This article presents the case for stainless steel as the most durable and least expensive material for lighting columns. High quality British stainless steel, made at Sheffield, resists corrosion without added paints or chemical protection, and can be recycled fully, as it is made predominantly from scrap. Its initial costs are higher than those of galvanised steel, but its subsequent costs are much less, and its durability is much more, perhaps extending into hundreds of years. Even though the technical case for stainless steel has never been stronger, only a fraction of 1% of the UK stock of lighting columns is made from stainless steel. Austenitic stainless steel grade 201 is especially suitable for lighting columns and has high strength in addition to its corrosion resistance. The only form of corrosion experienced by stainless steel is pitting, which does not affect its structural integrity, because sound material of full thickness remains alongside its small pits. Stainless steel is in fact stainless all the way through. In most situations, stainless steel outperforms other materials in resisting corrosion and cutting. The higher initial cost of buying a stainless steel lighting column is easily recovered by its lower maintenance costs and longer life.
Abstract