Machinery & Manufacturing
Chalking , is also part of the ageing process and appears as a milky surface or ‘ chalk ’ on the coated surface . This only forms when the finish is generally neglected and not cleaned down within an agreed cleaning regime . Often chalking can be removed by simply cleaning the finish several times over a period of time . Specifying a QUALICOAT Class 2 powder , which uses more robust compounds in its composition , can significantly reduce these issues
QUALICOAT powder applicators can advise of a suitable cleaning company and there is also a paper on the QUALICOAT UK & Ireland website that explains how the powder coating can be safely cleaned . For the best sustainability , ensure that the powder coater has the necessary pretreatment systems in place and that they can demonstrate that they can coat and test to BS EN 12206-1 . Alternatively , just insist on a specification that powder coating must be applied by a QUALICOAT licensed applicator . In the UK , the majority of main architectural powder coaters are qualified QUALICOAT licence holders . If you are proposing to specify an architectural coater who powder coats to BS EN 12206-1 , be vigilant to ensure that they posses a robust pre-treatment plant and that their processes are correctly monitored and maintained .
Should a coating specification require a longer life expectancy , possibly where future access for cleaning be difficult , then a Class 2 more robust powder can be specified . Contact any QUALICOAT licensed powder coat applicator or powder manufacturer to seek advice for any project location across the UK & Ireland .
Various country Members of the global specification , QUALICOAT , have undertaken extensive work over the decades to further refine the products and processes to ensure finishes continue to offer enhanced sustainability . A worldwide working group of Members began to develop a specification for the alloys used in extrusion for fenestration , namely architectural aluminium alloy grades of 6060 and 6063 . The resulting alloy specification , which now forms Appendix A13 of the QUALICOAT Specifications 2023 , requires these alloys to fall within the EN573-3:2019 Standard , which can be met using primary or secondary ( recycled ) aluminium . Compliance requires the following three tests to be carried out , Optical Emission Spectroscopy ( OES ), Anodic Cyclic Polarisation ( ACP ) and a metallographic study of the aluminium surface . This latest development has culminated in forming what is now known as the ‘ QUALICOAT 3.0 ’ specification .
Specifiers who wish to take advantage of QUALICOAT 3.0 should in the first instance contact QUALICOAT UK & Ireland for guidance on specification and help in choosing the correct supply chain . A QUALICOAT 3.0 specification will require a coating Member to carry the ‘ Seaside ’ class pre-treatment license as this is a prerequisite coating procedure for QUALICOAT 3.0 .
The most important aspect to specification is the involvement of a specialist coater at the early design stages of any project . All QUALICOAT UK & Ireland members are available to offer advice and can be found on the Association website at qualicoatuki . org
CLEARVIEW-UK . COM JANUARY 2025
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