The sky’s the limit for an epoxy floor coating system

Sherwin-Williams’ pioneering Resuflor high-build epoxy floor coating system has been successfully applied at a hangar in Teesside International Airport in the UK.

Teesside International Airport is the location for the Royal Air Force (RAF)’s Interim Red Air Aggressor Training Service (IRAATS). A Resuflor Topcoat system has been used to ensure a reliable and robust floor surface for the L-159E aircraft that are being used to conduct combat training.

Ensuring that the 2,000m² hangar used by IRAATS has a floor coating that can withstand the rigours of activities that take place there was the responsibility of the Darlington-based specialist flooring contractor MJF Group. “As you would expect from a project that involves the RAF, only the very best in class products could be used in order to offer the required levels of health and safety,” explains MJF Group’s Managing Director Martin Ferguson. “We assessed a number of products from various floor coatings manufacturers and felt that Sherwin-Williams’ Resuflor coating system offered the required protection and resistance to Skydrol.”

Skydrol is a phosphate-ester hydraulic fluid that is widely used in aircraft. It is fire resistant and retains a low viscosity at very low temperatures at altitudes of 10,000m or more, which are important considerations within aviation and aerospace. While highly effective, Skydrol is also incredibly corrosive and can easily damage a concrete floor if it is not adequately protected.

“Industrial epoxy-resin flooring is impact resistant, fast curing and holds up well against fluctuating temperature changes,” explains Jay Livingstone, Business Development Manager at Sherwin-Williams. “Within the aerospace industry, floors also need to be able to resist the corrosive capabilities of Skydrol. Although there are various Skydrol-resistant products on the market, Resuflor is the only one that is available straight off the shelf. While other manufacturers have to modify their existing products using expensive additives – with a price tag to match – Sherwin-Williams offers a readily available, cost-effective and hardworking solution that also looks good.”

Preparation and application

MJF Group shot-blasted the existing concrete hangar floor and then used a diamond grinding process to correct irregularities such as minor pits and divots. A coat of Resuprime NVT was used and then two coats of grey Resuflor HB were applied – one 300µ and one 250µ – with quartz used in specific parts of the floor. In terms of maintenance, Sherwin-Williams has provided specialist tyre mark and oil removers, as well as general cleaning solutions, to achieve the breakdown and removal of deposits, maintain the aesthetic qualities of the floor and maximise its operational lifespan.

“We are delighted that MJF Group used Resuflor for this project,” says Livingstone. “The work that the RAF is undertaking at Teesside International Airport is of vital importance to us all at this time of geopolitical turbulence. We are proud to be able to play a role by providing a hard-wearing and chemically-resistant floor coating that is required in this environment. The RAF now benefits from a cost-effective solution that offers unrivalled protection against Skydrol and other contaminants.”