3 Ways Moisture Can Affect the Functionality of Your Design

Water damage is a common cause of failure among metal and electronic parts, and if the hardware on your enclosure isn’t built to handle the moisture it’s exposed to, the safety of the contents inside could be compromised. When speccing in parts for your design, consider how environmental moisture could impact your enclosure is crucial for developing a container that withstands the elements throughout time.

Here are a few of the ways water can put your design’s functionality at risk:

CORROSION

Rust is the most notorious effect of moisture on metal objects, and its impact on an enclosure’s hardware can be disastrous. Containers that are left out in the rain or are constantly subjected to moisture-rich environments are at risk for corroded and rusted hardware, both on the articles themselves and on their attachments, such as between screws and mounting plates.

Avoiding broken hinges, handles, and locks necessitates the use of moisture-resistant materials such as stainless steel and high-performance plastics. Choosing weld-on articles can also reduce or eliminate the chances of water seeping into mounting hardware.

DAMAGED ELECTRONICS

Electronic and biometric locking systems can dramatically increase your enclosure’s security, so long as they work properly. Electronic locking systems that aren’t properly guarded against the elements risk failure, which can render your enclosure either easily accessible to unauthorized users or inaccessible to those who need to use it.

When considering an electronic locking system for your design, take special care to ensure that the one you select is moisture-resistant. You can also include a water-resistant cover for your lock.

STUCK PARTS

Designs that are exposed to both moisture and freezing temperatures are susceptible to far more than just corrosion and breakage. Removable or moving parts provide more opportunities for water to seep into cracks and holes. When the temperature drops, this can lead to locks and hinges that are frozen into place, rendering your design inaccessible. An enclosure that sits for long periods of time without being used also risks its parts rusting together if they aren’t made of corrosion-resistant material, such as stainless steel or plastic.

Incorporating high-performance plastics into your design can help reduce the risk of frozen or corroded hardware. Pay special consideration also to articles whose most critical moving parts are covered or otherwise protected from moisture sources.

STAYING DRY

Just a small amount of water can lead to big problems if your enclosure isn’t designed to handle moisture. When choosing hardware to spec into your design, consider the various ways water can affect your metal, electronic, and moving parts that enable your container to properly do its job. Developing an enclosure that can stand up to moisture-rich conditions can help it work as intended for years to come.

Contact us today to learn more about how to design an enclosure that stands up to the elements.