Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Coating Failures

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) coatings have been a reliable part of construction since the 1960s, but over the past 15 years, we have witnessed an increasing number of premature PVDF coating failures. This paper will review changes the industry made that led to these failures and how to avoid them through proper specification and testing.

This presentation will demonstrate that the failures can be attributed to changes in the industry’s use of chromium phosphate pretreatment wash—the tried and true method. The American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s specification AAMA 2605 initially included chromium phosphate wash as a mandatory requirement. However, because there are concerns about the environmental impact of chromium, manufacturers’ use of the wash became voluntary in 2004. Alternate washes such as phosphoric acid are being used instead of chromium phosphate, leading to poor adhesion and a lack of corrosion protection.

This paper will also review the steps and costs involved in repair and recoating procedures, and how to modify technical specifications and implement testing to mitigate premature failure.

Karim Allana, RRC, RWC, PE
Allana Buick ​&​ Bers, Inc. | Palo Alto, CA

Karim Allana is the CEO and founding principal of Allana Buick ​&​ Bers, Inc., an architectural-engineering firm specializing in the building enclosure and sustainable construction. Allana has been in the A/E and construction fields for 35+ years and acted as a consultant and expert witness in 450+ construction defect projects. He earned a BS in civil engineering from Santa Clara University and is a licensed professional engineer in California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, North Carolina, and Hawaii. He is also a Registered Roof Consultant (RRC) and Registered Waterproofing Consultant (RWC) through IIBEC.