N A A M M / N O M M A M E T A L A M P 5 0 0 - 0 6 F I N I S H E S MANUAL F o r A r c h i t e c t u r a l and Metal Products National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers National Ornamental Copyright @ 1964, 1969, 1976, 1988, and 2006 & Miscellaneous By the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers Metals Association All Rights Reserved DISCLAIMER This manual was developed by representative members of the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers (NAAMM) and the National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association (NOMMA) to provide their opinion and guidance on the selection and specification of metal finishes. This manual contains advisory information only and is published as a public service by NAAMM and NOMMA. NAAMM and NOMMA disclaim all liability of any kind for the use, application, or adaptation of material published in this manual. National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers 8 South Michigan Ave., Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60603 312-332-0405 Fax 312-332-0706 www.naamm.org National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association 1535 Pennsylvania Ave., McDonough, GA 30253 888-516-8585 Fax 770-288-2006 www.nomma.org Copyright © 1964, 1969, 1976, 1988, and 2006 by National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers All Rights Reserved CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO METAL FINISHING ...................................................................................... i CHAPTER 1 - ALUMINUM ..........................................................................................................1-1 CHAPTER 2 - COPPER ALLOYS ...............................................................................................2-1 CHAPTER 3 - STAINLESS STEEL .............................................................................................3-1 CHAPTER 4 – CARBON STEEL AND IRON .............................................................................4-1 CHAPTER 5 – APPLIED COATINGS .........................................................................................5-1 CONTRIBUTING AND REFERENCED ORGANIZATIONS ...................................................... R-1 INDEX...........................................................................................................................................I-1 Acknowledgement NAAMM and NOMMA wish to thank their members and officers as well as industry experts for assistance and cooperation in producing this edition of the Metal Finishes Manual. Introduction To Metal Finishing NAAMM/NOMMA AMP 500-06 In This Section General Classification of Finishes ....................................................................................................ii The Function and Source of Finishes ..............................................................................................iii Variation in Appearance; the Value of Samples ..............................................................................iii The Choice of a Finish.....................................................................................................................iv Precautions......................................................................................................................................iv Table 1: Comparative Applicability of Finishes ................................................................................ v METAL FINISHES MANUAL INTRODUCTION TO METAL FINISHING The variety of finishes used on architectural finisher, the architect and the contractor. It is not metals, like other aspects of building technology, the sole responsibility of any one of these parties. becomes increasingly complex. Recognizing the The architect must understand the characteristics need for organized information on this subject, and limitations of the many finishes available, so the National Association of Architectural Metal that he may select those which are proper and ap- Manufacturers (NAAMM) published the first propriate for his purposes, and he should be able edition of this Manual in 1964. A second edition to clearly define his requirements. It is the respon- was published in 1969, a third edition in 1976, sibility of the supplier and fabricator to interpret and a fourth edition in 1988. In response to the these requirements sympathetically, to furnish the continuing demand for the Manual, this edition, appropriate alloys, and to see that all necessary containing still further revisions, is being published steps are taken to produce the desired effects. jointly by NAAMM and the National Ornamental & The contractor must see that the finishes sup- Miscellaneous Metals Association (NOMMA). plied are handled and installed with care, and are The scope and nature of this edition are the properly protected after installation. A satisfactory same as those of the former editions, but all of the end result is the common aim of all parties, but a contents have again been carefully and critically lack of mutual understanding can easily result in reviewed. Obsolete data has been deleted, errors dissatisfaction. One of the aims of this Manual is have been corrected, references to standards and to minimize the likelihood of such deficiencies by supplementary sources of information have been encouraging a better common knowledge of the updated, and the text has been extensively revised subject, for the benefit of all concerned. to reflect current practices. The Manual consists of five chapters and an General Classification of Finishes Introduction to Metal Finishing, which briefly ex- All of the finishes commonly used on the archi- plains the applicability of the various finishes for tectural metals can be classified as one of three architectural applications. The first four chapters principal types: cover finishes for the specific architectural metals, aluminum, the copper alloys, stainless steel, and Mechanical Finishes, which are the result of carbon steel and iron respectively. Chapter 5 cov- physically affecting the surface of the metal ers applied coatings used on all metals. by some mechanical means. This means may It is still the prime purpose of the Manual to be the forming process itself, or a subsequent provide the architect with essential information operation performed either before or after the about the many finishes available, and to assist metal is fabricated into an end use product. him in selecting and properly identifying them. It is Chemical Finishes, which are accomplished intended as a reference handbook, dealing briefly by means of chemicals, and which may or may with all of the finishes commonly used, but not at- not have a physical effect upon the surface of tempting to provide complete information about the metal. them. With the many new developments con- Coatings, which are applied as finishes, either stantly occurring, a small volume such as this can to the metal stock or to the fabricated product. serve only as an introduction to this very broad These coatings may be either: subject. For those desiring more comprehensive information, numerous references to supplemen- a) Formed from the metal itself by a tary sources are provided. process of chemical or electrochemical The production of satisfactory finishes on ar- conversion, or chitectural metal requires teamwork and coopera- b) Formed by the application of some tion among the metal supplier, the fabricator, the added material. NAAMM/NOMMA The relative importance of the three basic are applied for protective reasons, some for rea- types of finish varies with the different metals. sons of appearance, and a few are simply clean- They are all used extensively on aluminum, but on ing processes. Usually several steps are required carbon steel and iron, the coatings are far more in preparing a metal surface for its specified end important than either mechanical or chemical fin- use condition. All of these steps are designated, in ishes. The copper alloys are commonly subject to the terms of the trade, as “finishes,” though only both mechanical and chemical finishes. On stain- the final treatment is actually exposed to use; the less steel the mechanical finishes are the common others are in fact simply preparatory treatments. standard, while chemical finishes and coatings This is often the case, for example, where com- are infrequently used. Table 1 - Comparative Ap- pound finish designations are the general rule, as plicability of the Various Types of Finishes pro- is explained in Chapters 1 and 2. vides an overall view of the extent to which the Only a few of the many finishes discussed are various types of finishes are normally used on the provided by the basic suppliers of the metal. In different metals. the main, these are the so called “as fabricated’’ Because many of these finishes are not dis- finishes, which are usually the cheapest form of tinctly or uniquely suited to any one metal alone, mechanical finish, and are available on all of the and usages overlap considerably, the subject has metals. Sheet stock of various metals is also avail- not been found to lend itself to a neatly compart- able from the basic suppliers with several types mented treatment, arranged either by metals or of applied coatings, and aluminum and stainless by finishes. It has seemed advisable, therefore, steel sheet are supplied also with embossed and to classify the bulk of the discussion according to coined patterned textures. All of the other finish- metals, treating under each metal not only those es are “process finishes,” and are applied by the finishes which