he selection of JAC’s “Top GreenCoatings Picks,” a highlight of theMay 2008 edition of this journal,presented a stern challenge to thepublishers and editors, thanks to

the quantity and quality of the great projectsentered. One aspect of this report that stoodout as signaling more than just a fleeting fla-vor of the month in building and design,however, was the use of coatings to con-tribute to energy efficiency.

While many notable reflective and other“cool-roof” technologies were showcased inthe “Top Green Picks” report, the use ofcoatings to extend this energy-efficiencyboost to the entire building envelopeemerged as a significant theme. While JAC,and this column, have extensively coveredcool-roof coatings issues, it makes sense toexamine how energy-efficient wall coatingscan also provide value.

While the “energy management philosophy” of the past centuryhas emphasized thermal insulation and R-value, current practice isincreasingly looking to methods to manage, or block, heat transferinto the building.

It’s relatively easy to envision how a low-slope reflective roof,bombarded much of the day with intense sunlight, would providecooling-energy savings in hot climates, but the picture is not soclear with walls. After all, the walls of buildings generally are ori-ented to the various compass directions. In the NorthernHemisphere, south-facing exposures receive more direct radiationfrom the sun, while northern walls do not. East-facing facades seethe morning sun, while western walls receive powerful afternoon

sunlight during the hottest part of the day.So, are “cool wall coatings” capable ofdelivering significant reductions in cooling-energy demand? And are these coatings,which are more expensive than traditionalcoatings, needed on all four sides? Orthree? Or perhaps just one side?

Roughly 51% of the energy in solar radi-ation exists in the infrared portion of sun-light, with about 43% contained in the visi-ble portion and the remainder present inthe ultraviolet spectrum. The solarreflectance of conventional black paint isonly about 5%, while white paint boastsreflectance of around 80% (a mirror’sreflectance is about 95%). As a result,lighter building colors reflect more solarradiation, and therefore reduce heat ener-gy more than darker colors do. That’s onereason why white reflective roofs can savecooling costs in hot climates (but can

increase cold-climate winter heating costs when that extra heatwould be welcome).

Thus, based strictly on solar reflectivity, a reflective wall coatingfacing north would be of little benefit since it doesn’t receive signifi-cant direct solar radiation. And a reflective eastern façade wouldexert only minimal effect in the relative cool of the morning. Southernand western exposures, on the other hand, could have a significantimpact due to greater exposure to solar heating.

Then there’s the issue of appearance and aesthetics. Certainly,reflective white roofs have become commonplace on many commer-cial, industrial, and institutional buildings. But color is a much moreimportant consideration with exterior facades. The good news is that,

T

J o u r n a l o f A r c h i t e c t u r a l C o a t i n g s / A u g u s t / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 8 4 7

Passing the testAllen Zielnik

Atlas MaterialTesting

Technology LLC

Heat-deflectingtechnologies aren’t

relegated to the roof, ascoatings makers, users

look to capitalize onnew applications

D u r a b i l i t y

Taking cool to the next level

(Above): A cool-wall stucco and coating system, iSTUCCO™ fromSuperior Products International, was used on these condominiums in

Austin, TX. Photo courtesy of Superior Products International.

48 J o u r n a l o f A r c h i t e c t u r a l C o a t i n g s / A u g u s t / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 8

as is the case with roof coatings, a variety ofspecial infrared-reflective pigments in arange of colors can be used to formulateheat-mitigating wall coatings.

New directions for the technologyWhile colored “cool coatings” have beenoffered for field-applied applications forsome time, a more recent development is theformulation of factory-applied finishes forfaçade panels or metal extrusions used incurtain wall systems, and for awnings, shut-ters, and other exterior building elements.

An example is Valspar’s new Flurospar®SR enhanced solar-reflective fluoropolymercoating for aluminum extrusions and wallpanels. This product, which contains IR-reflective ceramic pigments and is availablein a variety of colors, has been shown toreduce building-envelope temperature, evenin dark colors. Because it is based on fluo-ropolymer technology, the product is expect-ed to retain gloss and color for an extendedlifetime, which promotes sustainability byminimizing field maintenance and emissionsof VOCs (volatile organic compounds) thatresult from frequent repainting. Even moretraditional field-applied exterior cool-wallcoatings are reported to increase paint-joblifecycles by 50% to 100%, further contribut-ing to sustainability and maintenance savingsas well as energy efficiency.

As is the case with cool-roof technologies,solar reflectance is important, but is not theonly property required for wall coatings thatare designed to reduce cooling-energydemand. Also significant is the propertyknown as thermal emissivity, or the ability tore-radiate heat to the environment (heat flowsfrom higher to lower concentration). A coat-ing with a high level of emissivity dissipatesheat to the atmosphere rather than passing italong to the building interior. Thus, in hot cli-mates, exterior coatings with both a highlevel of solar reflectance and high thermalemittance are needed (both expressed on a 0to 1.0 scale, or sometimes as a percentage—0-100%—with higher values being better).

While such exterior coatings can provideForm

ore

info,

retu

rnRe

ader

Inqu

iryCa

rdFo

rmor

einf

o,re

turn

Read

erIn

quiry

Card

Cool Colors™ & Eclipse™pigments offer greatfunctionality withoutsacrificing aesthetics. Thesepigments can be formulatedinto Energy StarTM compliantproducts that offeroutstanding performance inreflecting solar heat, so roofsstay cool and buildings useless energy.

Cool Colors™ & Eclipse™pigments can be combined inmany ways, used either bythemselves or along with tita-nium dioxide to yield an at-tractive array of colors thatcan conform to federal andstate specifications.

Cool + Color = • Lower energy bills• Less expansion and contraction• Increased service life• Less product degradation• Improved comfort for building occupants• Aesthetically pleasing

Call Gil Burkhart at (724) 288-8199, visit www.ferro.com, oremail burkhartg@ferro.com for more information abouthow Cool Colors™ & Eclipse™ pigments can take the heat offyour next project.

substantial coolingcost benefits in hotclimates, particularlywhen paired withcool roofs as part ofa building-envelopesolution, the use ofthe coatings for inte-rior applicationsshould not be over-looked. Whenapplied to the insidesurfaces of exteriorwalls, energy-effi-cient coatings reflectand re-emit heat back into the room ratherthan passing it to the outside, an importantadvantage in cold climates with high heatingcosts. Using coatings such as these on boththe exterior and interior of walls can providesummer cooling and winter heating efficien-cies in cold climates. Products such asSherwin-Williams E-Barrier™ ReflectiveCoating are designed to be applied to theinside of roof decks, and can complementcool-wall coatings as part of a building-envelope system.

An additional factor that allows coatingsto contribute to energy efficiency is their roleas moisture and air barrier. In winter, it isestimated that as much as 40-50% of abuilding’s energy loss is the result of air mov-ing out of the building, much of it throughleaks. Conversely, moisture ingress is a majorfactor in lowering wall and roof insulation R-values. The use of breathable, moisture-resis-tant coatings can significantly improve ener-gy efficiency, even when using products with-out special energy-saving formulations thatprovide reflectivity and emissivity.

Browsing the growingcool-wall marketplace

A good example of the kind of multiple func-tionality that these types of coatings can deliv-er is seen in one of the top five selections inthe “Top Green Coatings Picks” report in theMay JAC—the Bel Air Condominium projectin Austin, TX. Here, the developer, specializ-

ing in contemporary,green, environmentallyconscious, and energy-efficient new construc-tion, selected SuperiorProducts International’sSuperTherm® high-reflectivity, high-emis-sivity, one-componentacrylic/urethane elas-tomeric coating fortesting on the exteriorsidewalls of severalcondominium build-ings. The coating is for-

mulated to limit moisture penetration and airinfiltration as well as reduce heat load. Byincorporating four different ceramic-typematerials, the coating is said to block 95% ofthe solar radiant heat.

The coating was applied in the summer of2007. The interior temperature of the condo-minium building was then consistently morethan 11F lower than before coating.Subsequently, the developer selectedSuperior’s iSTUCCO™ System for the pro-ject’s Phase II construction. Superior’siSTUCCO™ System consists of a ceramic-containing stucco and SuperTherm topcoat .The company’s product portfolio includesHSC, a coating product that contains a blendof seven ceramic materials. The HSC coatingcan be applied to the inside of roof decks toreduce attic temperatures by blocking heattransmission through the roof into the attic.

Superior Products International providesextensive performance data on field-appliedproducts. For example, tests for Vodafone inTurkey on outdoor telephone shelters docu-mented a 52% reduction in air-conditionerenergy use. A coating application to acement-block apartment building nearMunich, Germany, resulted in a 76%decrease in the heat energy loss passingthrough the outer wall, thus saving consider-able heating costs and avoiding expensivethermotechnical reconstruction to meet newEuropean EnEv energy regulations.

A number of heat-reflective and emissive

J o u r n a l o f A r c h i t e c t u r a l C o a t i n g s / A u g u s t / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 8 4 9

U l t i m a t e P e r f o r m a n c e

Blocks 95% of Heat LoadBlocks Water & Moisture PenetrationBlocks Air InfiltrationBlocks Mold, Mildew & Wood RotBlocks 68% of Sound WavesBlocks Flame Spread & SmokeLEED Compliant CoatingEnvironmentally SafeMBDC Cradle to Cradle Certified

Superior ProductsInternational II, Inc.Shawnee, KS 66214www.spicoatings.comsales@spicoatings.com

Now, ReduceUtility Billsand

Save Energy

Now, ReduceUtility Billsand

Save EnergySuper Therm® Revolutionary

Space-Age Ceramic Paint

•••••••••

SUPER THERM® has provenperformance: Vodafone engineeringfound a 52% reduction in KW usage;Clark County Schools in Las Vegasreduced roof temperatures from 161°Fto 97.5°F; and Raytheon Corp. choseSUPER THERM® for their Arizonafacilities to save energy costs.

See the family of SPI Coatings:Super Therm®, HSCTM Coating, andHPCTM Coating for insulation, OmegaFireTM for fire protection; and RustGrip® and Moist Metal Grip forcorrosion prevention.

The Right Coating for Ultimate Protection

Super Therm® RevolutionarySpace-Age Ceramic Paint

Superior Products International’s SuperTherm® cool-wall coatingwas applied to the exterior of this home in Little Rock, AR.

Photo courtesy of Superior Products International.

Formore

info,returnReaderInquiry

Card

Environmentally Responsible Productsfor Building Performance

®

®

© W. R. MEADOWS, INC. 2008

Q U A L I T Y. . . I N T E G R I T Y. . .

S E R V I C E . . . S I N C E 1 9 2 6

AIR-SHIELD

MAKING YOUR BUILDINGS MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT doesn’t need to take a lotof your energy. Keep it simple, specify W. R. MEADOWS®. For environmentallyfriendly air barriers and air/vapor barriers, our AIR-SHIELDTM line of products hasyou covered. No matter your building type or climate, we have the right system:

AIR-SHIELD—self-adhering, air/vapor and liquid moisture barrier

AIR-SHIELD LM—liquid membrane air/vapor barrier

AIR-SHIELD LM (ALL SEASON)—single component, liquid applied, polymer modified, air/vapor barrier

AIR-SHIELD LMP—liquid membrane, vapor permeable air barrier

Look to W. R. MEADOWS as a single source for all your building envelope needs.For over 60 years, we’ve been keeping air, vapor and moisture where it belongs;it’s that simple. And we make it simple for you, too.

For technical assistance, visit www.wrmeadows.com or call 800.342.5976 andspeak directly with a product expert (yes, a real person—it doesn’t get muchsimpler than that).

B U I L D I N G E N V E L O P E P R O D U C T S B Y W. R . M E A D O W S

L I N E D . S E A L E D . D E L I V E R E D .

AIR-SHIELD LMP

W. R . M E A D O W S

SIMPLIFY WHENYOU SPECIFY.

For more info, return Reader Inquiry Card

pigments and materials are being used byvarious coatings manufacturers, and theperformance of specific technologies identi-fied as “ceramic” or “mixed metal oxide”should not be extrapolated to apply to allproducts. As actual energy savings arehighly dependent on the individual building

structure, local climate, and total buildingenvelope, as well as the product formula-tion, and with few standard tests or practicesto reference, it is strongly recommended thatthe specifier, contractor, or building ownersolicit and evaluate any field performancedata available from the prospective supplier.

Also in the category of “cool-wall” tech-nologies in the JAC Top Green CoatingsPicks report was the 1080 Chestnut StreetAssociation Condominiums in SanFrancsico, where Ultimate CoatingsCompany’s Thermo-Seal™ 1500 productwas applied to the exterior walls. This solarIR-reflective non-elastomeric acrylic coating,which incorporates mixed metal oxide pig-ments, was applied over an epoxy primer toprovide a moisture-proof but breathable,dirt- and mildew-resistant surface with a 12-year durability warranty.

Yet another Top Green Coatings Pick entrywas the project involving a Kohl’sDepartment Store in Panama City, FL. Here,Textured Coatings of America’s TEX-COTE®

COOLWALL® IR-reflective coating wasapplied to the exterior over a textured primeralso supplied by Textured Coatings. The IR-reflective coating also can stake a claim tofairly extensive third-party test data to sup-port the company’s assertions of energy-effi-ciency contributions. Oak Ridge NationalLaboratory, a federal institution whose workwas cited in this column in the June-July issueregarding dirt retention and efficiency loss ofcool-roof coatings, also tested TEX-COTECOOLWALL and substantiated that theproduct could reduce cooling-energy costsby 4.2% to 21.9%, depending on climateand other factors.

Also an example of this type of cool walltechnology is EnviroCoatings’ (Canada)Ceramic InsulCoat thermal-barrier coat-ing. The first coat of this two-coat, 100%acrylic waterborne system dries to thetouch in 15 to 30 minutes, allowing thesecond coat to be applied two hours later.Tinting to any color is possible for exteriorwalls, with lighter shades for roof applica-tions. The product contains Cerylium, aproprietary formula of 23 ingredients thatprovides a thermal barrier to restrict heatmovement through walls. The product canbe applied as a clear coat to brick mason-ry and stucco, which allows upgrading ofenergy-inefficient brick structures withoutchanging their appearance. The company

The QUV offers the best possible laboratory simulation of

ultraviolet sunlight and outdoor moisture attack. With its

precision Solar Eye Irradiance Controller, the QUV provides:

• Fast, realistic & reproducible results

• Accurate, automatic, NIST traceable calibrations

• Longer lamp life and lower operating costs

www.q-lab.com The Most Trusted Name in Weathering

The World’s Most Widely Used Weathering Tester

The QUV offers the best possible laboratory simulation of

ultraviolet sunlight and outdoor moisture attack. With its

precision Solar Eye Irradiance Controller, the QUV provides:

• Fast, realistic & reproducible results

• Accurate, automatic, NIST traceable calibrations

the best possible laboratory simulation of

ht and outdoor moisture attack. With its

Eye Irradiance Controller, the QUV provides:

c & reproducible results

tomatic, NIST traceable calibrations

tory simulation of

attack. With its

, the QUV provides:

calibrations

• Longer lamp life and lower operating costs

www.q-lab.com

life and lower operating costs

The Most Trusted Name in Weathering

costs

e in Weathering

For more info, return Reader Inquiry Card

Naples Philharmonic, Naples, FL (SOLARGARD® 6083 and SOLARGARD® Acrythane)

For more information:

2628 Pearl RoadMedina, Ohio 44256

P 800-551-7081F 800-382-1218

www.rpmrepublic.com

©2008, Republic Powdered Metals, Inc.

Restoration vs. Replacement:A Matter of Planning

About RepublicPowdered Metals,Inc.Established in 1947 and based inMedina, Ohio, Republic PowderedMetals is a pioneer of reflective roofcoatings, and was the foundingcompany of RPM InternationalToday Republic Powdered Metalsis a leader in the roof coatings andrestoration industry, with innovativeproducts that offer long-termperformance and energy savings.

The time for building owners todecide between roof replacementand restoration is long before theleaks and other damage have started.“A good maintenance program meansthat building owners seldom haveto think about their roofs,” explainsJ.K. Milliken, vice president and generalmanager of Medina, Ohio-basedRepublic Powdered Metals, Inc.

Restoration-BasedPlanningRoof restoration is more economicalthan replacement, easier to installand less disruptive to business. “Wehandle restoration coating projectsfor substrates including metal, BUR,modified bitumen, weathered singleply, foam and concrete,” Milliken says.

Restoring roofs has many advantagesover replacing them:

Substantial time and labor savingsfor installation. Installations canbe scheduled quickly, usuallyuse smaller work crews, and arecompleted in a matter of days,Milliken says.

Safe, easy application on mostroofs. Republic coatings can beapplied by roller, brush or sprayequipment with little or no disruptionto business.

Sustainable initiatives supportedwith environmentally-friendlysolutions. Because the roof isnot removed, there is no waste forlandfill and no landfill fees incurred.And Republic’s GEOGARD®,SOLARGARD®and ALUMANATION®,301 coatings offer substantial energysavings by reflecting the solar heat –even in moderate climates.

Superior product performance.Restoration coating updates and can completely change the look ofa facility. In addition, Milliken said,“most of our coatings offer warrantiesranging in length from 5 to 12 years,so it’s possible to restore the roofand then simply maintain it.”

Republic Powdered Metals offersa wide range of roof coatings forrestoration purposes:

GEOGARD®

ALUMANATION® 301SOLARGARD® UltraSOLARGARD® 6083SOLARGARD® Hy-BuildPERMAROOF®

PERMAFLEX®

Hamburg Place, Lexington, KY (ALUMANATION® 301)

Stevens Point Schools, Stevens Point, WI (GEOGARD®)

Windermere Condo Assoc., Bellingham, WA (GEOGARD®)

Significant cost savings.Savings can be realized in the direct comparison betweenremoval and replacement of the roof versus repair and coating; in the long-term costs for roof life cycle; and in the development of

regular maintenance budgets.

For more info, return Reader Inquiry Card

ADVERTISEMENT

52 J o u r n a l o f A r c h i t e c t u r a l C o a t i n g s / A u g u s t / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 8

says customers report energy savings of30–50% after application.

Getting a payback onthe investment

Clearly, a variety of energy-saving wall-coating products and systems have entered

the marketplace for commercial and resi-dential structures, both new and existing.Many of these products are compliant withlocal, regional, or national environmental orother regulations, and are also tested or cer-tified to meet various standards such as theLEED rating system, the Cool Roof Rating

Council rating system, GreenSeal, and oth-ers. A number of different chemistries areemployed to meet both energy-managementfunctionality and important coatings charac-teristics and properties, and the performanceof these products in this regard should beevaluated for the specific application.

Some guidelines are as follows.• The coating must be appropriate and pro-vide sufficient durability for the intended useand substrate. This dictates the selection ofcoating chemistry type, such as acrylic,acrylic/urethane, or other, and whether thecoating should be elastomeric (high elonga-tion and flexibility) or non-elastomeric. If thecoating delaminates or degrades quickly, itdoesn’t matter how energy efficient it mightbe.• Where appropriate, the coating must meetaesthetic requirements. Some products comewith a limited color palette—earthtones only,for example—or a narrow range of gloss.• Energy efficiency and savings will varywith climate, making performance databased on extensive testing highly valuable.Short of this type of test data, customer testi-monials on the product for the given locationor climate should be sought.• The whole building envelope should beconsidered in determining the role played byenergy-conserving coatings. This processshould begin with the biggest energy liabili-ty, the roof, followed by the walls. Greatcoating reflectivity and emissivity numberswon’t do much for a leaky or drafty building,meaning that the use of waterproofing,air/vapor barriers, or other measures tomake the building water- and air-tightshould constitute integral steps in this holisticapproach.• It is wise to gain an awareness of localcodes, restrictions, incentives, and rebatesthat involved the energy efficiency of build-ings.• Don’t forget to savor your results when theutility bill arrives, and consider reinvestingthe savings in other energy-reduction steps.

JAC

Form

ore

info,

retu

rnRe

ader

Inqu

iryCa

rd

For more info, return Reader Inquiry Card