Florida weather testing finishes involve rigorous evaluations that exist in the extreme environmental conditions found in Florida, such as high UV radiation, salt spray, heavy rainfall, and intense humidity, to ensure that building materials and finishes can withstand this region’s harsh climate.
Chris Mansfield – QUALICOAT Chair
These tests help manufacturers improve the durability and performance of their products by identifying weaknesses and optimising formulations. As a result, materials are better equipped to maintain their aesthetic appeal and structural integrity over time, reducing the frequency of repairs and replacements.
The Q-Lab Florida test station is a specialised facility designed to simulate the extreme weather conditions typical of the Florida environment. This station uses advanced testing methodologies to rapidly assess the durability, performance, and longevity of building materials and finishes under accelerated aging conditions.
The importance of these tests extends to sustainability by promoting longer-lasting materials and reducing waste. When products perform reliably under severe conditions, there is less need for frequent maintenance and replacement, which in turn minimises the consumption of raw materials and energy associated with production and transportation. This not only decreases the overall environmental footprint but also supports the development of resilient, sustainable infrastructure, ensuring that investments in building materials yield long-term benefits for both the economy and the environment.
Powders can be supplied in various grades of durability to suit a project application. Premium powder compositions use more expensive and robust materials to offer life expectancies well beyond thirty years and often similar to the life expectancy of the building itself. QUALICOAT offer quantifiable performance classifications for architectural powder coatings, these are Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3.
The key parameter to distinguish the performance of these Classes is their ‘weathering’ ability. That is to say, the ability to maintain a consistent colour and gloss level over time. To ‘weather’ well the powder coating must resist the deleterious effects of Light (in particular UVa & UVb), temperature and humidity. The globally accepted method for this ‘natural weathering’ test is conducted at Q-Lab Florida. Sample panels are set for external exposure at a given angle of 5° South. Powder finishes are then classified over time exposure on the following performances:
Class 1 powders, ‘Standard’ powders:
After twelve months exposure, less than 50% loss of gloss, and colour change between 2 and 6 delta units (subject to the colour). This pass criterion is commonly known as ‘1 year Florida’.
Class 2 powders, ‘Super Durable’ powders:
After twelve months exposure, less than 25% loss of gloss, after twenty-four months, less than 40% loss of gloss and after thirty-six months, less than 50% loss of gloss. After three years colour change 2 to 6 delta units, dependent on colour. This testing criterion is commonly known as ‘3 year Florida’
Class 3 powders, ‘Hyper Durable’ powders:
After three years, less than 20% loss of gloss, after seven years less than 45% loss of gloss and after ten years less than 50% loss of gloss – or commonly known as ’10 year Florida’.
Whilst Class 1 is the standard powder used across the UK, Class 2 powder coatings are increasingly being specified and offer greater durability against weathering. It is important to state that whilst Class 1 will weather, as shown in its class above, that does not mean that the finish fails to perform. Class 1 powder finishes can have a life expectancy of thirty years or more given that a minimal cleaning regime is implemented.
The vast majority of high end powder coaters in the UK are now QUALICOAT approved and to ensure that specifiers of commercial or home improvement aluminium systems get ‘QUALICOAT’ powder coatings, the Association recommends just adding the term ‘QUALICOAT Approved’ to the material specifications on all orders
Should you wish to attend a training day and apply for membership of QUALICOAT please get in touch. All QUALICOAT UK & Ireland members are available to offer advice and can be found on the Association website shown below.