This work was carried out by our lead specialist before East Anglia Coating Solutions was established. The client and the previous employer are not named.
Background
Structural steel on a commercial infrastructure project was losing its coating in service. The client needed an independent view of why it was failing, and which remedial options were worth taking.
The challenge
Several columns showed flaking, delamination and general degradation. The assessment had to explain the likely causes and give the team a basis for repair, not a list of opinions.
Scope
- Site inspection of the affected steelwork
- Paint flake analysis and identification of the coating system
- Dry film thickness assessment and a check of the layer build-up
- Review of the exposure against the coating manufacturer's recommendations
- Technical reporting
What we found
The system was an epoxy primer, an intumescent fire-protection coating and a protective topcoat. The investigation found delamination, moisture getting into the system, variation in thickness, and areas where the coating had been built up too heavily.
Outcome
The findings gave the project team a clear view of the likely failure mechanisms, an evidence-based repair strategy, a way to prioritise the remedial work, and a sounder basis for maintenance decisions.
What this shows
- Coating failure investigation
- Root cause analysis
- Paint flake analysis
- Dry film thickness assessment
- Technical reporting
- Remedial strategy