Industrial Coatings for Infrastructure | New Guard Coatings

Protective Industrial Coatings for Infrastructure

Line Marking Coating Product Range | Wattyl Protective Coatings

Infrastructure assets are exposed to demanding conditions throughout their service life. Steel structures, bridges, rail infrastructure, utilities, support structures and other assets can experience moisture, corrosion, weathering, abrasion and general environmental exposure.

Protective industrial coatings can help protect suitable infrastructure surfaces and extend maintenance cycles by providing a durable barrier between the substrate and its surrounding environment.

New Guard Coatings supplies industrial coating solutions for infrastructure applications across the UK, including anti-corrosion primers, protective coatings and durable topcoats for steel and other suitable substrates.

The correct coating system will depend on the substrate, environmental exposure, required durability and project specification.

Industrial Coatings for Infrastructure

Infrastructure covers a wide range of assets and environments, meaning coating requirements can vary considerably.

Potential applications include:

Structural steel
Bridges
Rail infrastructure
Utility infrastructure
Steel support structures
Walkways and platforms
Industrial structures
Public infrastructure
Fabricated steelwork
Equipment and machinery
Concrete infrastructure

Each application should be assessed individually to determine the appropriate preparation and coating system.

Explore Anti-Corrosion Coatings →

Why Infrastructure Requires Protective Coatings

Many infrastructure assets are exposed to the elements for long periods.

Rain, moisture, humidity, UV exposure, pollution and changing temperatures can gradually affect exposed steel and other substrates.

Where infrastructure is located in coastal or industrial environments, corrosion risks may be increased further.

A suitable protective coating system can help:

Reduce corrosion
Protect exposed substrates
Improve durability
Maintain the appearance of infrastructure
Reduce maintenance requirements
Extend coating maintenance cycles

The level of protection required depends on the environment and intended service conditions.

Corrosion Protection for Infrastructure Steel

Steel is commonly used in infrastructure because of its strength and versatility.

However, exposed steel requires suitable protection against corrosion.

Infrastructure steel coating applications can include:

Structural steel
Bridge components
Support structures
Steel walkways
Platforms
Rail infrastructure
Utility structures
Fabricated components

The coating system should be selected according to the expected environmental exposure and required durability.

Explore Industrial Metal Paint →

Protective Coatings for Bridges & Steel Structures

Bridges and exposed steel structures can experience continuous environmental exposure.

Depending on their location, surfaces may be exposed to:

Rain
Moisture
Condensation
UV radiation
Salt spray
Pollution
Abrasion
Mechanical damage

A protective coating system can provide a barrier against environmental exposure and help protect suitable steelwork from corrosion.

For major infrastructure projects, the coating system should be specified according to the project requirements and relevant standards.

Coatings for Rail & Transport Infrastructure

Rail and transport infrastructure can contain extensive areas of steel and other coated surfaces.

Applications may include:

Steel structures
Platforms
Rail infrastructure
Walkways
Support structures
Equipment
Fabricated components

The correct coating will depend on the location and environmental conditions.

Where surfaces are exposed to significant abrasion, impact, moisture or chemicals, these factors should be considered during coating selection.

Utility & Industrial Infrastructure Coatings

Utility infrastructure can include steel structures, equipment, pipework, supports and other industrial assets.

Protective coatings may be used where suitable substrates require protection against environmental exposure or corrosion.

Potential applications include:

Utility structures
Steel supports
Pipework
Equipment
Industrial plant
Fabricated steel
Infrastructure enclosures

The coating system should always be selected according to the substrate and operating environment.

Surface Preparation for Infrastructure Coatings

Surface preparation is critical when applying protective coatings to infrastructure.

Before coating, inspect the substrate for:

Rust
Corrosion
Mill scale
Oil and grease
Dirt
Dust
Existing coatings
Loose material
Moisture
Mechanical damage

Depending on the substrate and coating specification, preparation may include:

Cleaning
Degreasing
Mechanical preparation
Power-tool cleaning
Abrasive blasting

The required preparation standard should be established according to the specified coating system.

Existing loose or failing coatings should be addressed before recoating.

Read our Surface Preparation Guide →

Infrastructure Primers & Anti-Corrosion Primers

Primers can form an important part of a protective infrastructure coating system.

A suitable primer can provide a foundation for subsequent coats while contributing to adhesion and corrosion protection.

Primer selection should consider:

Substrate
Surface preparation
Environmental exposure
Corrosivity
Intended topcoat
Required durability
Application conditions

Where a multi-coat system is specified, all coating layers should be compatible.

Explore Industrial Primers →

Industrial Topcoats for Infrastructure

Topcoats provide the final layer of a protective coating system.

Depending on the application, an infrastructure topcoat may need to provide resistance to:

Weathering
UV exposure
Moisture
Corrosion
Abrasion
Chemical exposure
General industrial wear

Colour and finish may also be important for infrastructure assets, particularly where visual identification or appearance is required.

The specific performance of any product should be confirmed against the manufacturer's technical documentation.

Coating Systems for Infrastructure Steel

Infrastructure steel will often require a complete multi-coat system.

A typical system may consist of:

Surface Preparation → Primer → Intermediate Coat → Topcoat

The exact system depends on:

Environmental exposure
Corrosivity
Required durability
Substrate
Preparation standard
Application conditions
Project specification

The complete system should be considered rather than selecting individual products without checking compatibility.

ISO 12944 & Infrastructure Corrosion Protection

ISO 12944 provides a framework for selecting protective paint systems for steel structures based on environmental corrosivity and required durability.

This can be particularly relevant when specifying protective coatings for exposed infrastructure steel.

Environmental conditions should be assessed carefully, including factors such as:

Atmospheric exposure
Humidity
Moisture
Coastal exposure
Industrial pollution
Salt spray

Where an infrastructure project specifies an ISO 12944 corrosion category or durability requirement, the proposed coating system should be checked against the relevant technical documentation.

Explore ISO 12944 Protective Coatings →

Application & Drying

Infrastructure coatings should be applied according to the manufacturer's technical requirements and project specification.

Before application, check:

Surface preparation
Mixing instructions
Application method
Film thickness
Temperature
Humidity
Surface temperature
Recoat intervals
Drying times
Curing requirements

Depending on the product, coatings may be applied by brush, roller or spray.

Environmental conditions can have a significant effect on coating application and curing, particularly for exposed infrastructure.

Always ensure the substrate and surrounding conditions meet the product's specified requirements.

Maintenance & Inspection

Infrastructure coating systems should be regularly inspected for deterioration.

Look for:

Rust
Peeling
Flaking
Blistering
Cracking
Mechanical damage
Exposed substrate
Chemical damage
General coating deterioration

Regular inspection can help identify areas requiring maintenance before deterioration becomes more extensive.

The appropriate repair or recoating process will depend on the condition of the existing system.

Choosing an Infrastructure Coating

There is no single coating suitable for every infrastructure application.

Before selecting a system, consider:

Substrate

Is the surface steel, concrete, another metal or another suitable material?

Environment

Is the asset exposed to weather, coastal conditions, industrial pollution or high humidity?

Corrosivity

What level of corrosion exposure will the substrate experience?

Mechanical Exposure

Will the surface experience impact, abrasion or heavy traffic?

Chemical Exposure

Could the coating come into contact with chemicals, oils or cleaning products?

Required Durability

What level of service life and maintenance interval is required?

Surface Preparation

What preparation standard can be achieved?

Application Conditions

What temperature, humidity and access conditions will be present during application?

Common Infrastructure Coating Problems

Corrosion beneath the coating

This can occur where corrosion has not been adequately removed or moisture has reached the substrate.

Peeling and flaking

Poor preparation, contamination or coating incompatibility can affect adhesion.

Blistering

Moisture and unsuitable application conditions can contribute to blistering.

Mechanical damage

Impact and abrasion can damage protective coatings and expose the substrate.

Premature deterioration

A coating system that is not suitable for the environmental conditions may deteriorate sooner than expected.

Identifying the cause of coating failure is important before specifying repairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are industrial infrastructure coatings?

Industrial infrastructure coatings are protective coating systems used on suitable infrastructure substrates to help protect against corrosion, weathering, abrasion and other environmental exposure.

What is the best coating for infrastructure steel?

There is no single coating suitable for every infrastructure project. The correct system depends on the substrate, environmental exposure, corrosion category, preparation and required durability.

How do you protect structural steel from corrosion?

A suitable protective coating system can help isolate prepared steel from the surrounding environment. Correct surface preparation, primer selection and compatible topcoats are important.

Can industrial coatings be used on bridges?

Suitable protective coating systems can be used on compatible bridge and structural steel applications, subject to the project specification and manufacturer's recommendations.

How should infrastructure steel be prepared before painting?

Preparation can include cleaning, removal of corrosion and mechanical or abrasive preparation. The required preparation standard depends on the specified coating system.

Does infrastructure steel require a primer?

Many protective systems incorporate a primer, but requirements vary between coating systems. Always follow the relevant technical specification.

What is ISO 12944?

ISO 12944 provides guidance for corrosion protection of steel structures using protective paint systems, including consideration of environmental corrosivity and coating durability.

How long do infrastructure coatings last?

Service life depends on the coating system, environmental exposure, preparation, application, maintenance and required durability. There is no universal lifespan.

Protect Your Infrastructure

Infrastructure assets need protection from the environments in which they operate.

From structural steel and bridges to rail, utilities and other industrial infrastructure, the correct coating system can help protect suitable surfaces against corrosion and environmental deterioration.

New Guard Coatings supplies industrial coating solutions and technical information for infrastructure applications across the UK.