Cellular Silicones and the Lighting Industry
Uncategorised
July 9, 2017
There a lot of different points to consider when designing lighting. Whilst choosing the right lighting and electrical components is no doubt essential, these parts are irrelevant without the right sealing and enclosure materials to protect them. Choosing lighting sealing materials that lack the necessary qualities and properties could lead...
There a lot of different points to consider when designing lighting. Whilst choosing the right lighting and electrical components is no doubt essential, these parts are irrelevant without the right sealing and enclosure materials to protect them. Choosing lighting sealing materials that lack the necessary qualities and properties could lead to a number of problems with lighting components, including the potential for costly failure.
Amongst the biggest threats of failure to lighting components are dust, moisture and other foreign bodies – inevitably the threat of these is much increased for outdoor lighting applications. As a result, as well as providing excellent sealing properties to prevent the ingress of dust and moisture into the inner workings of lights, sealing materials must also be able to retain sealing properties when faced with the effects of outdoor use.
Generally speaking, the best suited materials for a lighting seal should provide the following qualities:
- Sealing effectiveness
- Compressibility – lighting seals should have excellent compression sets
- Environmental exposure – resistance to UV, ozone, fire and wind driven rain, as well as extreme temperatures
- Non-fogging capability – seals should prevent fog inside the lighting enclosure when subjected to differing temperatures
Cellular Silicones tick all of these boxes and so are well suited for use as lighting seals. BISCO Cellular Silicones including BF1000, BF2000 and HT800 are often used for sealing and protecting lighting enclosures, as well as other electronics and outdoor communications applications in an outdoor environment. With high compressibility characteristics and resistance to UV, ozone, extreme temperatures and fire, BISCO Cellular Silicones allow for a consistently effective performance in all environments.
Sealing materials for lighting in the rail industry
HT800 is a BISCO specialist rail material that provides a prime sealing material for lighting enclosures and components. Its compression set is excellent, helping to reduce maintenance costs that are often linked with gasket or seal failure, whilst it’s resistance to weathering is also extremely good. In addition to these properties, HT800 features a unique and compact cell structure that provides a much enhanced sealing performance in resisting penetration of fine particles and wind-driven rain that are encountered in exterior train lighting components.
HT800 Silicone sponge is UL94 flammability approved to V-0 and HF-1, and compliant with BS6853 and EN45545 fire safety regulations. As a result of the suitability of this material for applications within the rail sector, HT800 is also LUL (London Underground) approved for use in internal and external lighting systems in the London Underground rail system.
For assistance in finding the right sealing material for your lighting application, please call +44 (0)121 773 8494. To learn more about BISCO Silicone and PORON Urethane for lighting seals, click here.
Keep up to date with the
latest CB Frost & Co news
There can be no disagreement that the last 12 months has been extremely challenging for industry in the UK and across the world. We started 2020 full steam ahead working on the move from our old headquarters in Digbeth to our new premises at Matrix Point, Birmingham. Having initially announced our relocation and expansion early […]
At CB Frost, we supply a massive catalogue of rubber materials to be used across practically any application and we are continually looking to add to our material range in order to manufacture and supply the best possible products for our customers. However, as well as looking to innovate, we are also committed […]
In a commitment to future growth and expansion into new sectors, we have recently undergone a seven-figure management buyout, led by existing directors Paul Kennedy and Mark Jones. The new company structure will focus on the expansion into new sectors and further investment in the plant and its machinery. Director David Dunn is set to […]
During June, CB Frost had the opportunity to showcase our range of rail industries on a nationwide tour with the Rail Industry Technology Roadshow. Daniel Brock, Business Development Manager, was our representative throughout the travelling exhibition, presenting our Armaflex® range of materials, including Rail SD, SD-C, ZH and ZH-C insulation foams. After visiting Alstom in […]
With railway lines running with continuous streams of passengers every day, often against adverse weather conditions or in enclosed spaces, it is so crucial for the vehicles used to be fire safety compliant. New or existing railway vehicles should constantly develop and upgrade to reduce the risks of damage caused by fire. The British Standard […]
There are always a lot of different factors to consider when deciding on the right gasket material for your application to ensure the best possible performance, as well as longevity. One of the key considerations is where the gasket will be located, for example, will it be used as a weather seal to prevent the […]
In the modern transport industry, comfort is always considered a top priority. Passenger carrying trains, buses and coaches are all designed with comfort in mind when it comes to the interior. As well as designing comfortable seating arrangements, public transport designers and manufacturers also factor in the importance of maintaining comfortable temperatures for all conditions. […]
As well as meeting the needs of the modern engineering industry in terms of performance and longevity, safety compliance is essential when choosing specialist insulation materials for the rail industry. At CB Frost, our entire range of rail materials stringently meet all industry requirements for fire, smoke and toxic fumes to increase safety in the […]