FAQs

With steel building frames made from TRUECORE® steel, mortar splashes from bricklaying operations are rarely a direct cause for concern. However, TRUECORE® steel, ZINCALUME® steel and COLORBOND® steel (manufactured with a ZINCALUME® steel substrate) should not be immersed in wet cement, as rapid corrosion and degradation of the alloy structure will quickly occur. Should splashing occur, the concrete should be removed immediately before it is allowed to dry, as it then not possible to remove without damaging the product. A few small splashes are unlikely to cause significant damage to the product surface; however our warranty does not cover failure of the product in such circumstances.

Download Corrosion Technical Bulletin CTB 16 - Immersion

Yes. Thermatech® technology that is incorporated into COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel roofing performs in the same way and offers the same product benefits.

XLERPLATE® steel is the brand name for our range of products rolled on the plate mill at Port Kembla Steelworks, while XLERPLATE LITE® steel is the brand name for the range of products rolled on either of BlueScope Steel’s two hot strip mills. XLERPLATE® steel products are generally rolled to either the AS/NZS 3678 (structural and analysis grades) or AS 1548 Standards (pressure vessel grades), while XLERPLATE LITE® steel products are rolled to the AS/NZS 1594 Standard.

The two different types of rolling mills (plate mill for XLERPLATE® steel and hot strip mills for XLERPLATE LITE® steel) produce products with different characteristics. XLERPLATE LITE® steel products offer the advantages of low silicon levels for laser cutting and galvanizing, thinner and more tightly adherent mill scale advantageous for laser cutting and the availability of lighter gauges. In comparison, XLERPLATE® steel grades offer the advantage of larger plate sizes in heavier gauges and may have less residual stress when processed than XLERPLATE LITE® steel products. The difference in residual stress levels is because XLERPLATE® steel products are rolled and processed flat, while XLERPLATE LITE® steel products are coiled and then subsequently uncoiled during the plate processing stage to produce coil plate. Also note that different tolerances apply to the XLERPLATE® steel and XLERPLATE LITE® steel products. Further information may be obtained from Technical Services on 1800 800 789.

The Building Code of Australia (BCA) has classified roof colour into light and dark on the basis of their solar absorptance. The lighter complying colours qualify for a Deemed to Satisfy insulation concession. The New South Wales Building and Sustainability Index (BASIX) has also classified colour into light medium and dark on the basis of their solar absorptance. The lighter and medium colours have insulation and or roof space ventilation concessions.

For more Information see classification of COLORBOND® steel colours for BCA and NSW BASIX.

Yes, COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel is produced to AS2728.

Today, most plastering work whether with steel or timber, is heading in the direction of screw fixing which is appropriate for steel framing. Screw fixing using collated screws and the latest screw guns speed up the process of fixing plasterboard to steel framing.

The Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) value of COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel in WhitehavenTM is greater than COLORBOND® steel in standard colours by between 9% and 52% depending on the selected colour.

Please see our Where to Buy page and use the Supplier Locator to find your nearest ten suppliers anywhere in Australia. To find overseas suppliers, please see our Office Locator.

Yes. Steel is used extensively in these areas because of its inherent strength and high tensile properties. It is recommended that you consult with your local steel framing fabricators for details.

The position of most commercial and industrial roofs mitigates the likelihood of roof glare because they are often high-set with a low pitch so they are rarely seen from the ground and the surface has very little impact. Roof glare complaints are commonly associated with mirrored sunlight causing a significant impact on visual amenity. In most Australian locations the path of the sun throughout the year is to the north of buildings. This means most of the mirrored reflection from a roof travels toward the south and above the roof. Therefore the area of concern for a commercial or industrial building is when a neighbouring residential area is directly to the south and above, overlooking the roof. In this instance a high gloss or bare metallic roof may not be appropriate.