A standard for high-performance powder coatings used as a durable finish on fence components.
Overview
BS 1722-16 is the British Standard that specifies the performance and test requirements for organic powder coatings applied as a finish to various fence components and mesh. This standard is a critical part of the overall BS 1722 series for fences and ensures that the protective finish provides adequate durability, appearance, and resistance to environmental factors.
Adherence to this standard ensures that the coated fencing products are robust and can withstand specific performance criteria over their expected service life, offering specifiers and customers peace of mind regarding the quality and longevity of the protective treatment.
Scope of Accreditation
Our accreditation under BS 1722 Part 16 covers the application and testing of powder coatings on steel fence components and mesh. The scope ensures:
- Material Quality: Verification of the coating powders’ properties, including manufacturer details, trade name, colour reference, and batch number.
- Pre-treatment Processes: Confirmation that appropriate pre-treatment processes (cleaning, chemical conversion, priming) are carried out after preparation of the components and before coating.
- Coating Application: Assuring the coating process is compatible with the substrate and applied within the specified thickness range.
- Performance Requirements: The finished product meets the specified performance requirements through rigorous testing of the applied coating.
Testing and Verification
To achieve and maintain our BS 1722 Part 16 accreditation, our products undergo a series of stringent laboratory tests to confirm their properties and performance:
- Adhesion: Testing the bond strength between the coating and the metal substrate, ensuring no detachment.
- Impact Resistance: Assessing resistance to impact at various temperatures to ensure no cracking or penetration to the metal.
- Scratch Resistance: Using a specified load to check for penetration through the coating to the substrate.
- Resistance to Deformation: Bend tests using a cylindrical mandrel to ensure no cracking or delamination of the coating.
- Environmental Resistance:
- Salt Spray: Testing resistance to corrosion in harsh environments, with limits on underfilm corrosion or blistering.
- Humidity and Weathering: Assessing the coating for signs of blistering, cracking, or significant colour change after exposure to humidity and weathering simulations.
- Mortar and Sulphur Dioxide: Testing resistance to common building materials like mortar and industrial pollutants like sulphur dioxide.
What This Means for Our Clients
Choosing our BS 1722 Part 16 certified products offers several key advantages:
- Guaranteed Quality: You receive a product that is independently tested and verified to meet a rigorous national standard, removing the guesswork from product quality and expected performance.
- Durability and Longevity: The comprehensive testing ensures the powder coating provides a durable finish, enhancing the fence’s resistance to corrosion, impact, and weathering, which ultimately extends its service life.
- Informed Purchasing: Accreditation provides a clear, consistent benchmark, allowing for a like-for-like comparison with other certified products and ensuring you get what you pay for.
- Compliance and Assurance: For specified projects (e.g., public sector, commercial, or high-security applications), our certification provides an auditable specification to point to for compliance checks, insurance claims, or site security audits.
We are committed to delivering continuously high-quality, tested fencing solutions that provide peace of mind and reliable protection.