, or the hinges and joints).

So to keep your RAZ shower chairs in top condition, you should always:

• Clean and rinse the seats after each use
• Clean and rinse the frame and other components as needed
• Wipe down the chair with a diluted calcium/lime remover a few times a year
• Dry the seats, frame, and other components with a soft cloth after cleaning.

But as well as regular cleaning and maintenance, you also need to store them correctly:

You should store your RAZ chairs in a well-ventilated area, with space around them to let the air circulate. So if you’ve missed any areas when you’re drying your chairs, they’ll get a chance to dry naturally when they’re not in use.

Do RAZ chairs come with a warranty?

Even with the most advanced designs and high-grade materials, no piece of equipment is perfect forever.

So while you can be confident that any RAZ shower chair is protected from rust and corrosion, you’re also getting extra peace of mind when you buy:

As well as the standard warranty we put on all our products, every shower chair in our RAZ range comes with a 5-year unconditional warranty on the frame itself.

You’ll have unlimited reactive visits to deal with any problems that might pop up — as well as free replacement parts for your RAZ shower chair frames.

That’s great for OTs who need to make confident recommendations for a shower chair to their clients. But it’s even more important if you’re running a care home or hospital, where a single shower chair could be in constant rotation between multiple users.

So if you’re looking to give your clients a reliable and durable shower chair — one that’s protected under warranty for years to come — you can look through the full RAZ range to find the right fit, or start a chat with one of our experts to find out more.