How do we test for extremes of weather to ensure longevity of product?
Investment and innovation means we are able to test our products, in-house, to the highest standards using own equipment and technicians. We work to EN and BS standards to ensure that the systems we supply are robust, high quality and stand the test of time.
Hydrothermal Chamber
Severe weather conditions cause damage to any substrate over time. The freeze/thaw cycle, heavy and prolonged rain and snow can all cause damage to coatings.
Using our unique hydrothermal chamber we replicate these conditions over a one month period by alternating cycles of heat, moisture and cold at controlled, elevated temperatures equivalent to 25 years of outdoor weathering.
Our Hydrothermal Chamber
Objective: Shock the coating and try to force system failure
Full size exterior wall
Coating system applied
Temperature cycles from -20°C to 70°C in 1 hour
Exposure to constant water flow to replicate rainfall
Reproduces freeze / thaw process
Result: Coating Unaffected = Long Term Product Stability
QUV Accelerated Weathering Tester
Exposure to sunlight can also have a damaging effect on external coatings. QUV testing exposes the coating system to alternating cycles of UV light and moisture at controlled, elevated temperatures.
Our Accelerated Weathering Testing Machine
Objective: Reproduce the damage done by years of exposure in just days or weeks
- Simulates sunlight using special fluorescent UV lamps
- Simulates dew and rain with condensing humidity and/or water spray
Result: Coating Unaffected = Long Term Product Stability
Testing for performance comes next
Our testing doesn’t stop in the Hydrothermal Chamber or the QUV Cabinet but carries onto to another level to ensure our systems perform to the exacting standards required by independent regulators and official organisations as well as our clients.
What do we test for?
- Adhesion to the Substrate
- Impact Resistance
- Flexibility
- Flexural Testing
- Water Vapour Permeability (Breathability)
- Water Uptake
- Compressive Testing
What standards do we test to?
Our products carry CE marking to indicate conformity with health, safety and environmental protection standards.
The British Stadanrds Institution (BSI Group) is the national standards body of the UK and produces technical standards for a wide range of products. Our products are tested to the appropriate British Standard to ensure our products meet and exceed the performance levels required.
Quality Control
Once we have fully developed our products, we have to manufacture them consistently to meet quality standards. Our Quality Management system and process controls ensure that every batch of all products made in our factory go through a vigorous schedule of testing during the various stages of productions in our QC Labs.
Some of our QC Test
- Product Consistency
- Viscosity
- Cure Time
- Open Time
- Colour
- Specific Gravility (SG)
- Adhesion
- pH – Acidity / Alkalinity
Product Traceability
- Unique Batch number allocation
- Retained QC samples
- Packaging identification
- Compliance with ISO Quality Management System
- Order / Batch traceability
- Peace of mind
Accreditations
Quality Management System
Environmental Management System
Occupational Health & Safety Management System
