Advice on Protective Coatings

With the latest market reports for specialist protective coatings indicating increased levels of demand and significant market growth, CSC Services are advising clients to use a reputable and established contractor to specify and apply coating products.

With markets for protective coatings segmented by technology, end use and resin type, the applications and uses can seem endless. Established manufacturers are trying to capture larger proportions of the market share through new product introductions, and new vendors are entering the market with materials such as nanoparticles. With a huge number of manufacturers and products to choose from, CSC Services would recommend using a specialist contractor to specify and apply coating products correctly.

CSC Services’ Contracts Director Mick Flounders is a qualified coatings inspector with over twenty years’ experience in the field. Mick warns that guarantees and warranties from coatings manufacturers do not include application:

“Use of an established contractor such as CSC Services will ensure recommendations for surface preparation and application are followed correctly. If the recommendations of the manufacturer for surface preparation and application are not followed and properly documented, it will be very hard, if not impossible, to prove any resulting problem to be with a coating. Guarantees and warranties simply will not stand if the product has not been applied properly.

It is important to remember that specialist coatings are not paints. Surfaces need to be adequately prepared before application and properties of the substrate and environment considered.  Surface temperature, air temperature, dew point, relative humidity, depth of profile, abrasive type, degree of cleanliness, degree of blast, applicator technique, pot pressure, fan width, and air pressure are all important factors to be considered with any coatings work.

CSC Services use a certified coating inspector to oversee all coating work. The qualified inspector will take surface profile readings, take dry film thickness (DFT) gauges, take wet film thickness gauges, discern the difference between degrees of abrasive blasting, and be familiar with standards such as SSPC-VIS 1,1 VIS 2,2 and PA 2.3.”

CSC Services undertakes regular CPD training with the UK’s leading coating manufacturers. This ensures all operatives are fully trained on how to apply products correctly. It also enables CSC Services to specify the latest innovative products to mitigate risks and minimise disruption to service for clients.

For more information about CSC Services range of coatings and recent projects visit the latest news section of this website.