Qualicoat powder coated aluminium specifications

Australia's only independent licensing authority for the powder coating industry, Qualicoat, is embarking on a national education campaign to ensure architects, building designers, fabricators and urban planners know how to correctly specify powder coated aluminium.

Extensive collaboration between the Qualicoat committee and Azuma Design, the Australasian Institute of Surface Finishing, the Australian Window Association and the Australian Aluminium Council has resulted in a definitive specification that will be presented to architects a variety of ways.

Qualicoat approval should be stipulated within all architectural specifications, so that the builder, designer and owner can be assured the powder coatings won't fail. The Qualicoat licensing and audit system to Australian Standard AS3715 is the first of its kind in Australia, so it's important the industry is aware of its ramifications.

Bill Wyllie, President of Qualicoat Australia, comments, "Once Qualicoat is incorporated into specifications, the developers, builders and fabricators will seek coaters and powders with Qualicoat approval when sourcing aluminium building materials for new projects.

"This is a monumental step forward for the Australian powder coating industry. Prior to the Qualicoat's introduction, there were no qualifications or requirements to become a powder coater. Through Qualicoat, a range of minimum audited requirements will establish and maintain high coating standards."

A Qualicoat Specification Guideline document will be mailed to 4,500 licensed architects nationally. The document explains the Qualicoat system and the benefits of Qualicoat specification, and provides the wording of the specification.

Information providers such as NATSPEC, which produces updated specification guides to architects in the form of CD roms, will also include the Qualicoat specification in its resources.

Dulux, Interpon and other manufacturer and applicator members of Qualicoat will feature or mention the specification on their websites.

The Australian Institute of Architects and national building authorities will be approached and informed about the revised specifications.

The new powder coated aluminium specification is available in PDF format on the Qualicoat website, www.qualicoat.org.au/specification.htm.

About Qualicoat
The International Qualicoat system has been operating for over 20 years and has been adopted in 39 countries. It is administered in Australia by the AISF. It essentially verifies the entire powder coating process, from the powder to its application, and is Australia's only independent licensing and audit system ensuring compliance to AS3715. Any compliant applicator can achieve a Qualicoat licence.

Alspec, Architectural Window Systems, Australian Aluminium Finishing, Bradnams, Capral, Trend and Vertikote have banded together with powder suppliers Dulux and Interpon, and industry suppliers Henkel, Chemetall, Coating Supplies, ITW, Emjay and Enthone under the Qualicoat banner. It is estimated that Qualicoat now represents over two thirds of the powder application on aluminium in Australia.