Resource Library

To ensure that our products deliver the performance and reliability that you expect, we conduct various tests and use key performance indicators during vent production.

GORE® Protective Vents vs. Common Venting Solutions

As the name says, Gore Protective Vents enable pressure equalization through venting with the key feature of ingress protection. Other venting technologies have limits to protecting against the ingress of dust and moisture.

As LED lighting proliferates in automotive applications, so does condensation. That’s because LED lamps’ heat source is at the rear of the assembly, making the lens area the cold spot where condensation forms most easily. Often with unpleasant results: foggy, cloudy or streaky lenses, and lamps that don’t shine as brightly as when they left the showroom. Condensation could also compromise integrated sensors or other electronic devices.

This document shows the Installation Instructions and Instructions for Use of GORE PolyVent Ex. In addition the relevant standards are listed and the attestation of conformity is described.

DECEMBER 2009 // Author Harry Hutchinson interviews engineer and lifelong surfer Peter Casica about his innovative use of GORE^® Protective Vents to prevent damage to surfboards. Casica knew temperature extremes created pressure differentials within the board, causing deformation, delaminations and leaks. See how a GORE^® PolyVent solved the problem.

A critical aspect of vent selection begins with defining the level of protection your application, device or housing requires.

IP ratings cannot be “converted” to NEMA ratings, since NEMA requires additional testing not included in IP. However, there are minimum NEMA ratings that will meet or exceed a given IP code.

Ingress Protection, IP, is an internationally accepted standard for indicating how well an electrical enclosure protects electronic equipment, devices, or components against solid objects and liquids.

MARCH 2013 // Applications Engineer Gary Chan examines the hidden design challenge of managing pressure differentials in outdoor LED lighting systems, and discusses how proper venting can extend product reliability and durability by protecting housing seals, joints and connections from stress and premature failure. The role of venting in protecting against condensation, thermal shock, water ingress and contaminants is also considered.

SEPTEMBER 2012 // Product Specialist Jason Zambotti discusses the pitfalls in using robust airtight and watertight enclosures to meet stringent IP or Electrical standards for use in rugged outdoor environments. Along with examining the reasons why pressure differentials cause airtight housings to leak, the article offers an in-depth discussion of the relative benefits and flaws of several solutions.

When telecommunication equipment fails prematurely due to conditions of the environment in which it is installed, it leads to network downtime, increased costs and maintenance, and reduced brand loyalty. Gore application engineers developed new enclosure reliability tests that replicate real-world environmental challenges.