When it comes to the lighting of outdoor spaces, streets, and pathways, you have to be very careful in deciding on the type of material pole you are using to support the lighting. There are a lot of things to consider which can be wither aesthetic requirements such as color, height, shape, along with load restrictions and other environmental factors. But apart from the aesthetic restrictions, the functional and other needs are to be considered when selecting a light pole.
Based on all the factors and considerations you decide on the type of pole you would use but selecting the best material is always going to be difficult. There are two prominent metals that light poles are usually made of – aluminum and steel. And since both these metals can be used interchangeably for their amazing features, one can easily get confused about what is what and what will work best for their purpose.
In this article, we will cover all the different aspects of both these types of light poles along with answers to some FAQs. Read through for more:
What is an aluminum light pole?
Aluminum light poles are light poles that are spun out of the highest quality aluminum. The metal is put into molds and made into various designs, shapes, and types based on the requirements. These could be made into a square, round, regular or tapered with different burial options that can be either anchor-based or direct burial. Then there will be aluminum poles with multiple arms and masts based on what is required for a lighting project. So, basically, you can get various types of lighting options with these aluminum poles.
What is a steel light pole?
Steel light poles are poles made up of stainless steel on which the lights are mounted. The shapes, sizes, and molding techniques are almost similar to that of aluminum with the only difference of the metal that is being used. You can get a single armed steel pole or a multi-armed one along with the availability of the different burial options as well.
Applications of aluminum light pole
Aluminum light poles can be used for a variety of applications however some of the most commonly used applications are listed below:
Streets – This is the most common and popular application of Aluminum street lights and you will often find aluminum poles being used in street lighting.
• Highways – Highway lighting almost all of it is done on aluminum poles.
• Freeways – The same aluminum light posts through the freeways is a common scene that you would get to see.
• Driveways – You will see aluminum light poles standing tall across the driveways as well.
• Car Dealerships – If you visit a car dealership, you will find the car warehouses having tall light poles made up of aluminum to light up the area.
• Parking Lots – Ever seen those daylight type of lighting in the parking lot of malls and supermarkets. Well, it is the aluminum light posts that are standing all over lighting up the area.
• Courts – Basketball courts, tennis courts, and all other indoor sports areas use aluminum light poles to mount their lighting.
• Sports Fields & Stadiums – Ever seen those huge sports stadium floodlights mounted on those glistening metal poles? Well, those metal poles are aluminum poles that stand around the fields lighting it up all the way.
• Air force Bases & Military Zones – Security is of utmost importance in these places and hence they are to be well lit. You will hence find tall aluminum poles in almost every air force and military base.
• Airports – Don’t forget the airport, these light poles are at the airports as well for runway and airport lighting projects.
• Compounds & Campuses – The compounds and campuses of schools, colleges and all kinds of institutions educational or commercial will have these aluminum light pole installations.
So, look around and perhaps you will find an aluminum light pole right from your bedroom window.
Applications of steel light pole
Steel light poles have similar application areas as that of the aluminum light poles. Let us quickly list the same:
• Streets, Highways, Freeways, and Driveways – You can find steel poles used along with their aluminum counterparts in almost all the road lighting projects.
• Parking Lots & Open Spaces – You can find steel lighting poles along with aluminum poles in the parking lots and open spaces as well.
• Indoor Sports Courts, Sports Fields & Stadiums – Though aluminum poles are also used steel poles are also used for such applications.
• Airports, Air force & Military Bases – You will find a combination of aluminum and steel light poles across these places.
• Compounds and Campuses – The campuses of schools, colleges and universities and the compounds of your commercial and residential premises also use these steel poles for lighting.
We can hence see that for both these variants of light poles the application areas are more or less the same.
Let us now compare the various properties of both these types of light poles.
Properties of aluminum vs steel light pole
To understand and compare their properties we will measure them against the various parameters and factors that make them so useful. Both these metals look quite similar but there is a huge difference in their properties. Let us look into these differences a little more closely.
1. Strength to weight ratio
Aluminum is a lightweight metal whereas steel is heavier than aluminum. As such steel light poles are certainly far stronger than aluminum light poles however since they are lightweight, easy to transport and install and hence are more popular. Moreover, installing a lightweight aluminum light pole is preferred in certain applications such as on highways as car crashes against the light poles made of steel can turn more fatal than a car crash with an aluminum post.
2. Stiffness
With this property as well, steel emerges as a clear winner. Steel is stiffer than aluminum and hence is less flexible and cannot be deformed easily. This property is, in fact, a subset of the strength of steel. Steel is strong, powerful and stiff and that is why is good for heavy-duty light pole installations.
3. Wind resistant (vibration)
Aluminum is a lighter metal and is more prone to shakes and vibrations in case of strong winds and in extreme weather and hurricane-prone areas. Steel, on the other hand, is extremely strong and is highly resistant to winds and hence there will be minimum vibrations. While this is good as it stands strong in heavy winds it is bad in away. Aluminum being lightweight will sway in the winds thereby absorbing a lot of energy and preventing the damage.
4. Corrosion
While steel is made up of iron, nickel, copper, and manganese, aluminum has no added metals. The presence of chromium makes the steel resistant to corrosion to a certain extent but aluminum still has a better corrosion resistance than steel. Aluminum does not require any coating or paint coating that can scratch off. As such aluminum light poles are all-weather poles with maximum corrosion resistance.
5. Price
Price is one of the most important factors when it comes to deciding on which one to use. The pricing of both these types of light poles is based on the market prices and rates of the raw materials such as bauxite for aluminum and iron ore for steel. As such the prices will be fluctuating but the cost of production of aluminum light poles will be more than the cost of production of steel light poles. Though aluminum as a metal may be cheaper to procure than steel.
6. Maximum pole height
Aluminum is obviously more malleable than most metals as such they can be made out and spun into poles of enormous heights and lengths. As such Aluminum poles can be made to be of towering heights up to 30 ft. Steel is not so malleable and as such height of steel poles would not go as high as that of aluminum but they can be used well in all major applications.
7. Workability
Aluminum is a soft metal and is hence easier to cut it into the desired shapes and work with it. Stainless steel, on the other hand, is resistant to abrasion and wear and tear and hence can be difficult to work with and transformed into desired shapes. Stainless steel as we observe is harder than aluminum and is hence cannot be deformed easily unless it is returned to its molten state and molded into the desired products.
Having seen the comparisons between the two types of poles let us now try to list the pros and cons of both these light pole types. Read through for more.
Pros and Cons of aluminum light pole
The following are the Advantages of using Aluminum light poles:
Pros
1. Lightweight – Aluminum light poles are lightweight and hence it gets easier to move and transport them to remote locations. Being lightweight the containers can hold more units and hence the shipping costs are saved. Moreover, being lightweight aluminum light poles are easier to handle and install at the installation site.
2. Corrosion Resistant – This is something we covered in the comparisons as well. Aluminum is highly corrosion resistant due to the fact that it gets coated with a thin film of Aluminum oxide when it comes in contact with oxygen in the air. As such they are an all-weather light pole and won’t corrode for many seasons.
3. Durable – Aluminum light poles are highly durable as well. Provided they are not hit or run over by vehicles or trucks on the roads, they can keep standing where they are installed for ages.
4. Highly Malleable – Aluminum is a malleable metal and that is the reason why you will see aluminum coming in almost all types of sizes, shapes, and variants.
5. Better Heights – Aluminum light poles would be of taller heights than stainless steel ones since they aluminum can be molded in long and tubular structures of more heights than that of steel poles.
6. Economical – Aluminum may not be cheaper but is highly economical and cost-effective in the long run.
Cons
1. Not So Strong – Aluminum light poles are strong enough but they are not the strongest out there. A sudden or a hit and the pole may fall down or get bent.
2. Vibrate a lot – They cannot stand heavy winds and may vibrate a lot in heavy winds.
3. Welding – Aluminum requires special welding procedures and hence aluminum light poles may get difficult to repair
Pros and Cons of steel light poles
The advantages of steel light poles
1. High Strength – Steel light poles are undoubtedly the strongest and are known for heavy-duty applications.
2. Durable – Steel light poles would stay on for years. Some overhead structures have a record of being there for over 100 years. So, they are highly durable.
3. Not prone to vibrations – Steel light poles are ideal for hurricane-prone regions as they do not vibrate or can withstand heavy winds.
4. Welding and repairs are easy – Steel poles can be maintained and repaired easily using conventional welding techniques.
5. Does not undergo deformation – Steel poles would not undergo deformation when subjected to extreme stress and pressure.
6. Cheaper – Steel poles are cheaper to procure and install than aluminum poles.
Cons
1. High maintenance costs – Steel poles need a lot of maintenance as they are highly prone to corrosion when exposed to water, air or humidity. Usually, they are coated with paints and this has to be done periodically.
2. Heavy – Steel is a heavy metal and so are the steel poles and hence they are expensive to ship, handle and install.
3. Brittle – Steel poles under certain conditions may just crack or break from the area of impact or stress.
Having seen the pros and cons of both the types of light poles let us look at answering some of the most common and frequently asked questions:
Light pole frequently asked question
1. How can you tell if the light pole is made of aluminum or steel?
Many times when you look at it first, you might not be able to tell the difference. However, there are ways and means to find out. You can either look at the shine of the body of the light pole. Steel will generally have a shiny thing to it than aluminum. If, however, even that is not evident, the next thing to do is a key test. Just run a key through the surface of the pole – if it is aluminum it will scratch deep and easily but if it is steel it will still scratch but not with so much ease as that with aluminum.
2. Is aluminum as strong as steel?
The strength of any metal is subjective to the way they are being produced and how they are produced. Aluminum has a high strength to weight ratio than steel and is deemed to be stronger. However, steel is stiffer and has more tensile strength and is heavy as well. So, when considered from a broader perspective, steel is stronger than aluminum. Having said that one of the strongest creation of men – aircraft are made of aluminum. So, as we mentioned it depends on the manufacturing process and the purpose.
3. How much does it cost to install the light pole?
Putting up a street light pole can be expensive. Based on the preference at first base or the burial type needs to be determined. The concrete foundation needs to be laid which depends on the contractor. Then there is the cost of the light pole which is around $2000 to $2500 with the installation. So, the average cost of the light pole inclusive of all expenses is going to a $3000 plus or minus $500 depending on the contracting and other costs.
4. How long does the aluminum and steel light pole last?
Aluminum light poles are low maintenance poles as we have seen earlier and you will not have to take any extra efforts for their upkeep. Just in case they need a repair you can check and carry out the necessary repairs. On the other hand, steel poles require high maintenance and may get corroded if not properly cared for.
Talking about lifespan, aluminum poles will last for nearly 100 years and that too without no to rare maintenance – so that means more than your or our lifetime. Steel poles will last for a lifetime and can last between 60 to 80 years.
Conclusion
So, with all the distinguishing factors, pros, cons and all other aspects compiled in one place, you should be able to make a better decision on what to choose for your outdoor lighting projects.
Both are good and both have their own set of pros and cons. It is therefore advised that you understand your own project needs first, your budget, your staff for maintenance and everything else and then choose either of the two.
While Aluminum is an aircraft worthy metal, the Superman is not known as man of steel for nothing. So, use this comprehensive guide comparing Aluminum vs Steel light poles and choose the best.
Contact us for light pole quote and free consultation: beatus@ledsmaster.com