First performance promise paint guarantee at Bray Water Treatment Works

If the paint on a building deteriorates prematurely, where does the blame lie? With thepainting contractor, the paint itself, the building materials, or the weather. To establish liability and elicit redress is an expensive process. However, with the recently introduced ICI Dulux Performance Promise, as part of the Dulux Trade Contract Partnership Scheme, customers can now receive a flexible term guarantee on paint and workmanship from approved painting contracting companies. At Bray Water Treatment Works, Reading based A.C. Beck has set a precedent that could quickly become an established procedure.

As the flagship for South East Water, Bray Water Treatment Works, on the River Thames, is the first surface water abstraction plant for this water company and is one of the largest of its type in Europe.

Architecturally striking, construction of Bray Water began in 1993. The primary design, construction and project management contractor for Bray Water was undertaken by Stereau UK Limited, part of the French subsidiary company, Saur UK.

Built on an existing borehole source, close to Monkey Island near Windsor, the Bray Water Treatment Works is a modern and fully automated plant featuring state of the art technology. From here, water extracted direct from the River Thames is treated, stored and then pumped into the supply network across a region that extends from Slough to Basingstoke. The facility incorporates emergency shutdown facilities to protect against water entering the domestic supply that does not comply with statutory quality standards.

The construction design of Bray Water features painted galvanised structural steel struts to the roof structure and an extensive steel and glass atrium area. As an important visitor centre for European water industry personnel and government representatives, South East Water is anxious to maintain the building to its highest standards.

Credible credentials
Unfortunately, the original paintwork at Bray Water showed extensive premature deterioration, including peeling and cracking of paint on the galvanised steel struts. To obtain a report for work required, Stereau contacted ICI Dulux Trade. Following a thorough examination of the existing paintwork, Dulux Trade provided a detailed specification document. In addition, Dulux Trade's regional specifier account manager Ian Rance provided the credentials of three local painting contractors whose work had been audited by ICI.

Irrespective of which of these contractors was selected, the work would be covered by Dulux Trade's Contract Partnership Scheme. It also transpired that the painting contract undertaken on behalf of Stereau was the first painting contract to qualify for the Dulux Performance Promise. This is a guarantee of paint and workmanship backed by ICI and the appointed painting contractor over a specified period of time, in this case, five years. The guarantee is based on a Dulux Trade specifiers report of the background and history of the structure or building, combined with the painting contractors report. In effect, the Performance Promise covers a percentage of rectification costs and, for Bray Water, this was set at 100 per cent, for years one and two, in year three it was 75 per cent and reducing on a sliding scale to year five at 25 per cent.

All companies that are invited to join the Dulux Trade Contract Partnership are required to prove that they operate to the quality standards set by ICI, carry adequate insurance cover and work to British Standard BS6150.

Consultant for Stereau, Clifford Irish said: "There was not a great deal of difference in the contract price of the three companies, but one organisation managed to make itself more distinctive by its attention to detail and in researching the most appropriate methods of paint removal.

"At an early stage A.C. Beck sent someone to test one of the struts using paint scrapers. It became apparent very quickly that by using this method they would not be able to reach into the hinge part of the struts.

Chemicals and shot blasting were both considered but ruled out on the basis that these methods would create more mess than was necessary and damage to the brickwork.

"Ultimately, A.C. Beck brought in a needle gun, and following a sample session, decided to use this method of paint removal."

Belts and braces, bolts and brackets
A.C. Beck director Robin Beck said: "The unknown factor in assembling the tender proposal was the amount of time and work needed to remove old paint from the steel supports. The needle gun took the paint clean away, and, particularly around the bolts and brackets, this method was ideal. We provided all the necessary equipment, including needle guns, air tool and compressor.

"The work took six weeks to complete and during that time, each stage was signed-off by Stereau. This included stripping the existing paint with the needle gun, applying a mordant acid-etch solution, a buff primer, undercoat and finally, gloss paint. Also during this time, ICI conducted regular inspections and meetings and photographs were taken of the work at different stages. In presenting our proposals, we were confident that we could produce the quality of work the client demanded within the price agreed."

Clifford Irish said: "For the duration of the painting contract, the same two A.C. Beck personnel worked together as a team. They did an extremely good job and everyone was pleased with the final result."