Qualicoat Classes Explained: Class 1, 2, 3 and Seaside Coatings

Qualicoat is the international quality label for organic coatings on architectural aluminium. It approves coating materials in durability classes. Class 1 is standard polyester, approved after 1 year of Florida exposure. Class 2 is super-durable, approved after 3 years. Class 3 is high-durability, approved after long-term exposure on the order of 10 years. It separately licenses coating plants, and the Seaside label adds a stronger pre-treatment for coastal and aggressive environments.

What Qualicoat certifies, and what it does not

Qualicoat runs two schemes. Coating material approvals cover a specific powder or liquid product from a paint manufacturer, tested in a durability class. Coater licences cover a specific coating plant, and are maintained by regular unannounced inspections of pre-treatment chemistry, curing, film thickness and adhesion. A licensed coater using an unapproved powder does not give you a Qualicoat Class 2 finish. Neither does an approved powder applied in an unlicensed plant. The label also does not guarantee a colour match between batches or cover damage from site handling, mortar, sealants or cleaning chemicals.

Class 1, 2 and 3 compared

For powder coatings on windows and doors, the specification typically sets a minimum film thickness of about 60 µm for one-coat powders and higher for two-coat systems. Liquid PVDF two-coat systems are thinner, typically about 35 µm. No individual reading may fall too far below the minimum. Approval testing also includes adhesion (cross-cut), indentation, cupping, impact, bending, a humidity test, a mortar test, machu (an aggressive acid and salt test), filiform corrosion and the acetic acid salt spray (AASS) test to ISO 9227, typically run for 1,000 hours with limits on creepage from a scribe.

Pre-treatment and the Seaside label

Most coating failures on aluminium start at the metal surface, not in the powder. Qualicoat pre-treatment means degreasing and etching to remove the natural oxide and extrusion contaminants, followed by a conversion coating. That coating is traditionally chromate, but chrome-free systems are now widely approved. The standard specification requires a minimum etch, typically at least 1 g/m². The Seaside label requires a deeper total etch, typically at least 2 g/m², or pre-anodising, a thin anodic layer before coating. This gives much better resistance to filiform corrosion where salt, humidity and heat combine, as in Gulf cities, island resorts and the first few kilometres from any coast.

ARCVIEW's coating line holds Qualicoat China licence 1102 (record QC-1102-S-25, April 2025) for Class 2 super-durable powders with the Seaside pre-treatment, applied to all powder-coated profiles. The licence record lists a 2,000-hour salt spray result, a 3-year Florida test and a 15-year coating warranty. For Australian coastal sites and Gulf projects, we specify Seaside pre-treatment by default.

Matching the class to the site

Choose the class by UV exposure and the class of pre-treatment by corrosivity. Treat them as two separate decisions. Inland, low-UV sites with sheltered frames can justify Class 1, although most window specifiers now default to Class 2 because the cost difference is small compared with a repaint. High-UV climates such as Australia, the Gulf and the US Sun Belt fade standard polyesters visibly within a few years, so Class 2 is the practical minimum and Class 3 suits dark colours on landmark façades. Sites near the sea, near swimming pools or in industrial atmospheres need Seaside pre-treatment whatever the powder class, because filiform corrosion starts under the film at cut edges and fixings.

Qualicoat vs AAMA 2603, 2604 and 2605

North American specifications usually name AAMA 2604 for residential and light commercial work and AAMA 2605 for commercial façades, which is often met with 70% PVDF liquid coatings. European, Middle Eastern and Australian specifications more often name Qualicoat, sometimes alongside GSB. If a specification names AAMA 2605, a Qualicoat Class 2 powder is not automatically accepted. Ask the consultant before substituting. Our finish comparison explains when anodising or PVDF is a better choice.

Warranty expectations

Qualicoat sets material and process requirements. It does not set warranty terms, which are commercial. Typical market practice is roughly 5–10 years for Class 1 exteriors, 10–25 years for Class 2 super-durables and longer terms for Class 3 and PVDF. Terms are usually conditional on location (coastal distance), cleaning frequency and correct installation. Read the exclusions. Most coating warranties exclude sites within a set distance of the sea unless Seaside pre-treatment was specified, and require cleaning at least once or twice a year. ARCVIEW's standard is 15 years on Qualicoat powder coating, alongside 10 years on frames and thermal breaks.

What to ask a supplier for

• The coater licence number, checked against the Qualicoat licensee list or the national general licensee.
• The powder product name and its Qualicoat approval in the class you are buying, with the colour code (for example RAL 7016 fine texture).
• Confirmation of the pre-treatment: chrome or chrome-free, etch rate, and whether the Seaside label applies to your order.
• Batch QC records: film thickness readings, cross-cut adhesion, gloss and curing records for your production run.
• The warranty document with its exclusions, coastal-distance conditions and cleaning requirements.
• Retained colour samples or a signed master panel for future matching.

Specifications evolve, and Qualicoat publishes new editions with revised tests and limits. Confirm the current edition, and any local requirements, with your consultant or Qualicoat's national licensee before tender. Coating evidence for ARCVIEW profiles is on our certifications page, and you can request samples with your quote.