Materials and finishes for cable support systems.
Finish codes, applicable standards and recommended environments for the Array Metal range.
Finishes
Finish codes and specifications
Quote the abbreviation in specifications. The grade code is the final suffix of the part number.
Carbon steel & coatings
Carbon steel requires a protective coating. Protection at cut edges, holes and welds depends on the coating method and on whether it is applied before or after fabrication.
| Finish | Grade code | Description | Standard | Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EEpoxy on Mild Steel | E | Epoxy powder coating applied directly to mild steel. For dry indoor locations and colour matching. No zinc layer beneath the coating. Not for outdoor or washdown service. | Epoxy powder coating on mild steel | Pre-treated, powder coated and oven cured |
| EGElectrogalvanized | EG | Electrodeposited zinc coating. Uniform finish for threaded and close-fitting parts. Dry indoor service only. | Electrodeposited zinc coating, BS EN ISO 2081 | Electroplated after fabrication |
| HDGHot-Dip Galvanized | G | Zinc coating applied by hot-dip galvanizing after cutting, drilling and welding. Coats cut edges, holes and weld seams. Zinc gives sacrificial protection at minor damage. | BS EN ISO 1461 | Galvanised after fabricationCoating: To the BS EN ISO 1461 class for the section thickness |
| HDG 85HDG 85 µm | G85 | Hot-dip galvanized to a heavier minimum coating thickness. For coastal and heavy industrial environments. | BS EN ISO 1461, heavy coating class | Galvanised after fabricationCoating: 85 µm minimum |
| HDG+EHDG + Epoxy | GE | Duplex system: hot-dip galvanized, then epoxy powder coated. For severe exposure and colour-coded routes. | BS EN ISO 1461 substrate with an epoxy powder top coat | Galvanised after fabrication, then powder coated and oven cured |
| GIGalvanized Iron | GI | Pre-galvanized steel coil, cut and formed after coating. Cut edges are not zinc coated. For light-duty, sheltered applications. | Pre-galvanised coil to EN 10346 | Zinc applied to the coil before forming |
Stainless steel
Corrosion resistance from the alloy's passive oxide film. No applied coating.
| Finish | Grade code | Description | Standard | Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS304Stainless Steel 304 | A2 | Austenitic stainless steel with a passive chromium oxide film. For clean, humid and moderately corrosive environments. | AISI 304 / A2 (EN 1.4301) | Pickled and passivated after welding |
| SS316LStainless Steel 316L | A4 | Austenitic stainless steel with molybdenum and low carbon content. Improved resistance to chloride pitting. For marine, offshore and chemical applications. | AISI 316L / A4 (EN 1.4404) | Pickled and passivated after welding |
| SS316+TSASS316 + Thermal Spray Aluminium | A4-TSA | 316 stainless steel with a sealed thermal-sprayed aluminium coating. For severe marine and offshore exposure. | Thermal-sprayed aluminium coating, ISO 2063, on a 316 substrate | Grit blasted, then arc sprayed and sealed |
Aluminium
Lightweight, non-magnetic alloys. Protected by a natural oxide layer.
| Finish | Grade code | Description | Standard | Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA1100Aluminium AA1100 | B1 | Commercially pure aluminium, easy to form. For light-duty tray and formed parts. | EN AW-1100, commercially pure aluminium | Mill finish; protected by its own oxide layer |
| AA5052Aluminium AA5052 | B5 | Aluminium-magnesium alloy with good marine corrosion resistance. For weight-critical and non-magnetic applications. | EN AW-5052 (Al-Mg) | Mill finish; protected by its own oxide layer |
| AA5052+EAluminium AA5052 + Epoxy | B5-E | AA5052 with an epoxy powder top coat. For colour coding and added barrier protection. | EN AW-5052 with an epoxy powder top coat | Pre-treated, powder coated and oven cured |
Protective treatments
Supplementary treatments for storage, transport or severe exposure. They do not replace the base material or finish.
| Finish | Grade code | Description | Standard | Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS316 + VCI 386SS316 + VCI | A4-VCI | Volatile corrosion inhibitor applied at packing, for sea freight and extended storage. Does not change the in-service corrosion resistance of the base grade. | Volatile corrosion inhibitor, VCI 386 | Applied at packing, consumed in transit and storage |
Corrosion suitability
Suitability by corrosivity category
Categories to ISO 12944 and ISO 9223, from C1 (indoor) to C5-M (marine). A mark shows the categories a finish is rated for. Categories guide finish selection and do not determine service life.
| Finish | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5-I | C5-M | Typical service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EEpoxy on Mild Steel | Suitable for C1 | Suitable for C2 | Not rated for C3 | Not rated for C4 | Not rated for C5-I | Not rated for C5-M | Dry indoor service |
| EGElectrogalvanized | Suitable for C1 | Suitable for C2 | Not rated for C3 | Not rated for C4 | Not rated for C5-I | Not rated for C5-M | Dry indoor service |
| HDGHot-Dip Galvanized | Suitable for C1 | Suitable for C2 | Suitable for C3 | Suitable for C4 | Not rated for C5-I | Not rated for C5-M | Outdoor and general industrial service |
| HDG 85HDG 85 µm | Suitable for C1 | Suitable for C2 | Suitable for C3 | Suitable for C4 | Suitable for C5-I | Not rated for C5-M | Coastal and heavy industrial service |
| HDG+EHDG + Epoxy | Suitable for C1 | Suitable for C2 | Suitable for C3 | Suitable for C4 | Suitable for C5-I | Suitable for C5-M | Corrosive atmospheres and colour-coded runs |
| GIGalvanized Iron | Suitable for C1 | Suitable for C2 | Not rated for C3 | Not rated for C4 | Not rated for C5-I | Not rated for C5-M | Sheltered and light-duty service |
| SS304Stainless Steel 304 | Suitable for C1 | Suitable for C2 | Suitable for C3 | Suitable for C4 | Not rated for C5-I | Not rated for C5-M | Clean, humid and moderately corrosive service |
| SS316LStainless Steel 316L | Suitable for C1 | Suitable for C2 | Suitable for C3 | Suitable for C4 | Suitable for C5-I | Suitable for C5-M | Marine, offshore and chemical service |
| SS316+TSASS316 + Thermal Spray Aluminium | Suitable for C1 | Suitable for C2 | Suitable for C3 | Suitable for C4 | Not rated for C5-I | Suitable for C5-M | Splash zone and hot offshore service |
| AA1100Aluminium AA1100 | Suitable for C1 | Suitable for C2 | Suitable for C3 | Suitable for C4 | Not rated for C5-I | Not rated for C5-M | Light-duty and formed work |
| AA5052Aluminium AA5052 | Suitable for C1 | Suitable for C2 | Suitable for C3 | Suitable for C4 | Not rated for C5-I | Suitable for C5-M | Marine and weight-critical service |
| AA5052+EAluminium AA5052 + Epoxy | Suitable for C1 | Suitable for C2 | Suitable for C3 | Suitable for C4 | Suitable for C5-I | Not rated for C5-M | Marine service and colour-coded runs |
A finish rated for a category is also suitable for the milder ones.
Corrosivity categories
| Category | Corrosivity | Typical atmosphere |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Very low | Heated indoor spaces with clean air. |
| C2 | Low | Unheated indoor spaces where condensation can occur. Rural outdoor areas with low pollution. |
| C3 | Medium | Humid production areas. Urban and industrial outdoor air with moderate pollution. Coastal areas with low salinity. |
| C4 | High | Chemical plants. Industrial areas and coastal areas with moderate salinity. |
| C5-I | Very high (industrial) | Industrial areas with near-permanent condensation and high pollution. |
| C5-M | Very high (marine) | Coastal and offshore areas with high salinity. |
Coating records to BS EN ISO 1461 and EN 10204 3.1 material certificates are available per order. See certifications & standards.
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