The Glamis Road Bascule Bridge was constructed in East London in the 1930s. Commissioned by the Port of London Authority (PLA), this movable bridge has become a distinctive landmark. Its bascule function enabled the bridge to roll back on its base allowing ships to pass underneath. Surviving World War II, the fully-functioning movable bridge was finally restored as a fixed bridge in the 1980s. Yet, the bridge was degraded and in need of repair to restore it to its former iconic hue.
Mark Hearn, Technical Director of Unova Ltd., describes, “As characteristic as they are, the protection and maintenance of moving bridges like the Glamis Road Bascule Bridge are especially challenging due to their complex design compared to modern bridges; with large flat surfaces.” In addition, the construction of these Scherzer-type bridges creates an added layer of potential corrosion due to many components and small structural elements that are exposed to debris and moisture.
The experts at Unova further explain, “When the London Borough of Tower Hamlets approached us for a high-performance coating, the emphasis was on a coating system that could provide exceptional corrosion resistance and weatherability to minimize the number of recoating cycles and ensure a continued serviceable life for the bridge.”
Vitreflon protective coating system was specified for the Glamis Road Bascule Bridge, which utilized a primer, stripe coat, undercoat, and a finish coat. While each layer offers a specific function or protective quality, the Vitreflon 195 fluoropolymer topcoat offers weatherability protection for the layers beneath. Specifically offering protection against UV radiation, salt, water degradation, and other corrosive elements, the corrosion-resistant topcoat plays a “significant role in keeping this historic structure protected and in serviceable condition for years to come,” Unova representatives further describe.
A&I Coatings’ Vitreflon system is a low-VOC fluoropolymer that features Lumiflon FEVE resin. Substrates that feature FEVE resin technology are provided with longevity and durability in addition to excellent color and gloss retention, anti-corrosion and graffiti properties, and superior weatherability, essentially protecting architectural coatings from UV radiation, water, salt, and other elemental deterrents that contribute to coating degradation.
Information and photography courtesy of Unova Paint Products
Categories Bridges