Our recent post on Kee Access where we explained how it had been designed to meet the ‘Not cold to the touch’ requirements of the Equality Act and Part M of the Building Regulations, has prompted a number of questions on the benefits of powder coating, so here is a short overview of why we powder coat rather than paint.
What is powder coating?
Powder coating is a surface finish which is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The powder used is a mixture of finely ground particles of pigment and resin, which is electrostatically sprayed onto the surface and then heat cured to create a hard finish which is tougher than paint.
Benefits of Powder Coating
Powder coating provides a durable finish that is chip, scratch and fade resistant and available in virtually any RAL colour. It is also environmentally friendly as, unlike many liquid paints, there are no solvents or VOCs to damage the environment during application
There are of course some limitations when it comes to powder coating. For example, it is relatively easy to apply thick coatings which have smooth, texture-free surfaces, but not so easy to apply very thin, smooth films. However, as you can see from the following examples, we find that powder coating is able to meet most requirements.
Colour Contrast Requirements
As previously discussed, powder coating meets the requirements of the Equality Act and Building Regulations Part M by providing a colour contrasting surface that is ‘not cold to the touch.’
It’s estimated that about 3m people in the UK suffer from some form of visual impairment and that around 80% of those are able to recognise colour differences. This is why contrast is essential when it comes to helping people navigate in and around a building.
Kee Access handrail has been powder coated here in yellow to provide a visual contrast
While here Kee Access has been powder coated in blue to contrast with the galvanised Kee Klamp handrail and its surroundings.
Not just for colour contrast
There will be times when standard handrails, ballustrades, railings or even roof top guardrails need to be powder coated, particularly for aesthetic or safety reasons. This may be to help the system ‘blend’ in with the surrounding environment or to provide a demarcated route in industrial areas, for example:
KeeGuard edge protection powder coated in dark red blends in with the building’s aesthetics
Powder coated in yellow to provide a safe, demarcated route within a warehouse
And finally, a system may simply be powder coated to provide a feature.
Wed, 09/02/2015 – 18:32
A short guide on why we recommend powder coating for Kee Access and Kee Klamp fittings
Poweder coating fittings
