HVAC and Architectural Coatings for Maximum Effect

Combating the damaging effects of highly corrosive elements in heavy-duty environments is a key goal of every building manager and HVAC technician. CED Engineering indicated corrosion is linked to 40 percent of all HVAC failures. Additionally, within the first year of HVAC installation, HVAC coils can become 50 percent corroded, putting a large amount of pressure on technicians and building managers to provide key quality controls and ensure HVAC units are properly maintained.
After years of intense exposure to salt, acids, airborne pathogens and microbial buildup, HVAC systems can degrade severely, reducing output and negatively impacting indoor air quality and the total operational costs of businesses. When these units become damaged irreparably, firms must find millions of dollars in their respective budgets to replace HVAC systems with upgraded models.
However, locating this cash flow in an increasingly competitive business climate while staying up to code with the latest governmental and industry regulations is no easy task, especially when operations rely strictly upon HVAC performance.
In many industries, HVAC output is directly linked to energy efficiency capabilities and everyday business expenditures on a grand scale. One wrong move – whether it be a poor-performing HVAC coil or outdated cleaning procedure – can send businesses into a financial tailspin, because even the smallest issue or inefficiency can swell into a much larger problem.
Because the entire HVAC system must function as one total unit, each part must work cohesively together. Yet, when corrosion settles in, it can create a chain reaction of damage that compounds over time, rendering each successive part operationally useless until the unit eventually malfunctions.
Remedying these mistakes is a tandem effort on the part of both routine preventative maintenance and investments in the most advanced HVAC coatings. By applying protective coatings to HVAC systems, both internally on individual parts and externally on exposed structures, companies can more thoroughly defend against the aforementioned corrosive elements and their associated effects. And when tailored to meet the specific needs of each unit in a certain environmental setting, coatings increase the life spans of HVAC systems and provide real-world energy savings. Not only are HVAC coatings critical components of HVAC performance, they are also necessary solutions for today’s economic, environmental and regulatory demands.
Aligning the design characteristics and inherent benefits of a particular coating to a specified HVAC unit or location is a matter of grave importance because not all coatings are the same. Because of this variety, technicians should take special care in selecting the ideal coating and application for their purposes.

Rahn-Kote

Known for its superhydrophobic properties, Rahn-Kote is an ideal coating that is applied to HVAC coils specifically. Rahn-Kote is a water-based self-etching epoxy resin. Because it can be applied to both ferrous and nonferrous metals, it is typically used in the manufacturing of A/C coils.
Due to its ability to prevent water accumulation, Rahn-Kote works well in settings where cooling is the primary function of the HVAC unit. Excess condensation and moisture from changing temperature and pressure levels can cause water to gather in puddles, which then allows corrosion and buildup to occur. However, with Rahn-Kote, this water is shed almost immediately upon contact, which helps coils continue operating at maximum efficiency.

Likewise, coil
s coated with Rahn-Kote obtain no defrost and can minimize static pressure and fan wattage, making it a perfect HVAC solution for the commercial refrigeration industry.
Rahn-Kote also contains quartemery ammonia biocide and Silver Ion that kills all fungi and bacteria, making circulated air purer and free of contaminants. In addition to corrosion and buildup protection, Rahn-Kote can reduce the harmful impact of UV and UVC rays.

And since Rahn-Kote forms a complete seal around the entire coil, it provides a strong line of defense along the length of the coil. The coil is covered via a dip and bake process where it is immersed into the heated coating and then cured. Once solidified, HVAC coils are much less likely to develop pinhole leaks, cratering or breaks.

Similar to Rahn-Kote protects objects from UV/UVC rays, yet doesn’t require oven curing, which makes its manufacturing and application an efficient process. Rahn-Kote is highly resistant to harsh chemicals, solvents and freezing due to its self-cross linking and adhesion capabilities.

Blygold PoluAl XT

For applications that require a high level of protection against coastal elements, manufacturers and distributors typically turn to Blygold PoluAl XT, which is an aluminum pigmented polyurethane.
Winds and rain along seacoasts carry highly acidic particles into an HVAC system, and once inside the unit, these solutes and minerals can damage HVAC coils by eating away at the aluminum and copper metals. Over time, this incessant exposure causes corrosion and eventual breaks in the coils. And because of the volume and contents of the polluted air coming through heat exchangers, the unit’s ability to transfer heat drops due to severe corrosion. This can drive up energy costs and reduce cooling capabilities.
Blygold PoluAl XT can control and protect the metals against these detrimental effects by providing lasting corrosion prevention. Since the coating contains heat-conductive pigmentation, a thin layer creates a high level of chemical resistance.
Manufacturers and business owners can also have HVAC coils coated with Blygold PoluAl XT prior to installation, which is typically the case in states like Hawaii where the environment is especially aggressive in degrading coils. This off-site coating option provides immediate protection as soon as the coils are installed, rather than waiting until corrosion has already set in.
PPG PSX 700

just stop at HVAC coils, as exterior structures and surfaces also require protection against corrosion. PPG PSX 700 is a poly siloxane epoxy that is used for a number of applications, including:

• Piping
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• Cabinets
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• Tank exteriors
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• Heavy equipment
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• Machinery
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• Concrete walls and floors
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• Superstructures
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• Steel
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• Offshore platforms
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With a one-spray application, PSX 700 provides more protection than traditional three-coat systems. PSX 700 is manufactured with NASA technology and has unsurpassed resistance qualities. Further, PSX 700’s ultra-high solids and low-volatile compounds lead to less hazardous waste and fewer solvent emissions, making it an eco-friendly solution for outdoor corrosion issues.

Heavy-duty environments like power or petrochemical plants and offshore rigs utilize PSX 700 to reduce acid corrosion, humidity, moisture and UV rays. Typically, large structural components or entire buildings will be coated with PSX 700, making it a popular option for large-scale operations.

Defining quality needs

Knowing exactly which type of coating should be used for a particular application is a crucial first step in making HVAC optimization a key tenet in future business plans. Further, the variety of coatings on the market and their associated functions point to a common thread running through the minds of business owners, primarily those in industrial operations.
With more floorspace, round-the-clock processes and strict regulatory compliance demands, large operations require massive energy use, of which HVAC systems can be the deciding factor in whether financial goals are met. HVAC coatings provide businesses with an avenue to capitalize on an economy that is increasingly driven by energy efficiency and cost reduction.
By making investments in coatings, HVAC coils, systems and other architectural structures last longer and don’t need to be repaired or replaced as frequently when compared to noncoated surfaces. And because coatings allow HVAC units to work effectively at all times, electricity consumption and carbon footprints are reduced. This leads to greater cash flow and a more resourceful way to spend money, as opposed to relying on simple maintenance.

Rahn Industries supplies the types of products and services to meet the coating needs of every company, regardless of size, location or industry. With more than 30 years of engineering, design and manufacturing expertise, Rahn’s many coating offerings are a benchmark of corrosion protection. https://rahnindustries.com/