Chrome-Free Coatings

We take our responsibility to the environment very seriously. Developing innovative products that meet all regulations and certifications are important to us and our customers. There are real environmental and cost benefits to making sure that our coatings meet all regulatory challenges. Providing a full line of tested and approved chrome-free primers for all applications is one of the many ways in which Valspar is doing its bit to minimise its environmental impact.

A few facts:

Development of chrome-free coil formulations started in the early 1990s
Strontium Chromate, used in traditional coil primers, was identified as an SVHC substance (Substance of Very High Concern) by the ECHA (European Chemical Agency) in 2011
Elimination of all usage of toxic Chrome from coil systems is mandated by 2017
70% of building product pre-painted lines in Europe are now using non-chrome alternatives for primers

Regulatory Associations:

- REACH
- RoHS
- LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
- BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method)

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Importance of Solar-Reflective Coatings

Many factors affect the indoor temperature of a building and ultimately the comfort of the building’s occupants. Environmental factors such as direct sunlight and the “heat island” effect impact a building envelope, causing increased interior temperatures. The first line of defence for a building is the materials selection in the building envelope.

Cool metal roofing is one way to mitigate the urban heat island effect. Roofs with higher reflectance have lower surface temperatures, which help reduce ambient air temperatures. Highly infra-red emissive and solar-reflective roofing surfaces can help save money in air-conditioning costs because less heat is transferred into the building.

Two key properties that are important to the temperature that a roof will reach in direct sunlight are:

Solar reflectance (SR), the amount of solar energy that is immediately reflected from a surface, and
Thermal emittance (TE), the amount of heat energy that a surface can re-emit in the form of infra-red energy into the atmosphere.

A cool roof with a higher solar reflectance and a high thermal emittance will have a lower surface temperature compared with that of a roof with a low solar reflectance and low emittance. A lower surface temperature translates into less heat gain into the building below, resulting in a cooler air temperature.

At Valspar, we use solar reflective (SR) pigments that have been altered physically and chemically to reflect infra-red radiation, while still absorbing the same amount of visible light, allowing the coating and roof to stay cooler. Our products containing solar reflective pigments are available in a variety of formulations: 70% PVDF and Polyester. When our SR coatings are used, the result is an environmentally friendly building product that can lower energy costs without sacrificing the features and benefits that owners have come to expect: field-proven durability, performance and beauty.

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High-Solid Coatings

At Valspar, we are committed to innovation and new product development. In addition to developing products that have improved weathering resistance, we are also focused on products that save our customers time and money. Coatings with high-volume solids, reduction of solvent content, in excess of 60%, provide higher coverage rate with less waste.

High-solid coatings go further – up to 70% further
Formulated with a high percentage of solids – meaning less VOC into the atmosphere
Higher coverage rate
Less waste

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Setting the Green Standard

As a joint effort between the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy, the ENERGY STAR programme is a positive boon for the safety of our planet, as well as energy efficiency in general. And by partnering with us, it allows Valspar to do both.

Take our ENERGY STAR-qualified Valspar SR roof products, for example:

Reflect more of the sun’s rays, lowering roof temps and decreasing the amount of heat transferred to a building
Emit heat more rapidly than traditional roofing products, allowing the building to cool much faster
Retain solar reflectance and emittance properties over time, which keeps the same long-life performance as the original formulations
Available in a variety of colours, including a myriad of shades in the green, red, white and black spectrums
Generally qualify for other environmentally driven programmes, such as LEED

Want to learn more about ENERGY STAR?
ENERGY STAR Cool Roof >

Building on Green

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an eco-focused verification programme developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). From design to construction, and operations to maintenance, every aspect of a building's life cycle is analysed to make sure that it conforms to the most up-to-date environmental standards.

And as an independent, third-party partner, it pushes Valspar to keep green design at the forefront throughout our coil and extrusion coating process.

Take our LEED-compliant Valspar SR roof products, for example:

Reduce the urban heat island effect, which minimises impact on micro-climate, as well as human and wildlife habitats
Reflect more of the sun's rays, lowering roof temps and decreasing the amount of heat transferred to a building
Emit heat more rapidly than traditional roofing products, allowing the building to cool much faster
Retain solar reflectance and emittance properties over time, thereby keeping the same long-life performance as the original formulations
Available in a variety of colours, including a myriad of shades in the green, red, white and black spectrums
Generally qualify for other environmentally driven programmes, such as Energy Star

Want to learn more about LEED? LEED Roof Requirements >

Radiating Green Design

As an independent, charitable, national initiative, the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) works to implement fair, accurate and credible radiative energy performance ratings for roof surfaces. Their precise methodology and excellent quality control are known throughout the roofing industry.

And as a Valspar partner, they’ve helped us show residential and commercial building owners how green roofing products can save home-owners money.

Want to learn more about CRRC?
Cool Roof Calculator > CRRC Association >