Is polystyrene suitable for outdoor enclosures, or should I use something else?
Short answer
Polystyrene is not recommended for outdoor enclosures, as it is prone to UV damage and degrades faster than polycarbonate or glass-reinforced polyester (GRP) when exposed to sunlight. It remains a cost-effective, reliable choice for indoor applications, where UV exposure isn't a factor.
Thanks for the question, it’s important to think about material choice when specifying enclosures for outdoor use.
We normally wouldn’t recommend Polystyrene enclosures for outdoor use, simply because they are prone to UV damage which means that they will not be as reliable as polycarbonate of glass reinforced plastic (GRP).
Polystyrene enclosures are typically a low-cost option which can make them a tempting prospect when specifying for a project – and when used internally it’s often a perfectly suitable choice. For outdoor enclosures though, you will definitely make your money back by specifying the better material first time.
Spelsberg has a wide range of polycarbones and GRP enclosures which you can find by visiting our product finder here: https://www.spelsberg.co.uk/product-finder/
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