A rust inhibitive primer must be applied on cold rolled steel to protect the surface against corrosion.  However, galvannealed steel is suitable for immediate painting because the zinc content of this alloy protects the surface against corrosion.

Each manufacturer offers its own type of primer which can be water-borne or solvent-borne.  Most important is to make sure it is a rust inhibitive primer and it complies with ANSI A250.10:Test Procedure and Acceptance Criteria for Prime Painted Steel Surfaces for Steel Doors and Frames. This standard requires compliance with the following four tests:

Description: The specimen is scribed with an X and exposed to a salt spray fog for a period of 120 continuous hours.

Minimal requirement: The paint film at the scored line shall not be undercut by rust more than 1/8" (3.2 mm) each side.

Description: The specimen is exposed to a minimum of 100°F for a test period of 240 continuous hours.

Minimal requirement: The paint film may have any quantity of # 8 blisters, but no more than a few # 6 blisters. See visual chart in the standard.

Description: A small 1/2" (12.7 mm) diameter ball of 20 inch pounds is released on the specimen.  After the impact, a tape is applied to the surface and pulled off sharply.

Minimal requirement: No paint removal other than at an area of 1/8" (3.2 mm) diameter at the center of the impact area.

Description: Vertical and horizontal cuts are made on the specimen.  A pressure sensitive tape is then applied to the scribed surface and rapidly removed.

Minimal requirement: No adhesion loss less than a grade 3B. See visual chart in the standard.

de La Fontaine offers a water-borne primer which complies with current environmental standards and exceeds ANSI A250.10.

Numerous benefits are related to factory finished products such as better quality of paint and application, less coordination and time on the jobsite, and a lack of field volatile organic compounds (VOC's). This is an important asset for LEED projects.

Manufacturers of steel doors and frames offer different type of finished paint, either water-borne or solvent-borne but as design professionals you should make sure to review the compliance of the paint with the ANSI A250.3 standard: Test Procedure and Acceptance Criteria for Factory Applied Finish Painted Steel Surfaces for Steel Doors and Frames.  This standard requires compliance with the same tests as previously mentioned in ANSI A250.10 plus the following two tests:

Description: The sample is exposed to 18 hours of light exposure at 60°C followed by 6 hours of condensation cycle at 49°C.

Minimal requirement: No rust, checking, cracking, erosion or flaking shall be present. Few blisters and chalking are acceptable according to the visual chart in the standard. No more than 50% decrease in gloss and 10% change in color.

Description: An apparatus using an abrasion wheel tests the paint resistance.

Minimum requirement: The paint film shall have a wear index of 0.10 mg weight loss per cycle or less.

Usually, prefinished products are available in the manufacturer's standard colors or custom colors chosen by the designer. An approved control sample is required.

de La Fontaine offers a water-borne finished paint specially developed for our products.  Our direct-to-metal coating exceeds the ANSI A250.3 standard.  It is as hard as powder coating and it also complies with environmental standards by having less than 40 gr/l of VOC during factory application. For more information, please refer to the prefinishing technical data sheet located in the Promotional Brochures section of this binder.