Durability
A building is subject to many external and internal factors that can affect the durability of a building envelope. Here we introduce main factors and the way in which Corus has used these to design and develop Colorcoat® products over 50 years to offer long-term performance and appearance.
Corus expertise in the area of durability and our understanding of the impact that different substrate and paint formulations can have, forms the basis of the comprehensive Confidex® Guarantee for Colorcoat HPS200® Ultra and Colorcoat Prisma® products.
Endurance and performance
The performance expectations for pre-finished steel for construction are extremely high, with demands for guaranteed long service lives, high flexibility and high aesthetic quality. The overall durability of the pre-finished steel product will depend on the metallic coating type used, pre-treatment chemistry, primer quality, topcoat paint quality and thickness, manufacturing process quality and consistency.
Factors affecting durability - external surfaces
All products used for exterior applications are designed to withstand the environment. But all are, to some extent, affected by it. The main environmental factors which degrade pre-finished steel products are: water, oxygen and salts; sunlight; chemicals and pollutants; abrasives such as wind-blown sand and salts.
Specifying a durable product
In specifying pre-finished steel cladding, it is important to match up the durability requirements of the specific project with the cladding product used.
Factors affecting durability - internal sufaces
In choosing the correct pre-finished steel for a particular internal environment, the following factors should be borne in mind, risk of condensation, aggressivity, damage potential, and hygiene requirement.
Extending durability of pre-finished steels
Ultimately, the degradation of appearance may reach a stage at which it is no longer acceptable. This is not the end of the functional life of the sheet. Over-paint solutions are available for pre-finished steel roof and wall cladding which can restore their appearance and significantly extend the building life. When to repaint will depend on the location and circumstances of the building and its owners.
Product development
A Colorcoat® pre-finished steel product from Corus is one that has undergone many years of development and optimisation. Each of the individual elements which make up the pre-finished steel product is specially selected to give optimum performance and to work together so that the final product is much greater than the sum of its parts.
