IFS Powder LEEDs the way in smart environmentally responsible design

Posted by on 5 June 2018

So why is powder coating more sustainable?

Many of us in the design world have a vague idea that powder coatings are a more sustainable coating compared to liquid paint, but what about performance powders for architectural applications. And we're talking superior performance, 20 year exterior warranty type coatings. Do they walk with the same environmental footprint?

Are superior performance powders also a more sustainable coating choice?

By performance powders, we are referring to hard working, high quality, architectural grade powders that meet and exceed the performance requirements of AAMA 2605 – just like a traditional liquid 70% PVDF coating.

The simple answer is yes. P performance architectural powders pack the same (or better!) performance punch in terms of color and gloss retention and corrosion resistance, AND with an improved environmental footprint than liquid performance coatings.

So what exactly are the environmental advantages of performance powders?

• No solvents - there are no solvents and therefore negligible Volatile Organic Coatings (VOCs) in powder coatings. This is a huge advantage for any architectural project, especially when used over large areas such as building envelope.
• Single coat - powder coatings achieve the same or better levels of chemical, mechanical and weathering performance than liquid coatings, but in a single coat.
• Reclaim and reuse - any powder over spray can reclaimed and reused or recycled, unlike with liquid paints where any over spray is instantly lost. This gives up to a 97% utilization rate from a box of powder.
• IFS powder coatings can be used over non chrome pretreatment on aluminum and still meet and exceed AAMA 2605 performance requirements. 
• IFS powder coatings never require a chrome based primer when used on aluminum. In fact most of the time no primer – chrome or otherwise – is required on aluminum. 
• Lower carbon dioxide emissions - in a life cycle analysis (DSM study), powder coatings were shown to have both lower VOC and lower carbon dioxide emissions than liquid coatings.
• No Hazardous Waste - there is no toxic hazardous waste generated during the application process. This means no toxic waste creating toxic landfill. 
• EPA - the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends powder coatings as a sustainable coating option.

If this isn’t enough reasons, the fact that it’s also tough, chemical and corrosion resistant (in line with AAMA testing and performance requirements), weathers extremely well, which reduces the need for replacement products, and it also is much more scratch resistance meaning fewer replacements or touch up during construction. There’s a reason GCs like working with powder!

But what about official environmental credentials?

IFS powder LEEDs the way for smart sustainable design - IFS Architectural powders each come with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

Check out the LEED EPD chart below that covers the finishing process of an aluminum extruder and compares traditional liquid paints, powder coatings and anodizing.

To get an Environmental Product Declaration each product type went through a full Life Cycle Analysis. The products are then tested in all of the LEED EPD categories, which are acidification potential, eutrophication potential, global warming potential, smog potential and primary energy demand.

The results from this coating comparison speaks for itself.

Clearly powder outperforms the other finishing options in every category across the board.

Sustainable design with performance coatings has never been easier. So many architects are switching to performance powder (check out just a few projects). For so many years we’ve talked about sustainable design – now let’s walk the walk. Choose performance powder coatings.