How to Choose Handrail Materials: Rubber vs. Polyurethane?

How to Choose Handrail Materials?

The choice of handrail materials directly affects the durability, safety, and operational costs of facilities. Especially in high-frequency usage scenarios like escalators, material suitability is crucial. Currently, the mainstream materials on the market are rubber and polyurethane (PU).

Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so the selection should be based on scenario needs. For a comprehensive comparison of the long-term performance of these two materials, you can read our blog These Behaviors Are Quietly Reducing Your Handrail’s Lifespan—90% of People Ignore Them, which further explains material differences from the perspective of usage and wear.

Rubber handrails are a cost-effective option, with advantages of good elasticity and excellent slip resistance. As one of our core product lines, the rubber FT300V handrail is suitable for most conventional indoor escalator scenarios. It is cost-friendly and easy to install. However, compared to polyurethane (PU) handrails, rubber handrails have weaker anti-aging properties. When exposed to outdoor or complex environments for a long time, they are prone to damage and have a shorter service life, requiring frequent maintenance and replacement. During installation and replacement, handrail joint tools can be used to ensure stable joints and smooth operation.

Polyurethane (PU) handrails, which are cleaner and do not shed dust compared to rubber materials, are a durable option. They have far better wear resistance and anti-aging properties than rubber, with a longer service life. They also operate quietly and have good corrosion resistance, making them especially suitable for high-end places (such as hotels and office buildings) that require high environmental cleanliness and quietness, as well as high-traffic scenarios (such as airports and shopping malls) with dense crowds and frequent handrail friction. Our polyurethane handrail 7640 and colorful polyurethane escalator handrails are cleaner than rubber materials: their smooth surfaces are not easy to absorb dust, and they do not have the problem of dust or debris shedding that occurs with rubber materials after long-term use. The only drawback is that the initial purchase cost is higher than that of rubber.

The core selection principles are simple to understand:

• Prioritize PU for high-traffic, high-end places, or complex environments;

• Choose rubber for low-temperature, low-traffic, or budget-sensitive scenarios;

• Use rubber to control costs for short-term use, and PU to reduce maintenance pressure for long-term operation;

• Select PU if quietness and corrosion resistance are needed; choose rubber if slip resistance and low-temperature adaptation are prioritized.

To better match the overall use of the escalator, all selections must comply with the equipment matching and safety standards in the escalator usage regulations, to avoid operational risks caused by improper selection.

In addition, scientific maintenance can extend the service life of both materials: rubber handrails should avoid sun exposure and require regular protection; PU handrails need to be protected from scratches by sharp objects. In short, there is no absolute "better" material for handrails. By fitting the scenario and balancing cost and needs, you can achieve both practicality and cost-effectiveness. Whether you choose rubber handrails or polyurethane (PU) handrails, combined with standardized installation and reasonable use, they can provide reliable support for the long-term stable operation of escalators.