QUALICOAT UK & IRELAND
External powder coating maintenance
As with any applied finish exposed to British weather , it is important that a maintenance regime is undertaken to keep it performing and looking well for many years . Pollutants and airborne debris , which are deposited on powder coat finishes through weathering , can simply be cleaned down at the same time as window cleaning using mild detergent solutions . Aluminium window and facade longevity starts with a high quality aluminium substrate pretreatment and powder coat finish as provided by a licensed QUALICOAT applicator .
Often overlooked in the specification process , the pretreatment of the aluminium substrate is crucial as it has to firmly bond onto the aluminium and completely seal its surface , whilst offering a good key for the powder coating to adhere to . Despite the powder coating being of consistent thickness , it is air permeable and , as a result , if the pretreatment is poorly applied , oxidisation of the aluminium over time could cause the finish to lift . QUALICOAT applicators are routinely inspected by independent test houses to ensure the latest QUALICOAT Standard is being adhered to .
Prior to handover of any new installation or building , coated aluminium fenestration will be cleaned down professionally to ensure that the finish is not damaged . It is crucial to have any areas of impact or abrasion damage repaired , should it be present . During cleaning , all the protective tape must be removed from the inside and outside of powder coated surfaces as if this is left on for an extensive time , the tapes low-tack adhesive can often degrade , especially in UV light , and become firmly attached to the powder coating .
Once handed over to the client , in normal use such as in cities , the powder coat finish should simply be washed down at yearly intervals with clean water or with a ph neutral mild detergent solution in water . This should be enough to protect the visible surface of the powder coat for many years and can simply be done during the cleaning of windows . The powder coat finish wash down is especially important where squeegee bars are used to clean the glass , as their use tends to place the residue of the airborne contaminants directly on the powder coated frame which could begin to etch into the surface finish of the coating . Window cleaners must ensure that all powder coated surfaces are wiped clear of cleaning residue on every window clean .
On new and refurbished building projects , powder coated finishes will always come with a cleaning and maintenance regime from the company who coated the aluminium profiles . These will offer minimum cleaning requirements and need to be adhered to as well as being recorded when completed . This will ensure the coated finish is maintained within the applicators warranty and will help , should there be any claim in the future . Warranties vary in length and are dependent on the powder coat finish used
and the location of the installation . For example , where the coating is close to the sea , a marine grade or QUALICOAT ‘ Seaside ’ specification for the coating should be specified and the cleaning regime will often be increased to three monthly intervals as the atmosphere is more corrosive .
Crucial to any maintenance regime is preventative maintenance and powder coating is no exception , if the coating in use has become damaged , exposing the aluminium , it should be repaired as soon as possible . For repair , either contact the original coater , or approach any QUALICOAT approved application who can normally offer guidance .
QUALICOAT UK & Ireland offer a basic guide which can be downloaded from their website . This can be referred to as where the original maintenance information has been mislaid and not available to refer to .
The current 2021 QUALICOAT Standard is freely available for download via the Association ’ s website , www . qualicoatuki . org and offers an up-to-date list of licensed UK and Ireland Powder Suppliers , Pretreatment Suppliers and Applicators . Printed literature and telephone support is available from QUALICOAT UK & Ireland Head Office in Birmingham on 0330 236 2800 or email enquiries @ qualicoatuki . org . The Association can also be followed on Twitter @ Qualicoatuki
10 MAY 2021 twitter : @ surfaceworldmag