More than 300 tonnes of vertical steel beams enclosing Perth's Edgewater Station car park were spray coated in a bold array of colours using a robust Dulux® Protective Coatings system in 2016. The steel beams provide an attractive surround to a three-storey carpark, constructed to provide additional parking at this busy station on the Joondalup line.
Project partners
Asset Owner: Public Transport Authority of Western Australia
Applicator: Kaefer Novacoat and Fero Blast (now DSI Underground)
Builder: Georgiou Group
Architect: Hunt Architects
Coating Solutions
· 1st coat: Dulux® Zincanode® 402 @ 75-microns (µm)
· 2nd coat: Dulux® Duremax® GPE @ 150-microns (µm)
· Top coat: Dulux® Weathermax® HBR @ 100-microns (µm)
Applied by spray off site, with brush touch ups on-site after installation.
What was the challenge?
The coatings system needed to provide powerful, long term protection from corrosion as well as superior colour performance and UV resistance. As a train station, graffiti attack remains a high risk to the finish, so the coatings need to tolerate repeated exposure to chemical cleaning agents.
What were the inspection findings?
Michael Filmer, Dulux Protective Coatings Business Development Executive, conducted a visual inspection of the coatings in March 2023, almost eight years after the initial application.
This inspection revealed that all colours have retained their vibrancy and gloss, with no surface cracking. Regular maintenance cleaning by PTA has prevented soil and dirt ingress damaging the coating finish. Importantly, the inspection found no evidence of corrosion.
Coating rating after 8 years
Rating 2*
Up Close
The Weathermax HBR colours showed no signs of fading, retaining the saturation and vibrancy of a recently painted surface. Some small sections of red paintwork exposed to the most sunlight hours showed minor dulling of gloss.
“The pigments used in red and yellow tints are typically more vulnerable to fading after extended periods of UV exposure, so it's validating to see Weathermax HBR perform so well in terms of colour and gloss retention after 8 years in the intense WA sunshine,” Michael reports. "A level 2 rating is an excellent result on this project."
System benefits
Zincanode 402 is a two pack epoxy zinc rich primer formulated with finely divided zinc metal, providing excellent galvanic corrosion protection and abrasion resistance
Duremax GPE was developed specially for Australasian conditions using the latest epoxy technology and provides steel with excellent barrier protection
Weathermax HBR is a high build, durable polyurethane coating that protects the asset value with excellent resistance to graffiti and cleaning agents
* Coating Inspection 5-Level Rating System
Coatings are inspected to determine the degree of deterioration. Ratings indicate the following condition status:
1. No film damage other than dirt and minor staining
2. Soiled, stained, ingrained dirt, minor chalking or loss of gloss
3. Minor film damage (cracking, flaking or erosion of topcoats) in small areas
4. Minor corrosion where up to 0.5% of the base metal is showing signs of rusting
5. Widespread and excessive corrosion and damage
