If your fire cabinet will face salt air, chlorides or chemicals, specify SUS 316. For general premium and indoor use, SUS 304 is sufficient. That single decision is the difference between a cabinet that lasts and one that pits within a few coastal monsoons.
The real difference: molybdenum
Both grades are austenitic stainless steel and both look identical when polished. The difference is chemistry: SUS 316 adds 2–3% molybdenum, which dramatically improves resistance to chlorides (salt) and many acids. That is why 316 is called "marine grade."
| Property | SUS 304 | SUS 316 |
|---|---|---|
| Molybdenum | None | 2–3% |
| Chloride / salt resistance | Good | Excellent |
| Chemical resistance | Moderate | High |
| Relative cost | Lower | Higher |
| Best environment | Indoor, premium general | Coastal, marine, chemical, pharma |
Choose SUS 304 when
- The cabinet is indoors or sheltered — hospitals, hotels, malls, metro concourses
- You want a clean, hygienic, premium look without coastal exposure
- Budget matters but powder-coated carbon steel is not premium enough
Choose SUS 316 when
- The site is within a few kilometres of the sea — ports, wharves, coastal resorts, island infrastructure
- There is chemical exposure — petrochemical, water-treatment, food and pharma plants
- The cabinet is outdoors in a salt-laden or industrial atmosphere
For wet and salt-laden environments, the enclosure's ingress protection matters as much as the alloy — SOKEI's L2 stainless cabinets carry a third-party EN 60529 Certificate of Conformity for IP-rated protection in addition to the 316 build.
A practical middle path
Many ASEAN projects mix grades: SUS 316 for the coastal or process-area cabinets, SUS 304 (or powder-coated carbon steel) inland. SOKEI builds to your specification per cabinet, so you are not forced into one grade across the whole project. Send the site map and we will recommend the grade per location. Request a quote.