Guidelines for installation

Material characteristics
NedZink NATUREL is raw titanium zinc produced according to EN 988 & ASTM B69 and Lloyd’s Register certified. NedZink NATUREL has a natural, rolled surface. NedZink NEO and NedZink NOIR are pre-patinated types of zinc that are produced by means of a phosphating process. The basic material is natural NedZink titanium zinc. By phosphating the material, a surface very close to the regular natural patina is obtained. NedZink NUANCE is pre-weathered titanium zinc with pigments. This results, depending on the selected pigment, in a pre-weathered zinc variant with a blue, red or green color tint. All the properties offered by zinc are retained during this process.

Every rolled metal, NedZink material included, will show tension in a certain way. This is a consequence of the rolling process. With modern techniques, these tensions are reduced to a minimum. Nevertheless, it may be that these tensions occur, to a lesser degree, after the NedZink material is processed by third parties.

Surface protection
NedZink NATUREL is supplied with a bright, rolled surface. Exposure to the outside air and moisture results in a protective layer of zinc carbonate, which is called the patina. This process begins immediately after installation and will continue until a uniform patina is obtained. In the beginning, the appearance of the patina layer may look slightly mottled. Other factors that play a role in this patina process are: the orientation / geometry of the building, the weather conditions during assembly, and the storage of the titanium zinc prior to assembly.

NedZink NEO, NedZink NOIR and NedZink NUANCE are natural products and as a consequence minor color differences will occur. A unique production process results in an extremely consistent color, but there is always a possibility of color variations (production batch related). Use material from the same production batch for each particular project to avoid color variations. The production batch number is stated on the backside of the material.

Always mount NedZink NEO, NedZink NOIR and NedZink NUANCE in the same rolling direction (also to avoid color variations). The rolling direction is indicated by arrows on the rear of the material. This rolling direction must be checked before installing the material.

After many years the pigments of NedZink NUANCE will gradually fade. The durability of the pigments is highly dependent on environmental factors, such as the location of the building, temperature, UV exposure and air quality. Damage, perforation and adverse environmental factors can significantly shorten the lifetime of the pigments.

Processing NedZink NUANCE
Shaping and profiling must be done with a minimum bending radius of 2 mm (interior radius) with a material thickness of 0.70 mm. Damage, deep scratching and suchlike of the coating during processing should be avoided. If necessary, tools and machines need to be cleaned beforehand and any sharp edges must be removed in order to avoid any risk of damage.

Salt deposition
In a maritime climate, the salt in the air and/or water can react with zinc and form zinc chloride on surfaces that do not get rinsed off by rainwater. This appears as permanent white patches. These white patches do not have any impact on the functionality of the zinc and do not cause corrosion. In the absence of rain or on surfaces sheltered from rain, it is necessary to clean these areas regularly with (warm) water. NedZink is not responsible for the effects of salt deposition.

Anti-Fingerprint (AFP)
An Anti-Fingerprint coating is applied to prevent fingerprints during installation and to optimize machine processing. This AFP gives the material a slightly shiny surface, which will disappear over time.

Protection film
NedZink NEO, NedZink NOIR and NedZink NUANCE are always supplied with temporary protective film. The film is not permanently UV resistant and is only intended for temporary protection. The film should be removed immediately after installation at the construction site. The temperature of the zinc must be at least 7 °C when the film is removed. The film should not be worked into assembly joints such as standing seams. Moisture between the zinc and the film must be avoided at all times.

Installation
Titanium zinc from NedZink can be used in ventilated and unventilated applications. In all cases (either ventilated or unventilated) the recommendations as stated on www.nedzink.com or in the NedZink technical instruction manual must be followed. Zinc is a metal that expands and contracts with changes in temperature. In all cases, there must be an allowance for the free thermal expansion of the material when installed.

Mechanical processing
Below a material temperature of 7 °C, the zinc should not be deformed mechanically in order to avoid damage to the zinc (e.g. micro-cracks).