This site uses cookies to help deliver its services and analyse traffic.
Stainless Steel Saves Ships!
Lighthouses, although apparently old-fashioned, are still used extensively to warn passing ships of unsafe waters. Although new lighthouses are very rarely built, existing structures still need to be maintained and occasionally replaced.
A lighthouse-replacement project carried out at Roancarrigmore, located on the wild and remote coast of County Cork in Ireland, made extensive use of stainless steel. The area, though dramatically beautiful, poses a threat to ships due to its sudden violent storms and as such is the most important refuge on the coast, offering a place of safety to vessels requiring shelter.
With a large and deep bay, the safely-accessible harbour is an essential fishing resource and its eastern entrance is marked by Roancarrig Lighthouse, designed to guide vessels into safe water. After the lighthouse's classification was happily reduced, the Commissioner for Irish Lights (CIL) decided a new, more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly design was required for the site.
The replacement is an incredibly light structure over 7 metres high, fabricated from 316L stainless steel. A helicopter was used to transport three cylindrical sections for construction on-site, creating the impressive structure. Externally, the lighthouse is manufactured from 8mm stainless steel plate that has an attractive satin finish, perfect for its marine location. The design makes use of solar energy to power its LED lights, replacing the diesel-powered lamp which consumed over 15,000 litres of fuel every year.
As this project was so successful, the CIL also decided to use stainless steel to replace the upper section of another lighthouse in County Mayo. Connecting the new section with the old required extensive use of stainless steel wire, welded to ensure a strong and lasting seal.
Stainless steel is the perfect material for use in the moist and salt-rich atmosphere where lighthouses must be placed. Strongly resistant to both of these known causes of corrosion, the versatile metal is also used in other marine applications such as shipbuilding and oil rigs.
Stainless steel wire is one of the key products in our extensive portfolio. Find out more about the types we supply and get things done the BS Fixings way; right first time, every time.
Latest from BS Fixings
New to Our Expanding Banding Range: Bandfix® Stainless Steel Banding in Dispensing Reel!
We are delighted to announce that we’ve recently added a brand-new product to our ever-expanding banding range, which already seems to be a popular item amongst many! Our latest addition...
Continue readingMini-heatwave to Hit the UK – It’s Time to Get Gardening!
As you may have already noticed, the temperature is on the rise and the air is starting to feel a touch warmer than usual, which only means one thing…a heatwave...
Continue readingUK Construction Week 2022: Save the Date!
At the end of this year, we will see UK Construction Week (UKCW) take place, one of the UK’s largest built environment events. Since UKCW launched in 2015 it has...
Continue readingBS Fixings’ Top 3 Banding Tools!
Following our recent news post about our new banding products, we thought it would only make sense to comprise a list of our top banding tools, for all your banding...
Continue readingNo Need for Drilling - Silicone Adhesive is The Way Forward
When it comes to household repairs or larger construction projects, we all know that finding the right screws and nails to bond your materials together is a difficult process, especially...
Continue readingAre Birds Being a Nuisance: Keep them Away with Bird Repellent Gel
We are now in the peak of Spring, and Summer is only around the corner which only means one thing, all the birds are out. As much as birds tweeting...
Continue reading