Suppliers of pre-painted metal offer alternative products for different environments, using different metallic coatings, paint systems, paint thickness and metals. The designer or the roof cladding contractor should carefully assess and evaluate these options to comply with the NZBC.
The boundaries of different corrosion zones are difficult to define because many factors determine the corrosivity of a particular location. The designer should choose the appropriate materials for the location. The chosen materials should meet the minimum durability requirements of the NZBC and satisfy customer expectations.
Wind is responsible for the salinity present in marine atmospheres. The wind picks up particles of salt from breaking waves and can carry them inland. The quantity of salt aerosol entrained by the wind is affected by many factors, such as wind strength, wave height, the width of the generation zone, and the contours of the seabed and coastline. These factors along with the persistence of the wind from a given quarter determine the corrosivity of a shoreline.
While salt deposits are measurably present in inland areas such as Taupo, the main effect of marine atmospheres reaches just a few hundred metres from the shore. Particles of salt in the air deposit on adjacent surfaces through gravity and contact; the rate at which deposits settle is affected by the roughness of the ground that the salt-laden air passes over. Obstacles such as trees slow the wind down, increasing the rate of gravitational deposit, and bringing the salt aerosol in more contact with surfaces on which they can deposit.
On the other hand, open flat land and natural “wind tunnels” can allow quite high concentrations of salt to travel several hundred metres inland.
A site’s location, relative to the sea or marine inlets, is a common method used to assess the corrosivity of a location. The distance from salt water for a given Zone varies with the location, depending on the prevailing winds and roughness of water in those areas, as well as the evenness of the terrain it passes over.
Where environmental Zones overlap, a site-specific evaluation may help define the category into which it best fits. Visual evidence of corrosion on adjacent metal surfaces may be present, ground roughness can be assessed, industrial influences can be evaluated and data about the persistence of onshore winds can be obtained from NIWA.
More local factors that affect the corrosivity of a specific location include:
Overhanging shade increases the time of wetness of a structure and corrosion rate.
High levels of water roughness such as caused by strong tidal flow against the wind direction, as is often experienced in areas such as Cook Strait, increases salt spray.
Surfaces not receiving regular and effective rain washing or sufficient manual washing may experience corrosion rates two to three times that of cleaned surfaces.
There are many ways of more accurately determining the actual corrosivity of a given location. The most commonly accepted method as outlined in ISO 9223 is measuring first-year corrosion rate of different metals: mild steel (MS), zinc, aluminium and copper. The COP uses the first-year corrosion rate of mild steel as the most relevant and reliable indicator of a location’s corrosivity.
The names given by different Standards for specified corrosion zones vary. The Corrosion Zones in the Code of Practice are similar to those published in NZS 3604:2011 except that:
the COP makes a distinction between Harbours, West Coast, and East Coast shorelines, and
NZS 3604 Zone D (High) is further broken down into E (Very High) and F (Extreme Marine) because, in NZS 3604 Zone D, the first-year mild steel corrosion rate can vary from 200 g/m2 to 1000 g/m2.
Far inland, with no industrial pollution or thermal activity, or dry internal. This condition is not commonly found externally in New Zealand.
1 – 10
B (Moderate Inland)
Most dry rural areas in New Zealand, 50 km from the coast, are in this category. It can extend closer to the coastline of sheltered water in low rainfall areas.
10 – 80
C
C (Moderate Marine)
This category covers area of low marine influence. It can extend from 50 km inland to within 1 – 1.5 km of west coast beaches, or be in the immediate vicinity of calm estuaries.
80 – 200
D
D (Severe Marine)
In this category, marine influences are frequently apparent. Its proximity to the coast is determined by the roughness of the water, prevailing winds, ground roughness and sheltering.
200 – 400
E (Very Severe Marine)
In this category, the structure is normally exposed and marine influences are almost constantly apparent.
400 – 650
F (Extreme Marine)
This category is rare in a building site. It would be an exposed location very close to breaking surf.
Note: this is the minimal requirement to achieve compliance with NZBC Clause B2-Durabilty. Meeting the minimum requirements of NZBC clause B2 Durability does not necessarily represent optimal product selection. In a transition zone, it may be more cost effective over the life cycle of the building, and for meeting customer expectations, to choose a more durable option.
*The practicality of carrying out regular maintenance, and difficulty of replacement, should also be considered when considering wall cladding material options.
***As defined by AS/NZS 2728.
B: Moderate Inland
C4
Aluminium
Pre-painted aluminium
Pre-painted steel Type 6***
Pre-painted steel Type 4***
AZ 150 coated steel
Galvanised steel Z 450
C: Moderate Marine
C4
Aluminium
Pre-painted aluminium
Pre-painted steel Type 6***
Pre-painted steel Type 4***
AZ 150 coated steel
D: Severe Marine
C4
Aluminium
Pre-painted aluminium
Pre-painted steel Type 6***
E: Very Severe Marine
C5
Aluminium
Pre-painted aluminium
Pre-painted steel Type 6***
F: Extreme Marine
C6
Aluminium
Pre-painted aluminium
Materials accepted by NZMRM as complying with coating types include:
Painted steel Type 4: Colorsteel® Endura®, Colorcote® ZinaCore™
