G. Spelsberg GmbH & Co. KG GEOS series with accessories
DLG-APPROVED: "Ammonia resistance"
The Approval
The DLG APPROVED quality mark for ‘single, value-determining criteria’ is awarded to technical products that have passed a less comprehensive DLG usability test which is carried out and evaluated to independent and approved criteria. The purpose of this test is to highlight a product’s specific innovative and key features. The test is carried out to criteria that are laid down in the ‘DLG Full Test’ framework for technical products or may include further features and properties that confer a specific value to the product. DLG group of experts defines the minimum standards to be applied to the product and describes the test conditions and procedures as well as the criteria by which the test results are to be evaluated. These parameters reflect the acknowledged state of the art as well as scientific findings and agricultural insights and requirements. After a product has passed the test, a test report is produced and published and the quality mark is awarded to the product and will retain its validity for five years from the daate of award.
The test on ammonia resistance was carried out at the lab to the patented DLG test standard. The aim of
the test was to determine the suitability of the equipment for use in animal buildings and how the equipment performed when exposed to the climate inside animal buildings. The items and materials tested were new
and recently manufactured. The testing scheme applied was the DLG protocol on the testing of ammonia resistance, version 07/2017. No other criteria were tested in this test.
Assessment in brief
The materials supplied for the DLG APPROVED test were new and recently manufactured. They were tested for their ability to resist the stresses imposed by ammonia. The results show that the materials meet all the requirements to pass this DLG test.
Table 1: Summary of test results
| Parameter tested: Ammonia resistance | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Component | Test result | Assessment * | |
| GEOS-L series | Enclosures | resistant | + |
| GEOS-S series | Switch cabinets | resistant | + |
| MPI | Mounting plate | resistant | + |
| MPS | Mounting plate | resistant | + |
| L EP | Insert plate | resistant | + |
| ABL | Mounting bracket | resistant | + |
| MH | Bracket and base plate | resistant | + |
| L TW | Partition | resistant | + |
| NS35 | Mounting bar | resistant | + |
| Bel Air | resistant | + |
The product
Description and specifications
All materials tested form part of the GEOS-L series enclosures and switch cabinets of GEOS-S series. Among other applications, the GEOS series is installed in animal buildings where it may be exposed to higher concentrations of ammonia.
Table 2: Specifications (manufacturer information)
| Enclosures and switch cabinets of GEOS-L and GEOS-S series | ||
|---|---|---|
| Measured voltage | 1000 V AC | |
| 1500 V DC | ||
| Length | 300 - 400 mm | |
| Width | 300 - 500 mm | |
| Height | 180 - 226 mm |
| Accessories | Dimensions (Length x Width x Height) | |
|---|---|---|
| MPI | Mounting plate | 250 - 350 mm x 250 - 450 mm x 5 mm |
| MPS | Mounting plate | 250 - 350 mm x 250 - 450 mm x 2 - 5 mm |
| L EP | Insert plate | 276 - 376 mm x 276 - 476 mm x 4 mm |
| ABL | Mounting bracket | 94,3 mm x 19,9 mm x 40 mm |
| MH | Bracket and base plate | 74,9 mm x 31,6 mm x 155,5 mm |
| L TW | Partition | 470 mm x 2,5 mm x 156 mm |
| NS35 | Mounting bar | 450 mm x 35 mm x 7,5 mm |
| Bel Air |
The Method
Ammonia resistance
The ammonia resistance of the materials was determined in a lab test that was carried out to the DLG test standard for agricultural applications. The DLG ammonia resistance lab test measures the ability of the sample to withstand the exposure to animal housing climates over a lifetime of up to 20 years.
To simulate these conditions and this time period, the sample was placed in a climate chamber where it was exposed to the following conditions:
| Duration of the test | 1500 h |
| Air temperature | 70 °C |
| Relative humidity | 70 % |
| Ammonia concentration | 750 ppm |
To assess the ability of the sample to resist NH3, the sample was visually inspected, weighed and its hardness was measured using the Shore durometer. This procedure was applied to at least two samples of each product.
Detailed account of the test results
Ammonia resistance
The enclosures showed no signs of stress or damage by the NH3 gas during the test, but the transparent cover lost its shiny finish. The finish seemed dull and the transparency declined visibly. However, this transformation does not affect the functionality of the enclosures, unless a specific application may require a flawless finish. Therefore the DLG assessed the cover as offering ‘limited resistance’. In this context it should be pointed out that the test conditions are very accelerative to simulate long-term conditions and allow testers to make a statement on longevity.
However, in view of the fact that the transformation does not affect the functionality of the component and also in view of the fact that ammonia concentrations are much lower in reality the enclosures as a whole can be assessed as suitable for use in animal buildings. All other parameters tested were found to be within uncertainty or target range. Hence, we can conclude that the materials will sufficiently withstand exposure to NH3 gas as it is the case in pig houses. The test was carried out at an ambient temperature of 70 °C and without an electric or data line being connected to the enclosures, hence without pressure compensation. The manufacturer says that a pressure compensation is provided by the feed line into the enclosures.
Tables 3 - 5 are showing the test results of the enclosures, accessories and colored materials.
Table 3: Impact of NH3 on the enclosures
| Component | visual inspection | Weight | Shore hardness | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enclosures, grey cover with seal | not affected | < 1,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
| Enclosures, transparent cover with seal | dull cloudiness | < 1,0 % | < 6,0 % | partially resistant |
| Enclosures, grey door with seal | not affected | < 1,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
| Enclosures, transparent door with seal | not affected | < 1,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
| Framework, grey | not affected | < 1,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
| GEOS series enclosures and switch cabinets | resistant |
Table 4: Impact of NH3 on the accessories
| Accessories | visual inspection | Weight | Shore hardness | Assessment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPI | Mounting plate | no change | < 3,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
| MPS | Mounting plate | no change | < 3,0 % | not tested | resistant |
| L EP | Insert plate | no change | < 3,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
| ABL | Mounting bracket | no change | < 3,0 % | < 6,0 % | resistant |
| MH | Bracket and base plate | no change | < 3,0 % | < 6,0 % | resistant |
| L TW | Partition | no change | < 3,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
| NS35 | Mounting bar | no change | < 3,0 % | not tested | resistant |
| Bel Air | no change | < 3,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
Table 5: Impact of NH3 on the material colors
| colors visual inspection | Weight | Shore hardness | Assessment | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| grey, black | enclosure GEOS-L | not affected | < 3,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
| grey, transparent, black translucent, black | cover GEOS-L | not affected | < 3,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
| grey, black | enclosure GEOS-S | not affected | < 3,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
| grey, black | Framwork GEOS-S | not affected | < 3,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
| grey, transparent, black translucent, black | door GEOS-S | not affected | < 3,0 % | < 3,0 % | resistant |
Summary
The results of the test show that the GEOS series with all accessories meets the DLG test requirement for ammonia resistance for receiving the DLG APPROVED quality mark (scoring “o” or better). This suggests that the model range tested can be considered as resistant to ammonia loaded air in animal houses. No other criteria were tested in this test.
Manufacturer and applicant
Günther Spelsberg GmbH & Co. KG
Im Gewerbepark 1
D-58579 Schalksmühle
Contact
Telephone+49 (0)2355 892-0
Telefax +49 (0)2355 892-299
info@spelsberg.de
www.spelsberg.de
Contact
DLG TestService GmbH - Groß-Umstadt location • Max-Eyth-Weg 1 64823 Groß-Umstadt Germany • Tel.: +49(0)69 24 788-611 • tech@DLG.org