Selecting the right performance coating for your application is often a tricky and overwhelming prospect, with lots of options to choose from and lots of data to analyse. To help you make a decision we’ve highlighted the 5 main things to consider when choosing a performance coating:
1. Where is the product going to be installed?
Perhaps the most important consideration, knowledge of the end use is essential as application areas will have different requirements. For instance an operating theatre will have different requirements, environmental conditions and cleaning regimes to a swimming pool hall or a prison cell.
If you take a simple store room as an example, the coating you choose will depend on what is being stored within it.
- Storage of detergents etc. – You will require CS Wallsheen
- Storage of mild chemicals (lactic acid etc.) – You will require CS Wallflex
- Storage of aggressive chemicals (acid store) – You will require CS Armourglaze
2. What will the cleaning regime be like?
The cleaning regime is a very important aspect to consider when selecting a performance coating. As mentioned before, every application area will have differing requirements, especially in terms of cleaning regimes.
High performance laboratories for example, where containment is a key issue, often use hydrogen peroxide bombs to decontaminate the entire room. Hydrogen Peroxide is very corrosive, so if you don’t take this into account when choosing the performance coating for your laboratory, you could end up with a big problem.
Key data to look at regarding suitability for cleaning regimes is:
- Scrub Resistance, usually tested to ASTM D2486 and expressed in cycles.
- Abrasion resistance, usually tested to ASTM D1044, D3389, also expressed in cycles.
- Chemical resistance, which will tell you what chemicals the coating can withstand.
3. Is microbial resistance important?
Most performance coatings contain some kind of biocide to inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria and fungi on their surface. But, depending on the cleaning regime the area is likely to receive, these biocides may leach out after cleaning.
The Wallglaze Performance coating range contains a cocktail of non-leaching biocides in every layer of the system, inhibiting the growth of bacteria and fungi at the wall to coating level and the coating to environment level. The key phrase to look for is “non-leaching” which means that even after intense, rigorous cleaning the biocides should remain effective throughout the design life of the product, which in some cases can be in excess of 10 years.
4. Is impact resistance important?
Where greater resistance to impact, abrasion or steam cleaning is required, it could be worth considering fibreglass reinforcement, as it provides added strength to the performance coating, enabling you to better protect the underlying wall and the coating’s structural integrity from damage.
5. Are there any special circumstances?
In high spec cat. 4 laboratories, it is quite common to have differential pressures between rooms, often because of the need for containment or high volume air extraction. In situations like this, high performance coatings will generally require fibreglass reinforcement and a hygienic mastic in all internal corners. The rule to follow being:
- < 60Pa – Mastic only
- > 60Pa – Mastic and fibreglass reinforcement
Similarly, in areas where temperature cycling occurs or in wet areas, a mastic will be required to fully seal the coating and ensure no bubbling occurs in the coating.
For more information on our selection of Performance Coatings get in touch:
- Phone: +44(0)1296 652800
- Email: sales@c-sgroup.co.uk
