It is easy to appreciate a facade today. The real question is whether it will still deliver the same level of quality five years from now.
Aluminium facades are exposed for years to demanding environmental conditions such as sunlight, UV radiation, rain, humidity and temperature fluctuations. These conditions affect not only the appearance of the coating, but also its surface integrity and protective performance.
So, how can we determine whether a coating will maintain the expected level of performance over many years?
This is where QUALICOAT provides an answer through internationally approved technical criteria.
What Is QUALICOAT?
QUALICOAT is an international quality certification system for organic coatings applied to aluminium and aluminium alloys used in architectural applications.
The purpose of QUALICOAT is not simply to demonstrate that a coating is of high quality. It is designed to ensure that the coating system meets defined quality requirements in terms of durability, appearance and long-term performance.
For this reason, QUALICOAT establishes a common quality framework for coating manufacturers, applicators and project stakeholders involved in architectural aluminium applications.
What Does QUALICOAT Evaluate?
The performance of a coating cannot be determined by a single property. Under QUALICOAT requirements, various performance characteristics of the coating are evaluated.
Key criteria include:
- Colour and gloss retention
- Coating adhesion
- Coating thickness
- Corrosion resistance
- Outdoor weathering and UV resistance
- Surface appearance and coating integrity
These evaluations provide insight not only into the appearance of the coating immediately after application, but also into how it performs and changes over time.
What Do QUALICOAT Classes Mean?
QUALICOAT classifies coating systems according to their performance levels as Class 1, Class 1.5, Class 2 and Class 3.
As the class increases, the expected performance level generally increases, particularly in terms of resistance to UV exposure and outdoor weathering conditions.
Therefore, coating selection should not simply focus on choosing the “highest class”. The geographical location of the project, level of solar exposure, facade conditions and expected service life should all be considered together.
| Class | Performance Level |
| Class 1 | Standard durability |
| Class 1.5 | Enhanced durability |
| Class 2 | High durability |
| Class 3 | Very high durability |
How Is Coating Durability Tested?
Different tests are carried out under QUALICOAT requirements to evaluate coating performance.
One of the most notable is the Florida natural weathering test. Florida’s high levels of UV radiation, temperature and humidity provide demanding natural conditions for evaluating how coatings perform over time in outdoor environments.
During the testing period, changes in colour and gloss are monitored in particular. This allows the coating’s resistance to environmental exposure to be evaluated using measurable performance data.
The principle behind this approach is simple:
The quality of a coating is determined not only by how it looks today, but also by how it changes over time.
Why Is a RAL Code Not Enough?
In an architectural project, coating selection often begins with a RAL colour code. However, a RAL code defines only the colour.
Two coatings with the same RAL colour may not necessarily provide the same long-term performance. The QUALICOAT class of the selected coating system, together with the application and exposure conditions, can significantly influence its long-term behaviour in outdoor environments.
For this reason, technical specifications should define not only the colour but also the required performance standard.
RAL Code + Surface Appearance + QUALICOAT Class
Evaluating these three parameters together provides a more accurate and measurable coating specification.
Why Is QUALICOAT Important for Architects?
Facade coatings are an important part of a building’s architectural appearance. However, considering a facade coating merely as a colour choice is not sufficient when long-term performance is expected.
Selecting the appropriate QUALICOAT class helps to assess whether the coating is suitable for the environmental conditions of the project, establish clear quality expectations and define more accurate technical requirements in project specifications.
Selecting the appropriate coating class becomes even more important for projects with high solar exposure, dark-coloured surfaces or demanding long-term aesthetic performance requirements.
Conclusion
The true performance of an aluminium facade is not revealed on the day it is completed, but years later.
QUALICOAT provides an internationally recognised quality framework for architectural aluminium coatings, evaluating quality not only through appearance but also through measurable performance criteria.
The right product, the appropriate performance class and application in accordance with relevant standards form the foundation of a long-lasting coating system.
Because a high-quality facade does more than look good. It maintains its quality over time.
