Overview of Rondo Signage System

The Rondo signage system by Larus is engineered for simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and ease of maintenance. It uses round steel tubes as poles and steel plates for signage, with information displayed via cut vinyl. Custom dimensions and finishes can be requested to meet specific project needs.

Materials and Components

• Poles and Plates: Constructed from steel grades LA1 or LA2, with options for galvanization and painting.
• Information Display: Cut vinyl applied on steel plates.
• Fixing Systems: Multiple fixing references (LF1 to LF6) enable anchoring to concrete foundations, wooden beams, or floor-standing setups.

Signage Configurations

• Radial System: Supports up to four directional signs on the same plane.
• Standard System: Allows one plate per plane.

Material References and Finishes

The system supports a wide range of materials including cast iron, cast aluminum, rotomolded plastic, stainless steel, corten steel, anodized aluminum, stone, granite, concrete, fiberglass, marine plywood (including FSC certified), phenolic resin (HPL), sandwich panels, various plastics, Dupont Corian®, laminated and tempered glass, among others.

Fixing System Details

• LF1: Rods anchored into floor or concrete using chemical anchors.
• LF2 to LF6: Various anchoring methods including pre-attached anchors, bolted frames, wooden beam foundations, and floor-standing options tailored to installation environments.

Steel Grades and Treatments

• LA1: Steel S275JR galvanized and painted.
• LA2: Steel S275JR metallized and painted.
• LAC1: Corten steel A S 335 J2 G2W.
• LAL1 to LAL3: Various aluminum types including extruded anodized and cast aluminum.
• LAX1: Stainless steel AISI 304/316.
• LAZ1: Zinc-coated steel.

Galvanization Process

Galvanization involves immersing steel in a zinc bath (~450°C) with at least 98% pure zinc, forming a zinc/iron alloy layer at least 60 microns thick. Advantages include full coating of hollow parts and protection of edges and corners. Limitations include potential surface runoff, difficulty in paint adhesion requiring sanding or phosphating, and unsuitability for cast iron due to its silicon and phosphorus content.

Wood Material Characteristics and Treatment

Wood is a renewable, low-energy-consumption, and CO2-neutral building material but is vulnerable to fungi, bacteria, cracking from water absorption, and UV damage. Proper wood type selection and preservation treatments are critical. Moisture content decreases after harvesting, with shrinkage occurring below fiber saturation (~30% moisture). Tangential shrinkage is about twice radial shrinkage; axial shrinkage is minimal. Wood should be dried to moisture levels appropriate for its environment.

Wood Protection and Maintenance

Wood exposed to sun and wind dries unevenly, causing internal stresses and cracking. Wide wooden boards should be avoided to reduce warping. Lower density woods are more prone to cracking. UV rays degrade lignin, promoting decay; protective varnishes with iron oxides reflect UV rays and require multiple layers for enhanced protection, though they darken wood color. Maintenance involves sanding to remove degraded lignin and reapplying at least two varnish coats every two years, with intervals adjusted based on environmental conditions.

Painting and Coating Options

• Enamel Forge: Metal enamel with high anticorrosive power and weather resistance, resembling wrought iron.
• Epoxy: Durable iron oxide paint with high hardness and resistance.
• Synthetic Enamel: Bright finish with good gloss retention for steel structures.
• Polyurethane Enamel: High gloss, excellent adhesion to metal and wood, resistant to scratches and corrosive environments.
• Electrostatic Powder Coating: Uniform, solvent-free coating with excellent adhesion, abrasion, and chemical resistance; environmentally friendly with no VOC emissions.

Steel and Cast Iron Materials

Steel (EN10025): Iron-carbon alloy with up to 2.1% carbon. Low carbon steels (<0.3%) offer high ductility and good mechanical and welding properties.

Stainless Steel: Contains at least 11% chromium forming a passive oxide film for corrosion resistance (AISI 304). Addition of nickel and molybdenum (AISI 316) enhances resistance in saline or acidic environments.

Corten Steel: Contains high copper levels; oxidation forms a stable rust-like protective layer preventing further corrosion.

Surface Protection by Metallization

Metallization involves projecting zinc or zinc/aluminum alloy onto cleaned steel surfaces via abrasive shot blasting, achieving a zinc layer thickness of 30-40 microns minimum.

• Advantages: Provides an excellent base for painting, long-lasting corrosion protection with abrasion resistance, reduces maintenance frequency and costs, and does not alter mechanical properties.
• Disadvantages: Internal areas of parts remain unprotected.

Cast Iron Types

• Lamellar Gray Cast Iron: High carbon and silicon content with graphite flakes, offering excellent vibration damping, machinability, corrosion resistance superior to carbon steel, and low shrinkage for complex castings.
• Nodular (Spheroidal) Cast Iron: Contains graphite nodules improving ductility and tensile strength closer to steel.

Polymer Thermic Transformation Process

Thermoplastic powders (polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC) are placed in a metallic mold subjected to biaxial rotation and heated up to 300°C. The polymer melts and evenly coats the mold; cooling with compressed air hardens the polymer for demolding.

Public Lighting and Photovoltaic Systems

Public lighting complies with EN 13201 for outdoor safety, using LED luminaires with CRI > 75, selectable color temperature, 60,000-hour lifespan, and low energy consumption. Autonomous LED poles with photovoltaic technology generate electricity during the day, stored in batteries for nighttime use, eliminating grid energy consumption and trenching.

Kiosks and Terraces Electrical Protection

Electrical protection follows RTIEBT standards using TT earthing systems (neutral earthed and earthed mass). Active parts are isolated with enclosures rated IP2X or higher. High sensitivity residual current devices (RCDs) with rated residual current < 30mA protect against direct contact. Indirect contact protection uses differential devices selected based on circuit conditions (humidity, user type). Equipotential bonding of accessible metal masses prevents potential differences. Thermal-magnetic circuit breakers protect against overloads and short circuits.

Key Recommendations and Limitations

• Custom dimensions and finishes are available to suit project requirements.
• Galvanization is unsuitable for cast iron due to chemical composition.
• Wood materials require proper drying and preservation treatments to prevent degradation.
• Avoid wide wooden boards to minimize warping and cracking.
• Fixing systems must be selected based on installation environment and substrate.

Contact and Product Registration

Larus registers its products with INPI (Portuguese National Institute of Industrial Property). Technical data sheets and contact information are available at www.larus.pt or by phone at +351 234 520 600.

Additional Information

The document references approximate RAL color codes for electrical equipment, with options for custom colors upon request.