{"id":369,"date":"2026-01-06T08:56:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T08:56:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lyco.co.uk\/blog\/?p=369"},"modified":"2026-03-13T15:16:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T15:16:20","slug":"coastal-lighting-things-to-remember","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lyco.co.uk\/blog\/coastal-lighting-things-to-remember\/","title":{"rendered":"Coastal lighting \u2013 things to remember"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Posted on 7 November 2018<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author: Andrew Evangelidis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last updated on 9 August 2024<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of where you are in Great Britain, you\u2019re never really more than about 70 miles from the sea. The coast plays some part in most of our lives, even if it\u2019s only a place where we occasionally go to relax with family or friends. It\u2019d be a rare British photo album that was bereft of any seaside snaps!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are running or opening a business near the sea \u2013 perhaps one that caters specifically for the holidaymaker like a B&B or seafront hotel \u2013 effective exterior lighting helps create that all-important first impression. But as we\u2019re about to discover, coastal locations present particular challenges for specifiers, designers, or end-users when it comes to choosing suitable materials and products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0Looking for Coastal Lights?
View our full range >\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Salt Exposure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Various influencing factors dictate the amount of airborne salt that a coastal property is subjected to. These include topographical features such as beaches and cliffs, land and water temperature differences, wind speeds and direction, sea and surf turbulence, and land projections into the sea. Coastal salt is hygroscopic \u2013 it attracts water, thus it easily creates a highly corrosive electrolyte solution that acts as a catalyst to oxidation and rust. This only gets worse as the seasons warm up and humidity rises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A building that is close to sea water is patently exposed to more salt than one that is several miles inland, whether it\u2019s by direct spray or splashing, although this may be mitigated by a sheltered or calmer location such as a harbour or estuary. Regardless, if you\u2019re within a few miles of the sea you\u2019ll save yourself needless hassle and expense by investing in the right kind of light fitting from the outset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Material gains \u2013 misconceptions and making the right choice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When choosing exterior lights for a coastal property you\u2019d be forgiven for thinking that stainless steel may be a good choice of material. After all, under ordinary circumstances it lives up to its name by not staining or corroding easily. However, stainless steel is manufactured to a variety of tolerances and is graded accordingly; the type of stainless steel you\u2019ll typically find in lighting products is no match for airborne sodium chloride and its high-speed corrosive effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Installing standard-grade stainless steel at a coastal location will result in staining and corrosion within a short space of time; even regular marine-grade stainless steel can sometimes be susceptible to corrosion in harsh environments. In any case, marine-grade stainless steels such as types 316 or the more resilient 2205 are prohibitively expensive for the purposes of lighting manufacture, so aren\u2019t typically used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brass is another popular choice for outdoor lighting under normal circumstances, but in coastal areas it becomes vulnerable to corrosion by the same path as stainless steel \u2013 a process that is accelerated in either of those metals when temperature and humidity levels rise above an optimum salt activation level (10\u00b0C and 76% humidity in the case of sodium chloride, which is the predominant chloride in coastal salt). Most types of brass are prone to a process called \u2018dezincification\u2019, which increases vulnerability towards corrosion, and excludes it as a suitable and affordable material for coastal lighting products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Light-fitting materials particularly suitable for coastal areas are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n