Oh I do like to light beside the seaside
Implementing effective street lighting schemes in harsh environments, such as exposed coastal locations with a strong maritime influence, requires products that are designed to withstand a great deal more than most inland conditions demand. Having a wide operating temperature range is just one area of luminaire protection; other elements have to be considered.
The main issue is that, without additional coastal protection, lanterns won’t be fit for purpose and won’t last longer than a couple of months even. Speaking to many customers in Scotland, their sites frequently experience a combination of driving rain, relentless winds and unforgiving salty air.
So, if lanterns develop a crack in the paint or the slightest hint of damage, this can quickly spread across the whole body resulting in poultice corrosion of the unit which may then need to be removed and replaced.
How to limit this kind of damage
Lanterns will need additional marine-grade salt protection to be suitable for use in such locations. But of course, this isn’t always something manufacturers are particularly keen to implement because of the relatively low demand and limited opportunities for such a requirement.
INDO however, is one of very few manufacturers who already provide high quality extra protection as a specification option on its AIR luminaires – making it the perfect choice for remote, exposed areas such as the Scottish Highlands.
Operations Director Stephen Hemsley, describes the process INDO employs:
“We use high quality paint but also insist on the highest grade of pre-treatment for the powder coating – such as is used in the aerospace industry. It’s the hidden foundation to ensure continuous performance for the lifetime of the luminaire.
INDO take extra time to carefully green-cure the primer before applying top coat to guarantee adhesion between the two coats. The unreacted chemical groups in the epoxy react with the carboxyl groups in the top coat and this effectively combines the two layers at a molecular level.
A high performance thermosetting powder is then used, containing durable epoxy resins and zinc metal to ensure a final coat with the most durable corrosion resistance”
The performance of INDO’s additional protection has been confirmed through independent testing in a UK laboratory to ASTM B117 and passed the requirements of extended salt spray testing.
“Some lanterns aren’t lasting 2-3 months in the terrible weather conditions we’re facing”
Whilst lab testing is important however, it is real-life performance in the field that counts. Kyle Mackie of the Highlands Council, has had a number of problems in the past where, without additional coastal protection, they were lucky if some fittings bought were lasting longer than 2-3 months.
A recent customer of INDO and convert to the benefits of Direct Drive, Kyle is really happy with the quality of the AIR1 units ordered and the fact that a high standard protective coating is readily available. Plus, he says “my electricians are raving about how easy they are to install!”
Install with confidence
Looking at these protective marine-grade measures together with the Direct Drive® and integrated photocell functionality, the INDO AIR is unique in being able to offer solid, market-leading performance with the lowest possible maintenance costs for high corrosion areas, such as sea fronts and exposed coastal locations.
Customers can install with complete confidence, knowing their units will withstand the very harshest of physical environments.
