The Environmentally Responsible Choice
Architectural Powder Coatings - Top Ten Questions Answered
Check out the most common questions we get asked about performance powder for architecture! Here they are – along with the answers you need to help you specify architectural grade powder coatings!
1. How can you possibly put powder on a building façade? I put it on my push bike/furniture/shelving – it’s not going to be durable like a 70% PVDF liquid coating!!
This is probably the most common misconception with powder. “Powder coating” is actually a pretty generic term – it covers lots of different product types or chemistries that are used on many different applications. We make all sorts of different powder coatings, and we certainly don’t put the same type of powder coating on the curtain wall or façade of a building as we do on a refrigerator or a push bike! There are 3 different architectural grades of powder coating:
- Fluoropolymers – IFS 500FP is our world class, superior performance 100% FEVE Fluoropolymer that meets and exceeds AAMA 2605. In terms of product performance it is equivalent to 70% PVDF liquid, but with an improved sustainability footprint. It’s used for exterior applications like curtain wall, façade, windows etc. and comes with a 20 year warranty when applied by a registered applicator to aluminum.
- Super Durable Polyester – IFS 400SD is our super durable powder which meets and exceeds AAMA 2604. It’s used for exterior applications like commercial storefront, windows, railing etc. and comes with a 10 year warranty when applied by a registered applicator to aluminum. It is also sometimes used on the interior or super structures, as it offers excellent color and gloss retention when compared with a standard polyester and is extremely competitively priced.
- Standard Polyester – IFS 300SP is our standard polyester powder and meets and exceeds AAMA 2603. We normally recommend it is used for interior applications and is also sometimes used on low value residential exterior applications.
Check out our ebook for more information.
2. So how are your fluoropolymer powders different to 70% PVDF liquid coatings?
IFS 500FP, like most other Fluoropolymer powder coatings uses a different chemical structure. Liquid PVDF uses PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride) resin. IFS 500FP uses FEVE (fluoroethylene vinyl ether) resin. Both are fluoropolymers but the chemical structure is different. FEVE fluoropolymers use the carbon fluorine bond, which is extremely difficult to break, to deliver awesome durability. FEVE Fluoropolymers often only require a single coat on aluminum – but deliver the same protection as 2, 3 or 4 coats of liquid PVDF.
3. Will I get a warranty for powder coatings on exterior applications?
Absolutely. If the powder is applied by a registered applicator to architectural aluminum, then a fluoropolymer powder will come with a 20 year exterior warranty for color/gloss/chalk etc. and a super durable powder comes with a 10 year warranty for the same.
4. Why don’t you need more than one coat on aluminum? Are you sure this is right?
This always confuses people – whether it’s in deciding if you need a primer or specifying the coating correctly. 99% of the time, high performance powders are a single coat application. They will deliver the same thickness, protection and durability as equivalent liquid paints but in a single coat. This is due to the way they are made and the chemical make up of the coating. Even metallic/mica powder coatings can be single coat applications. For more details check out the chapter in our ebook! So when you specify powder – make sure you change the number of coats in the spec!! The exception to this is when working with steel. A powder is primer is suggested with steel as the pretreatment options simply aren't as good. If corrosion is a concern use a zinc rich powder primer and then the powder top coat.
5. You say it’s a more environmentally responsible coating. Is that true? Prove it!
Ok! Don’t take our word for it – check out our Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for each of our architectural grade powders. IFS architectural powders don’t require chrome-based pretreatment, never require chrome based primer, contain no solvents and therefore negligible VOC, do not create toxic sludge in either manufacture or application and can be reclaimed and recycled or reused. The list goes on.
6. I’m specifying powder for the first time – what should I watch out for in my specification wording?
The most common issues are with percentage of resin and number of coats. If you are specifying Fluoropolymer powders, watch out for the resin percentage. Unlike PVDF liquid paints, which only use 70% Fluoropolymer resin, FEVE Fluoropolymers use 100% Fluoropolymer resin. The resin is what gives the coating its durability and weatherability so this is a very good thing! Make sure you specify 100% FEVE Fluoropolymer resin!
For most powder applications, when it comes to number of coats, make sure you amend you spec wording to take into account the fewer number of powder coating coats required!
7. The warranty is for 20 years – what happens after that?
We always wonder if liquid PVDF coating companies get asked the same question as their warranty is exactly the same! The 20 year warranty ensures the color and gloss won't fade to within certain Delta E requirements over the 20 years. This doesn’t mean on day one of year 21 they will suddenly fade drastically, it just means they no longer have to stay within the DE parameters.
8. Can I use powder on steel?
Yes – and it’s used regularly. It simply becomes a two coat system - with a powder primer the first coat. As we mentioned above, if corrosion is a concern depending on the type of steel. then a zinc rich powder primer is recommended. Other than that, the steel is blasted/pretreated and then the powder applied in the same way. Check out our e-book for more info!
9. What is a registered applicator and how do I find one?
There are many different types of powder coating applicators, from fabricators like Kawneer, to OEMs like Construction Specialties and window companies like Sierra Pacific and Starline, to professional coaters of all sorts of different size and capability.
Just as you wouldn’t use any old powder to put on the curtain wall of a building, you have to use a registered applicator for performance Fluoropolymers and anything requiring a warranty. Registered applicators have been through strict auditing and testing procedures, including being tested to the relevant AAMA performance requirements. They are also retested regularly. Registered applicators also have the ability to provide a warranty. The coating company provides the warranty to the coater, and that is written into the warranty that is provided on the job. The good news is that many companies you already know and use are registered applicators, making it easy to switch to powder coating. There are registered applicators all over the USA and beyond, and the number is growing all the time. To get the most up to date list that’s applicable to your project, simply contact us and we’ll be happy to provide it to you!
10. Are people really using performance powder on buildings?
They sure are. Companies like SHoP, SOM, Arcadis, Elkus Manfredi and Handel Architects to name but a few, have specified and used powder on all sorts of different buildings. Check out some of these super cool example of buildings featuring high performance powder on the exterior!
- 111 57 Manhattan
- 9th and Lenora, Seattle
- 33 Park, Jersey City
- 15 E 30th, Manhattan
- Amalie Stadium, Tampa FL
More details on all of these questions - and more - can be found in our free ebook. Download "Performance Powder for Architectural Applications".