20. Conditions requiring treatment or a specialist system
This chapter brings application limits together for reference. “Do not apply directly” generally means that conditions must first be corrected or a specialist system selected; it does not mean the technology can never serve that type of project.
| Condition or application | Main concern | Appropriate response |
|---|---|---|
| Weak, dusty or detached substrate | Film strength cannot compensate for substrate failure | Investigate, repair or remove weak areas, then reassess |
| Persistent moisture, reverse-side water pressure or condensation | Moisture source and interface stability remain unresolved | Investigate moisture paths, design controls and validate the system |
| Moving cracks, expansion joints or abnormal structural movement | Movement exceeds an ordinary overcoating approach | Design joint and structural treatment separately |
| Continuous high heat, thermal shock or steam cleaning | Ambient-temperature data are insufficient | Verify temperature, duration, cycling and relevant tests |
| Aggressive or mixed chemicals; continuous immersion | Brief stain-resistance data do not establish immersion resistance | Obtain relevant tests or select specialist protection |
| Drinking-water or direct food contact | General performance does not establish contact suitability | Verify evidence for the exact use |
| Fire protection, flame retardancy, static dissipation or insulation | Functions require dedicated design and evaluation | Define requirements and validate the complete system |
| Difficult-to-bond plastics or unknown old coatings | Compatibility and underlying stability are unclear | Identify, prepare and test compatibility and adhesion |
1. Break temperature resistance into four questions
Specify whether exposure is dry hot air, hot water, steam or hot chemicals; whether it is brief or continuous; whether hot–cold cycling occurs; and whether mechanical loading is simultaneous. The same temperature can represent different challenges under these conditions.
Floors near equipment or subject to hot-water cleaning also require consideration of the substrate and coating together. A maximum temperature without exposure state and duration is insufficient for selection. Ordinary decorative topcoats should not be transferred directly into high-temperature specialist service.
2. Fire protection and corrosion protection are different
A steel corrosion-protection coating does not automatically provide required fire resistance. Flame behavior, protection of a structural member in fire and everyday corrosion are distinct requirements. An additional conventional topcoat must not arbitrarily change an established fire-protection system.
Antistatic floors likewise involve the surface, electrical resistance, grounding and complete construction. An ordinary finish alone does not establish the function. Specify special requirements clearly before procurement so an attractive surface does not fail the main operational objective.
3. Diagnose unresolved problems before changing topcoats
If a leak comes from a pipe, blistering from persistent vapor or peeling from a weak substrate, changing the topcoat brand may repeat the failure. Diagnosis narrows the solution and avoids assigning a coating a task it cannot perform.
A complete proposal should identify the problem, treatment and verification method. The material name is only one part. For uncertain specialist conditions, use controlled trials or targeted evaluation before large-area work.