Durability and Resilience

Penguin Parade visitor centre COLORBOND Ultra steel roof

Durability

Benefits of designing for durability

Designing for durability is an important aspect of circularity where products are designed for long life, minimal maintenance and repairability to maximise their useful life. Durable materials can help to conserve resources that may otherwise be invested in products with a shorter lifespan.

Durable steel products

Steel is a strong and durable material suitable for buildings designed for long life.

BlueScope manufactures COLORBOND® steel using advanced paint technology and an industry-leading metallic coating. The metallic coating with Activate®¹ technology provides enhanced corrosion resistance, and the specially developed exterior-grade paint is baked on over primer and pretreatment coatings to ensure a finish that retains its look for longer.

COLORBOND® steel is renowned for its durability and resilience to Australia’s harsh climate and is backed by BlueScope warranties².

REDCOR® weathering steel is an example of innovative steel design that can support more circular outcomes through durable and low-maintenance steel solutions. When used in the appropriate environment, REDCOR® weathering steel develops a protective patina that enhances the corrosion resistance and does not require further protective coating, providing low-maintenance construction solutions.

Durability and product certifications

Durability is considered in sustainability certifications such as Global GreenTag^Cert™ GreenRate™. BlueScope products, including COLORBOND® steel for roofing, walling and fencing, hold GreenTag ^Cert™ GreenRate™ certification with the highest-level “A” rating.

The Bidgee Bidgee Truss Bridge made from REDCOR® weathering steel

Bidgee Bidgee Bridge Truss Bridge, NSW - Made from REDCOR® weathering steel
Penrith Anglican College - Roofing made from COLORBOND® steel Surfmist® in a Classic finish.

Resilience

Designing for resilience

Designing for resilience can form part of a circularity strategy where materials and buildings are designed to withstand changing climate conditions, including heatwaves, storms and bushfires, so they maintain their essential function and minimise repair or replacement.

Steel products supporting resilient outcomes

Selecting steel products that can perform under various climate conditions and stresses can support resilient outcomes.

In a bushfire, a fence made from COLORBOND® steel is a good choice. Of the fencing materials tested in a CSIRO bushfire study, COLORBOND® steel performed the best under all exposure conditions, including tests simulating the potential effects of an adjacent house fire³.

COLORBOND® steel cool roofing colours deliver high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) values to reduce roof temperature and improve building thermal performance⁴, helping provide resilience to extreme heat conditions in the Australian climate.

TRUECORE® steel made by BlueScope, can be used wherever a non-combustible material is required. Used in light-gauge steel framing, TRUECORE® steel will not catch fire, helping you meet the standards and the resilience required for building in bushfire areas.

Images: Allam Property Group, Monterey Estate, NSW - Roofing made from COLORBOND® steel in the colours Surfmist® and Shale Grey™; Framing made from TRUECORE® steel

Notes

Activate® technology is not available for COLORBOND® steel products with a galvanised steel substrate.
BlueScope warranties are subject to application and eligibility criteria.
Source: Research and investigation into the performance of residential boundary fencing in Bushfires. Bushfire CRC (2005).
Actual cool roofing performance, including potential energy savings and thermal comfort improvements, depends on a wide range of factors including roof colour, roof shape, level of insulation, type, location, shape and function of the building, and the type and efficiency of heating and cooling systems.