Colorfast Approvals:
Tried, tested, trusted - globally

Despite being the smallest components used in roofing and façade construction, fasteners play a crucial role in ensuring envelope designs and complete systems meet their performance promise. Hence why it is important to know which types of fastener are approved for use with the systems that are now widely used, not just in Europe but around the globe.

The good news is that EJOT Colorfast is not only compatible with all types of roofing and cladding sheets, but also approved as part of warrantied systems from the world’s leading OEMs.

One of the major benefits of EJOT Colorfast fasteners is durability. The high quality materials used in their manufacture ensures they will withstand the environmental conditions in which they are being used, providing that the correct grade of steel is specified and installation is completed in accordance with EJOT’s best practice guidance.

 

Performance certified by an internationally recognised standard

Third party certification is extremely important in the story of EJOT Colorfast, given how important it is in providing confirmation of a product’s stated performance. As credible as EJOT’s own test data is, the value of independent testing and review can never be underestimated.

Hence why EJOT Colorfast has invested in backing the brand with a globally recognised certification provided by US property insurance giant, FM Global. This means that under the FM Approvals scheme, all the most widely used products in the Colorfast range of colour-matched self-drilling fasteners are FM Approved.

Being FM Approved means EJOT’s stated performance capabilities for the fasteners are in line with the stringent requirements of an international standard that applies to fully tested systems. Under the scheme, every element of the building envelope’s proposed construction is assessed down to the smallest fasteners, which is why it represents the ‘gold standard' for approvals.

As a result, the standard is unambiguous in terms of which fasteners can be used in order to deliver an approved roof or façade. Where FM approval is a prerequisite on a building envelope project, an FM appointed engineer will make thorough checks to ensure the correct fasteners are being used – from checking approval verifications through to demanding an FM Approved logo on boxes or labelling.

This certification provides specifiers and contractors with another independently verified ‘stamp of approval’ for the suitability of the range’s key products when used for fixing sandwich panels, or built-up envelope systems designed to the same standard.

 

Key to the success of guaranteed systems

A number of building envelope systems are offered with warranties which are attractive to specifiers, developers, building owners and occupiers because of the way they can protect against unanticipated costs associated with repairs or premature failure. Crucially, these warrantied systems can result in lower cost of ownership throughout the life of the building.

These are offered as ‘complete systems’ which are tailored to the building’s requirements, including the wall and roof panels plus flashings, boundary gutters, sealant, fasteners, and other components depending on the project specification.

The assured performance offered by Colorfast ensures that the fasteners are approved for use in many of the world’s most widely used building envelope systems. These include solutions provided by Kingspan Quadcore, Trimo and Euroclad, along with Tata Steel. As stainless steel Colorfast fasteners are highly resistant to corrosion, they are approved for use in building envelope designs that qualify for a 25-year Tata Platinum Plus Warranty, for example.

 

Collaborating with OEMs to confirm fastener specifications

The extent to which roofing and cladding designs require customisation to achieve building design requirements and performance targets means that the process for demonstrating Colorfast’s suitability is continuous. Here, EJOT UK is ideally placed to undertake testing to research the most suitable fasteners for building envelope systems due to the state-of-the-art facilities available within its Applitec Centre.

This world-class R&D facility is equipped with a large test rig which enables the EJOT technical team to work closely with OEMs and installers to test and identify fasteners for specific applications and confirm the correct installation procedure. It is available for customers to use as and when required to achieve the optimum fastening solution, providing a further benefit to choosing Colorfast.

 

Assuring customers through extensive, regular testing

Colorfast’s stated longevity is regularly checked and confirmed in testing by EJOT UK, as well as independent test houses, to provide systems manufacturers with a fastening solution that they know will be compatible with their products. This means that the package they offer to specifiers and contractors is one they can rely on.

For example, one of the ways EJOT can provide evidence of Colorfast’s durability is by subjecting the fasteners to accelerated environmental testing within its Applitec Centre. Here, a continuous neutral salt spray test chamber, which also supports EJOT’s longer term research and development programme, checks the fastener’s ability to resist corrosion. In addition, two UV testing chambers allow the team to artificially degrade polymers and elastomers by simulating conditions caused by natural sunlight, rain and dew.

Because this testing has been conducted throughout Colorfast’s lifespan, EJOT UK now has the capability to calibrate 1000 hour test conditions, replicating 40 years of multiple climate testing.