With the built environment generating around 40 per cent of our global carbon emissions, product durability is a vital part of achieving more sustainable building envelopes that deliver in-use benefits. While a building is generally expected to have a lifespan in excess of 40 years, the reality can be very different, with its location, usage and materials used all contributing to the design life.

Imagine specifying and installing a steel cladding system that only lasts less than a decade before it deteriorates and requires remedial works. Instead, by making informed specification decisions and choosing long-lasting, high-quality solutions backed up by comprehensive test evidence, we can do our bit in helping to build the sustainable structures of the future.

It’s easy to see why pre-finished steel has fast become one of the most popular building envelope solutions worldwide, thanks to the design advantages, maintenance benefits and corrosion resistance it can offer throughout a building’s lifecycle. That said, it’s important to note that not all pre-finished steel products can offer the same performance levels. A key feature of pre-finished steel is the numerous layers that make up its composition, with paint layers, primers and pre-treatments all applied to the steel in an automated and carefully controlled process. It is the quality, type, thickness, consistency and application of these layers that dictate the overall durability and quality of the steel, resulting in a material that is truly robust, versatile and aesthetically pleasing.

Tata Steel’s Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra® pre-finished steel combines outstanding performance with exceptional durability, designed to withstand even the most demanding and aggressive environments. Its nominal 200-micron thick structure incorporates a robust and durable topcoat and is up to four times thicker than many other options, while the unique Scintilla® emboss serves as a mark of authenticity – all resulting in a more sustainable option with greater durability. Having been installed around the world in many demanding environments, including the Middle East, South America and the Far East, Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra® surpasses the requirements of Ruv4 and RC5+ as per EN 10169:2022, proving excellent colour and gloss retention and corrosion resistance.

Chrome free and REACH compliant, it also comes with the industry renowned Confidex® Guarantee. This offers up to 40 years protection for industrial and commercial buildings when registered online – the most comprehensive guarantee on the market – and is direct to the building owner, with full rectification in the event of a coating failure.

In an era when embodied carbon is driving specification choices, it’s important to consider the durability of a building product, in order to further maximise the project’s lifespan and reduce its carbon footprint.

For more information, please contact: Colorcoat Connection® helpline on +44 (0) 1244 892434, email, or visit the Tata Steel website.