CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Data Centres & Critical Facilities
Protection for structural steel, cooling-plant supports and utility areas, with separate system selection for ESD flooring.
ALKA PROTECTIVE COATINGS
Protecting the assets behind continuous operation.
Data-centre infrastructure includes external steelwork, cooling equipment supports and internal plant assets with very different coating needs. ALKA supports material selection for these areas with attention to service exposure, preparation access and staged maintenance.
External plant structures
Cooling-plant frames, utility steel and equipment supports exposed to weather, condensation and site-specific corrosion risks.
Internal service areas
Prepared steelwork and equipment frames requiring a durable, cleanable finish in moderate atmospheric conditions.
Maintenance in operating facilities
Localised repairs and refurbishment where preparation, ventilation, cure and access must fit the facility program.
UNDERSTAND THE SERVICE
Protect service assets without overlooking operational constraints.
External cooling and utility areas
Exposed frames and cooling-plant supports can encounter weather, condensation or local chemical contact. Record the real environment around each asset rather than treating all plant steel as dry internal service.
Work in an operating facility
Preparation dust, application emissions, access and cure need planning with facility operations. Define isolation and ventilation arrangements and the permitted work window before the final coating selection.
Separate corrosion protection from ESD
Protective steel coatings and electrically controlled floors serve different functions. Floor resistance, earthing and acceptance testing must be defined within a dedicated ESD design.
ALKYD PRIMERS · ENAMELS · SINGLE-PACK FINISHING
Single-pack finishes for non-electrical ancillary metalwork
Dry service frames, cabinet exteriors and suitably prepared ancillary steel can be considered for single-pack primer/enamel finishes where the facility permits their application. These are ordinary protective finishes and should be selected separately from electrical equipment requirements, cooling-plant exposure and ESD flooring.
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 410 · Rapid-cure protective enamel
A gloss finishing option for machinery, fabricated components and maintenance work over a compatible prepared and primed surface.
- ALKA 415 · Hammer-tone finish
A decorative textured finish for machine covers, cabinets, enclosures and fabricated metal items where appearance is part of the brief.
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
Identify the actual component, substrate, cleaning regime and whether work occurs in an operating facility. Confirm any equipment manufacturer finish requirements.
Plan preparation and masking to protect labels, seals and functional interfaces. Verify compatibility with factory paint before a maintenance overcoat.
Agree isolation, ventilation, odour management and cure with the facility team before work. Record the condition required for access and return to use.
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
An enamel finish does not provide ESD, electrical insulation or fire performance. Persistently wet cooling-plant steel needs separate review.
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-9934 Industrial Finish | Alka 416 or project-approved Alka epoxy primer → Alka 421 polyurethane finish | 150–200 µm | Not intended for immersion, tidal zones or severe chemical service. |
| 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. |
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 structural and plant steel
The zinc-rich epoxy, barrier epoxy and polyurethane finish offer a coordinated starting point for weather-exposed carbon steel, subject to the site exposure and maintenance requirements.
Internal equipment frames
The primer-and-finish route can be assessed for suitably prepared service steel in the nominated atmosphere. Confirm cleaning requirements and whether an additional barrier build is needed.
Staged refurbishment
The maintenance epoxy build is an option for existing steel where preparation and retained-coating compatibility have been reviewed. Plan the complete cure period within the facility shutdown, not just application time.
SPECIFICATION CHECKPOINTS
Get the details right before coating.
- 01Equipment zones, cooling exposure and condensation
- 02Shutdown, ventilation and isolation constraints
- 03Specified finish and cleaning regime
- 04Separate electrical and ESD requirements for floors
THE SYSTEM APPROACH
ALKA-9930 example. Nominal total dry-film thickness: 250–300 µm. Diagram is not to scale. Confirm individual coat thicknesses in the approved specification.
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
Agree coating cure and facility-release criteria separately from electrical or ESD acceptance tests, and record both where the project includes both scopes.
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
Details that change the specification.
Does an epoxy coating automatically provide static control?
No. Electrical performance must be specified and verified for the complete floor construction, including any conductive layers and earthing. Select an ESD flooring system separately from the structural steel coating.
Can coating work proceed beside live equipment?
The facility must approve the work method, isolation, protection, ventilation and access arrangements. Supply these constraints during system review; this page does not establish approval for application beside operating equipment.
What is needed for cooling-plant steel?
Provide the substrate, atmospheric location, condensation or wetting conditions and any contact with treatment chemicals. Areas exposed to liquids or frequent wet/dry cycling may need a different review from nearby dry steelwork.
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.