PUBLIC & TRANSPORT ASSETS
Civil Infrastructure
Protection for public infrastructure, transport supports, utility structures and concrete assets in demanding service environments.
ALKA PROTECTIVE COATINGS
A system for each asset and exposure.
Civil infrastructure combines different substrates and operating conditions within a single project. ALKA supports system selection for structural steel, plant assets and selected concrete protection areas, separating atmospheric corrosion from wet-service and chemical exposure.
Steel structures
Transport supports, frames, gantries and utility steel exposed to industrial or coastal atmosphere.
Wet-service assets
Pump bases, sumps and prepared steel or concrete surfaces exposed to splash, spillage or abrasion.
Asset refurbishment
Maintenance areas where the retained coating, preparation constraints and service conditions determine the build.
UNDERSTAND THE SERVICE
Turn a mixed asset portfolio into a clear coating schedule.
Steel and concrete interfaces
A project may combine steel supports, concrete plinths and lined sumps. Identify each substrate separately, including joints and penetrations, so primer selection and preparation are not copied between unlike surfaces.
Changing service environments
Exposed gantries, sheltered equipment and wet-service assets require different protection. Document splash, spillage, abrasion and cleaning conditions alongside the normal atmospheric exposure.
Refurbishment and access
Existing public assets may have limited shutdown windows and uncertain coating histories. Survey condition and access first, then set repair boundaries, achievable preparation and a staged inspection plan.
ALKYD PRIMERS · ENAMELS · SINGLE-PACK FINISHING
Practical enamel routes for selected public-asset metalwork
Prepared gates, railings, access covers, sheltered utility frames and other suitable ancillary steel may be considered for single-pack alkyd primers and enamels. Choose these finishes around the asset exposure and maintenance plan, alongside separate systems for primary structures and wet-service assets.
Products to assess for the job
- ALKA 401 · Alkyd zinc phosphate primer
Prepared carbon steel; a corrosion-inhibiting primer for compatible alkyd and enamel finishing routes.
- ALKA 402 · Single-pack acrylic etch primer
A substrate-specific adhesion option for steel and suitable galvanised or aluminium components. This is a thermoplastic acrylic primer, not an alkyd.
- ALKA 403 · Red oxide anti-corrosive primer
A primer option for prepared ferrous metal, fabricated steel and general maintenance; confirm the selected finish compatibility.
- ALKA 410 · Rapid-cure protective enamel
A gloss finishing option for machinery, fabricated components and maintenance work over a compatible prepared and primed surface.
Select a complete, compatible primer and finish. The products above are options by role, not a blanket approval to combine every primer and topcoat.
What the applicator or specifier needs
Document substrate, public access, cleaning and exposure for each component. Include the required appearance and the authority or asset owner specification.
Remove contamination and unsound coatings, then define preparation and spot priming. Give attention to welded details, sharp edges and surfaces close to standing water.
Plan barriers, ventilation where relevant, handling and reopening around the current product cure requirements. Record touch-up materials for subsequent maintenance.
Write a usable coating schedule
Specify the substrate and preparation, exact primer and finish, individual-coat dry-film thickness, application method, thinning limits, recoat interval and service-cure requirement from current product data. For repainting, document the retained coating and a representative compatibility trial before full application.
Choose the coating for the exposure
Immersion, chemical exposure, persistent splash and high-durability structural specifications require separate protection.
A single-pack route can simplify small batches and routine repainting because it does not require mixing a separate hardener. It still depends on sound preparation, suitable film build and the correct recoat window. Where exposure or the required maintenance interval is more demanding, assess the relevant two-pack epoxy, polyurethane or specialist lining system.
Does fast drying mean the part is ready for service?
No. Touch-dry, recoatable, handleable and fully cured describe different stages. Use the selected product data and actual application conditions to plan each stage. Excessive film build, early overcoating or premature handling can compromise the finish; adding extra thinner or a hardener is not a substitute for the specified application procedure.
SYSTEM SELECTION
ALKA systems to consider.
Start with the service conditions, then confirm the complete build for your asset.
| System | Coating build | Nominal DFT | Selection note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALKA-9930 Premium External | Alka 404 zinc-rich epoxy primer → Alka 413 high-build epoxy → Alka 421 polyurethane finish | 250–300 µm | Preferred where long-term durability and appearance are both important. Not an immersion system unless separately approved. |
| ALKA-9932 Maintenance / Refurbishment | Alka 412 surface-tolerant epoxy × 2 coats → optional Alka 421 polyurethane finish | 200–400 µm plus optional 50–75 µm finish | Existing coatings require compatibility and adhesion assessment. UV finish is optional where colour retention is required. |
| ALKA-9935 Glass-Flake Barrier Lining | Substrate-specific primer where required → Alka 414 Glass Flake Epoxy → optional approved build or finish coat | 400–750 µm | Chemical, temperature, substrate moisture and immersion suitability must be confirmed for each project. |
| ALKA-9939 Splash / Tidal Zone | Substrate-specific primer → Alka 414 Glass Flake Epoxy or approved Alka UHB epoxy build system | 500–1000 µm | Primer and build vary by substrate. Standard polyurethane topcoats are generally not used as the primary splash-zone barrier. |
DFT = dry-film thickness. Values are nominal selection-guide totals, not wet-film thicknesses or individual-coat application instructions. Use current TDS and written project-specific recommendations.
FROM EXPOSURE TO SYSTEM
Why these systems are considered.
Use the application and preparation requirements to narrow the options, then confirm the complete specification.
External steelwork
The zinc-rich primer, epoxy barrier and polyurethane finish provide a starting point for exposed carbon-steel supports and structures requiring an external finish.
Existing coated steel
The maintenance epoxy build supports refurbishment selection after retained-coating compatibility and adhesion are assessed. Local repairs need a defined transition to the sound surrounding coating.
Selected barrier-lining areas
The glass-flake epoxy route should be reviewed for the actual substrate and wet-service conditions. Confirm chemistry, moisture and any immersion requirement before specifying a sump or containment area.
Severe splash and wet/dry service
The approved high-build barrier route separates these demanding areas from ordinary atmospheric steel. Primer choice and complete build depend on substrate and service.
SPECIFICATION CHECKPOINTS
Get the details right before coating.
- 01Steel, concrete and mixed-substrate interfaces
- 02Atmospheric, wet/dry, splash and chemical exposure
- 03Moisture, cracks, joints and substrate integrity
- 04Inspection hold points and planned return to service
THE SYSTEM APPROACH
A lining specification must address the full exposure regime, including cleaning and intermittent upset conditions.
Confirm surface preparation, stripe coating, application conditions, recoat intervals and cure. Record inspection results against the approved coating schedule.
APPLICATION & QUALITY PLANNING
Build inspection into the specification.
Agree the acceptance criteria before work starts, with the current product data and project coating schedule as the reference.
01 · Accept the substrate
Record substrate condition, cleanliness and the specified surface preparation. Resolve contamination, unsound existing coatings and detailing before the first coat.
02 · Control application
Confirm environmental limits, mixing, usable application time and recoat windows from the current product data. Record coating batches and the conditions during each stage.
03 · Verify the complete build
Check coverage at edges and details, specified individual-coat thickness and total dry-film thickness. Define how defects will be repaired and re-inspected.
04 · Release to service
Identify each coated asset and exposure zone in the handover records, including substrate repairs, inspections and conditions for return to service.
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
Details that change the specification.
Can one coating schedule cover the entire project?
One schedule can document the project, but it should contain separate entries for each substrate and exposure zone. Record the selected system, preparation, individual-coat thickness and inspection requirements for each entry.
Can a lining compensate for damaged concrete?
A lining requires a sound, appropriately prepared substrate. Assess and repair defects, address moisture and detail joints before coating. Structural repair and movement-joint design remain separate parts of the project.
What helps a maintenance specification move forward?
A condition survey, photographs, existing coating details, access limitations and the available shutdown period. Add any process chemical or wet-service exposure so the technical review can distinguish a maintenance coating from a lining.
TECHNICAL RESOURCES
Move from selection to specification.
Coating system library
Compare ALKA system builds for atmospheric, maintenance and lining applications.
Browse systems →Product information
Explore product information and request current technical and safety data sheets.
Technical information →Specification support
Confirm preparation, products, film thickness and service conditions with ALKA.
Contact technical team →SPEAK WITH THE MANUFACTURER
Specify the right protection.
Send the substrate, exposure, existing coating condition and required finish. Our technical team can help identify a suitable ALKA system and the information needed for your specification.