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Light Fitting Materials for external Applications: what to look out for...
Does stainless steel really stain less?
December 1st, 2014 Dr. Walter Wendel
1. Housing materials for commercial exterior light fittings
Most common materials for the housings and other hardware are stainless steel, aluminium,
galvanized steel and sometimes plastic. And this is also the ranking from best to rarely
acceptable. Bronze is rarely used these days because of the high cost and reserved for
special applications.
Let’s start with stainless steel (S/S):
Does it really not stain? It depends - of course, because there is not one grade S/S but
several. The most common are 304, 316 and 904.
The 304 is the most used S/S in the entire building industry and is a cost effective entry
grade which will tarnish (“tea staining”) under certain conditions like hot weather and
presence of salt or chlorine. In most cases not a
structural problem but a cosmetic one, but can lead
also to leak problems for IP67/68 rated fittings.
The 316 grade is a better grade which in most cases
will not develop tee staining. It’s also called “marine
grade” S/S. Very suitable for exterior and underwater
light fittings. In hot climates in presence of sea water it
still can develop tea staining.
The 904 grade is a high alloyed material suitable for all applications in extreme weather e. g.
hot and ocean water or underwater lights in saline environment.
WIBRE commercial pool light 72W LED, available in 2
different stainless steel grades.
An additional protection for any corrosion is a
surface treatment called e-polish (electro polish) for
stainless steel. It enhances the appearance and
improves corrosion resistance.
Aluminium for housings and hardware
Aluminium is used in light fitting design either as
casted aluminium, extrusions or sheet metal. Many alloys are commonly used. The
corrosion resistance is good because aluminium spontaneously forms a thin but effective
oxide layer. Especially copper free alloys show a very good corrosion resistance. Marine
grade aluminium (5000/6000 series) are suitable even in applications where salt water is
present. Chlorine water, e g from chlorinated pools can create pitting corrosion especially at
higher temperatures. Galvanic corrosion will occur if aluminium is in contact with another
metal which is nobler, for example brass or if in contact with stainless steel and chlorine
water is presence.
HESS City Elements, versatile light poles made from
marine grade aluminium with optional additional
undercoating for salty air applications.
Galvanized steel is only acceptable without
additional protection if there is no salt water or
salty air condition. Also acid rain will slowly
start corrosion. The best protection gives the
hot dipped galvanized steel with thick layers of
zinc. This is a material typical for brackets.
Special paint primer with additional protection
is available.
Plastics are used for some cheaper underwater light fittings, not so much for commercial
outdoor applications. There are many different plastics - often they have a problem with the
UV resistance and tend to get brittle over time or loose surface material. In combination with
elevated temperatures from lamps or control gear the degradation is accelerated.
Chlorinated salt water will also affect common plastic housings over time.
2. Lens materials: glass, acrylic, polycarbonate
Basically 3 different lens material are used for light fitting lenses: glass, acrylic and
polycarbonate
Toughened glass is the oldest material for lenses, the
advantages are scratch resistant, optical neutral, and longevity
with nearly no degradation. Thick glass panels have a high
impact resistance, thin ones are delicate.
Plastic materials are Acrylic (Trade names e. g. “Perspex”,
“Plexiglass” or generic PMMA) and Polycarbonate (Trade
names “Lexan”, “Macrolon”). Unfortunately not all advantages
are combined in one plastic material, see table below.
Left: HESS City Element Module with glass lens and Xicato LED
Material Optical light
transmission
3mm thickness
Density
g/cm3
Resistance
against
Yellowing
Impact
resistance
Scratch
resistance
Manufacturing
Glass 92% 2.5 +++ + +++ +
Polycarbonate 89% 1.2 + 1) +++ + +++
Acrylic 92% 1.2 ++ ++ ++ ++
1) non UV stabilized, a UV stabilizer will mitigate the yellowing over time, some use a UV protection
coating
3. Gaskets, cables, cable glands, electronics, screws
These days’ silicone rubber gaskets are used, preferable with heat treatment to avoid
evaporation. They have excellent heat, saltwater and UV resistance and stay flexible.
For outdoor and underwater application good quality cable glands made from brass or stainless
steel are preferred over plastic glands because of the achievable compression
of the rubber gasket inside.
Cables for under water fitting should be special underwater cables. For the
fitting construction it is important that the cable connection inside the fitting must
be protected against water intrusion and also the effect of water wicking thru
damaged cables and getting into the fitting must be intercepted.
With the availability of electronic control hear for HID and the necessary use for LED potted
gear is preferred over unspotted components. The potting material will not only help with the
even heat dissipation but also eliminate corrosion problems possible coming from condensation.
At least the electronic boards should be protected with a conformal coating.
For underwater fittings an external control gear is necessary for pool and spa applications and
preferred for all other underwater application. Safety and service are the reasons for that.
Critical parts are suitable fasteners like screws and springs. These should be made of 316
stainless steel and in the case of screws either Teflon coated to prevent seizing in the screw
holes or special stainless steel anti-galling lubricant has to be applied.
4. Connectors
Some outdoor and most underwater fittings cannot be opened to connect a cable. In these
cases either the fitting has to be ordered with the required cable
length or watertight cable connectors have to be used. These
inline cable connectors are available in IP67 and IP68 ratings and
also available in versions to connect three cables if there is a
need for a loop thru to the next fitting. These connectors are WIBRE connector with resin
available in plastic and also in metal versions. The IP68 rated versions for permanent
underwater usage have to be filled with silicone or special soft resin.
Installations with RGB fittings require multi-pole connectors, which again are also available
for loop thru applications.
An alternative are bronze, aluminium or stainless steel junction boxes. A good solution are
flush mounted to the ground types for easy accessibility of the connectors. The IP68 rated
versions for permanent underwater usage have to be filled with silicone or special soft resin.

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Fitting materials for external applications

  • 1. Light Fitting Materials for external Applications: what to look out for... Does stainless steel really stain less? December 1st, 2014 Dr. Walter Wendel 1. Housing materials for commercial exterior light fittings Most common materials for the housings and other hardware are stainless steel, aluminium, galvanized steel and sometimes plastic. And this is also the ranking from best to rarely acceptable. Bronze is rarely used these days because of the high cost and reserved for special applications. Let’s start with stainless steel (S/S): Does it really not stain? It depends - of course, because there is not one grade S/S but several. The most common are 304, 316 and 904. The 304 is the most used S/S in the entire building industry and is a cost effective entry grade which will tarnish (“tea staining”) under certain conditions like hot weather and presence of salt or chlorine. In most cases not a structural problem but a cosmetic one, but can lead also to leak problems for IP67/68 rated fittings. The 316 grade is a better grade which in most cases will not develop tee staining. It’s also called “marine grade” S/S. Very suitable for exterior and underwater light fittings. In hot climates in presence of sea water it still can develop tea staining. The 904 grade is a high alloyed material suitable for all applications in extreme weather e. g. hot and ocean water or underwater lights in saline environment. WIBRE commercial pool light 72W LED, available in 2 different stainless steel grades. An additional protection for any corrosion is a surface treatment called e-polish (electro polish) for stainless steel. It enhances the appearance and improves corrosion resistance. Aluminium for housings and hardware Aluminium is used in light fitting design either as casted aluminium, extrusions or sheet metal. Many alloys are commonly used. The corrosion resistance is good because aluminium spontaneously forms a thin but effective oxide layer. Especially copper free alloys show a very good corrosion resistance. Marine grade aluminium (5000/6000 series) are suitable even in applications where salt water is present. Chlorine water, e g from chlorinated pools can create pitting corrosion especially at higher temperatures. Galvanic corrosion will occur if aluminium is in contact with another
  • 2. metal which is nobler, for example brass or if in contact with stainless steel and chlorine water is presence. HESS City Elements, versatile light poles made from marine grade aluminium with optional additional undercoating for salty air applications. Galvanized steel is only acceptable without additional protection if there is no salt water or salty air condition. Also acid rain will slowly start corrosion. The best protection gives the hot dipped galvanized steel with thick layers of zinc. This is a material typical for brackets. Special paint primer with additional protection is available. Plastics are used for some cheaper underwater light fittings, not so much for commercial outdoor applications. There are many different plastics - often they have a problem with the UV resistance and tend to get brittle over time or loose surface material. In combination with elevated temperatures from lamps or control gear the degradation is accelerated. Chlorinated salt water will also affect common plastic housings over time. 2. Lens materials: glass, acrylic, polycarbonate Basically 3 different lens material are used for light fitting lenses: glass, acrylic and polycarbonate Toughened glass is the oldest material for lenses, the advantages are scratch resistant, optical neutral, and longevity with nearly no degradation. Thick glass panels have a high impact resistance, thin ones are delicate. Plastic materials are Acrylic (Trade names e. g. “Perspex”, “Plexiglass” or generic PMMA) and Polycarbonate (Trade names “Lexan”, “Macrolon”). Unfortunately not all advantages are combined in one plastic material, see table below. Left: HESS City Element Module with glass lens and Xicato LED Material Optical light transmission 3mm thickness Density g/cm3 Resistance against Yellowing Impact resistance Scratch resistance Manufacturing Glass 92% 2.5 +++ + +++ + Polycarbonate 89% 1.2 + 1) +++ + +++ Acrylic 92% 1.2 ++ ++ ++ ++ 1) non UV stabilized, a UV stabilizer will mitigate the yellowing over time, some use a UV protection coating
  • 3. 3. Gaskets, cables, cable glands, electronics, screws These days’ silicone rubber gaskets are used, preferable with heat treatment to avoid evaporation. They have excellent heat, saltwater and UV resistance and stay flexible. For outdoor and underwater application good quality cable glands made from brass or stainless steel are preferred over plastic glands because of the achievable compression of the rubber gasket inside. Cables for under water fitting should be special underwater cables. For the fitting construction it is important that the cable connection inside the fitting must be protected against water intrusion and also the effect of water wicking thru damaged cables and getting into the fitting must be intercepted. With the availability of electronic control hear for HID and the necessary use for LED potted gear is preferred over unspotted components. The potting material will not only help with the even heat dissipation but also eliminate corrosion problems possible coming from condensation. At least the electronic boards should be protected with a conformal coating. For underwater fittings an external control gear is necessary for pool and spa applications and preferred for all other underwater application. Safety and service are the reasons for that. Critical parts are suitable fasteners like screws and springs. These should be made of 316 stainless steel and in the case of screws either Teflon coated to prevent seizing in the screw holes or special stainless steel anti-galling lubricant has to be applied. 4. Connectors Some outdoor and most underwater fittings cannot be opened to connect a cable. In these cases either the fitting has to be ordered with the required cable length or watertight cable connectors have to be used. These inline cable connectors are available in IP67 and IP68 ratings and also available in versions to connect three cables if there is a need for a loop thru to the next fitting. These connectors are WIBRE connector with resin available in plastic and also in metal versions. The IP68 rated versions for permanent underwater usage have to be filled with silicone or special soft resin. Installations with RGB fittings require multi-pole connectors, which again are also available for loop thru applications. An alternative are bronze, aluminium or stainless steel junction boxes. A good solution are flush mounted to the ground types for easy accessibility of the connectors. The IP68 rated versions for permanent underwater usage have to be filled with silicone or special soft resin.