QUALICOAT Powder Coating
A finish made to last.
Every IKON window and door that leaves our factory is QUALICOAT accredited. We don't supply anything that isn't. A luxury window or door has to perform, and it has to last. QUALICOAT is how we make sure the colour you choose is still the colour you see, years from now.
Why it matters: the sun
On the day it's fitted, most powder coating looks good. The difference shows in the sun. We have seen coatings that aren't accredited start to fade within about twelve months. A QUALICOAT coating is tested to hold its colour and gloss for years, so your frames still look the way they did on day one.
- Every IKON frame is QUALICOAT accredited, as standard
- The powder is approved by QUALICOAT before it can be used
- The aluminium is cleaned and pretreated to QUALICOAT rules, so the coating sticks
- The coating plant is checked twice a year, without notice
- Warranty against fading and peeling: up to 25 years inland, up to 15 years at the coast
Black House, Rynfield Estate. QUALICOAT Class 2, Velura Graphite.
What QUALICOAT is
QUALICOAT is an independent quality label for coatings on aluminium used in buildings, formed in 1986 and based in Zurich, Switzerland. It works on behalf of the people who buy coated aluminium, so you get a finish that is measured, not just promised.
Sets the rules
Specifications for the processes, products and tests every licensed coating plant must follow.
Approves the materials
Powders and pretreatment chemicals are tested and approved before a licensed plant may use them.
Licenses the plants
A coating plant has to pass two inspections before it is granted the QUALICOAT licence.
Keeps checking
Every coating line is inspected twice a year, without notice, for the licence to be renewed.
What QUALICOAT tests
In plain terms, four things you would want from the finish on your windows and doors.
Thickness
Enough coating on every visible face: at least 60 microns for Class 1 and Class 2 powder coatings.
Adhesion
A cross-cut test, dry and after boiling water, checks that the coating stays stuck to the aluminium.
Weathering
Lamp tests in the lab, and panels left outdoors in Florida, check that the colour and gloss hold in the sun.
Corrosion
Salt spray and other corrosion tests check that the coating protects the aluminium underneath.
Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3
The classes are levels of how long the colour and gloss must hold in the sun. Coated panels are left outdoors in Florida, facing the sun, and measured.
| Class | Outdoor test in Florida | Gloss it must keep |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 1 year | At least 50% after 1 year |
| Class 2 | 3 years | At least 75% after 1 year, 60% after 2 years, 50% after 3 years |
| Class 3 | 10 years | At least 80% after 3 years, 70% after 5, 60% after 7, 50% after 10 |
Each class must also stay within QUALICOAT's limits for colour change. IKON uses Class 2 as standard, with Class 1 available on request where a project needs value engineering.
For architects
QUALICOAT is included on every IKON window and door, so there is nothing extra to specify to get it. QUALICOAT Class 2 is our standard, with Class 1 available on request where a project needs value engineering. Specify the colour and we'll confirm the colour and class with the quote. The QUALICOAT licence is held by the coating plant, and IKON works with QUALICOAT licensed applicators.
We supply the specifications, CAD drawings and Revit families on request, ideally at concept stage.
House B, Birdhaven. QUALICOAT Class 1, Velura Onyx.
Frequently asked questions
What is QUALICOAT?
QUALICOAT is an independent quality label for paint and powder coating on aluminium used in buildings. It was formed in 1986 and is based in Zurich, Switzerland. It sets the rules a coating plant has to follow, approves the powders and chemicals they may use, and checks the plants that hold its licence.
Is every IKON window and door QUALICOAT powder coated?
Yes. Everything that leaves our factory is QUALICOAT accredited. We don't supply anything that isn't. For a luxury window or door that is the minimum standard, because it has to perform and it has to last.
What happens with powder coating that isn't QUALICOAT accredited?
It can look the same on the day it's fitted. The difference shows in the sun. We have seen coatings that aren't accredited start to fade within about twelve months. With QUALICOAT, the powder, the preparation of the aluminium and the coating plant are all tested, so the colour is made to hold.
What does QUALICOAT test?
The basics a homeowner would care about: that the coating is thick enough, that it sticks to the aluminium, that it keeps its colour and gloss in the sun, and that it resists corrosion. The weathering tests include panels left outdoors in Florida for one to ten years, depending on the class.
What is the difference between Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3?
They are levels of how long the colour and gloss must hold in the sun. In the Florida test, a Class 1 coating must keep at least half its gloss after one year. Class 2 must keep at least half after three years. Class 3 must keep at least half after ten years.
Which QUALICOAT class does IKON use?
IKON uses QUALICOAT Class 2 as standard. Where a project needs value engineering, Class 1 is available on request. We'll confirm the class with your quote.
How thick is a QUALICOAT powder coating?
For Class 1 and Class 2 powder coatings, QUALICOAT sets a minimum of 60 microns, measured on the visible faces of the frame. Inspectors measure it at five points or more on each part they test.
Is there a warranty on the finish?
Yes, against fading and peeling, and the length depends on where the project is. Inland, for example in Johannesburg, it is up to 25 years. At the coast it is up to 15 years. Within 50 m of the sea there is no warranty. The warranty is registered by completing a warranty application form.
Who checks the coating plants?
QUALICOAT licenses coating plants through national associations. A plant has to pass two inspections before it gets a licence, and every coating line is then inspected twice a year, without notice, to keep it.
Can architects specify QUALICOAT on IKON windows and doors?
Yes, and it is already included. Every IKON window and door is QUALICOAT powder coated, with Class 2 as standard. Specify the colour, and Class 1 if the project needs value engineering, and we'll supply the details with the specifications, CAD drawings and Revit families on request.
IKON windows and doors are designed and manufactured in South Africa and installed by accredited IKON installation partners.