Coastal Environments and Lighting

4 August 2022

OUTSTANDING DURABILITY

Australia has some of the most stunning natural coast lines in the world. Our coast is intimately linked to our national economy, industry, arts, social lifestyle and cultural identity, with more than 85 per cent of Australians living within 50 kilometres of the sea. Coastal environments can however be incredibly harsh, and when choosing the right building materials, especially luminaires, for any location beside the ocean, it is worth noting that waterproof, just isn’t enough. There are additional environment complexities that need to be considered past the standard considerations of IP ratings and light distribution.

Corrosion-resistant lighting

The proximity to the ocean has always been a big challenge for outdoor luminaires. Exterior lights in these locations are exposed to sea spray, salty air, humidity and extreme weather conditions. In a salt rich environment, exposed materials degenerates and metals will corrode rapidly, compromising the safety, aesthetics and mechanical strength of all metal components in a light. Additionally, salty air can break the hermetic seal of luminaires, causing performance issues. There are further implications to this, such as the risk to people as well as the need for additional investment in resources and maintenance, resulting in a potentially significant increase in public spending.

Materials

Material is the biggest consideration to determine whether your project will stand the test of time. If installing luminaires within 10 kilometres from the ocean, there is an increase of harsh weather conditions and salt concentration in the air, which makes choosing high quality products even more important. Stainless steel is a good option for when a luminaire installed where the housing is in direct contact with moisture for extended periods, such as for inground luminaires in lawns, compacted road bases and paving.

Aluminium is a more affordable metal and it is strong, lightweight with a low density and can resist corrosion. Aluminium comes in varying grades, some which have higher corrosion resistance properties than others. However, aluminium is susceptible to corrosion from salt. Because of this, it is important that a protective coating is applied to the fittings to protect the aluminium from oxidation and salt corrosion.

Powder coating is a fantastic way to protect aluminium for external use in coastal areas. There are also varying ways to powder coat, some which are more durable than others. As with paint, there is the possibility of scratching. If damage occurs it will require immediate attention otherwise the material will be susceptible to corrosion.

BEGA Coating Technology® combines two technologies for the efficient protection of metallic surfaces. These technologies allow for the achievement of the best possible surface protection.

BEGA Unidure®

BEGA Unidure® is our proprietary technology that allows BEGA to meet the highest demands in terms of weather resistance and lightfastness. This extremely weather-resistant powder coating achieves outstanding results in the most extreme endurance tests for worldwide use under particularly challenging climatic conditions involving continuous sunlight, extremely high temperatures and high humidity.

BEGA Tricoat®

BEGA use their proprietary BEGA Tricoat® technology to achieve maximum corrosion resistance. These carefully coordinated inorganic and organic coating processes applied to extremely resistant alloys ensure the best possible surface protection and outstanding corrosion resistance.

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