At the Caldwell YMCA Aquatic Center, more than 1,000 gallons of Tnemec coatings were used to protect interior surfaces from daily exposure to moisture and chemicals in the air that can cause corrosion, leaving the project’s owner feeling “soaked.” “This project is the centerpiece for the City of Caldwell in terms of family recreation,” according to Tnemec coatings consultant Tom Quammen. “This was a privately funded project, so long-term value was the developer’s guiding concern.”
The project consisted of a mix of cast-in-place concrete, reinforced concrete floors, structural steel framing, galvanized roof decking and steel joist roof framing. All steel surfaces were prepared in accordance with SSPC-SP6 Commercial Blast Cleaning prior to coating. Structural steel joists received a prime coat of Series 90-97 Tneme-Zinc, a two-component zinc-rich aromatic urethane, which was applied in shop. Field applicators then applied an intermediate coat of Series 66 HiBuild Epoxoline, a polyamide epoxy, followed by a finish coat of Series 73 Endura-Shield, an aliphatic acrylic polyurethane. Galvanized decking received one coat of Hi-Build Epoxoline and one coat of Endura-Shield.
Interior and exterior wall surfaces were clean and dry prior to being coated. Smooth-face concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls received a coat of Series 130 Envirofill, a cementitious acrylic, followed by two coats of Series 84 Ceramlon ENV, a ceramic-like coating that provides excellent protection. Plaster surfaces received a coat of Series 151-1051 ElastoGrip FC, a waterborne polyamine epoxy, followed by Series 156 Enviro-Crete, a flexible and breathable acrylate coating with elastomeric properties.
Exterior cast-in-place concrete was coated with Series 52 Tneme-Crete, an acrylic emulsion coating, followed by Series 6 Tneme-Cryl, a water-based acrylic emulsion.
Field-applied coatings were spray-applied to steel substrates, but brush- and roller-applied on the wall surfaces, according to Quammen. “Both the owner and architect appreciated the low maintenance, longevity and durability these coating systems offer,” Quammen added.
The Aquatic Center features three swimming pools including a competition and lap pool, a “lazy river” (a channel with a current), a “bubbler” (a cooler Jacuzzi type feature for youth) and an indoor spray ground.