Architectural Flashing Supply
Start a Quote
Metals, alloys and protective coatings · Lesson 3 of 4

Metals, alloys and protective coatings: methods and worked application

Read the spec, match it to the AFS material, calculate coating thickness and zinc weight, list and screen every contact and runoff path, and record storage notes and requests for information.

You will be able to: Apply an eight-step method that takes a specification line to an unambiguous, screened order, calculating coating thickness and zinc weight and recording every contact, drainage path and open question.

12 min · 12 slides · 8 questions

All lessons in this module
Slide 1 of 12

From spec line to screened order

Eight steps take a specification line to an order that can be fabricated. The flow shows where a request for information (RFI) is raised.

The AFS Design Center screens pairs of metals qualitatively from the MCA bulletin, never as a binary approval.

A pair the source does not cover comes back as not covered, with the instruction to ask AFS.

From a specification line to a screened order, in eight stepsA vertical flow: read the spec line, match it to the AFS material, list every contact and drain-onto material, screen each pair, then a decision on avoid, caution or not covered that raises an RFI with a separation note, storage and handling notes, a decision on anything marked ask AFS that raises an RFI to AFS, and finally read back the order line and file the packet.From spec line to screened orderEight steps; two decisions raise an RFI, then rejoin1Read the spec line2Match to the AFSmaterial3List every contactand drain-ontomaterial4Screen each pairAvoid, cautionor not covered?Yes5RFI andseparationNo6Storage andhandling notesAnything markedask AFS?Yes7RFI toAFSNo8Read back the orderline and file thepacketRFI: request for information.When answeredWhen answered

A vertical flow of eight steps: read the spec line, match it to the AFS material, list every contact and drain-onto material, screen each pair, a decision that raises an RFI with a separation note, storage and handling notes, a decision that raises an RFI to AFS, and read back the order line and file the packet.

1
Read the spec line: metal, standard, weight or temper, finish, chart name
2
Match to the AFS material and its thickness unit
3
List every contact and drain-onto material
4
Screen each pair
5
Request for information and separation note
6
Storage and handling notes
7
Request for information to AFS
8
Read back the order line and file the packet
The course method. The screening step uses the AFS Design Center, which gives qualitative results from the MCA bulletin and never a binary approval.

Videos for this lesson

What this video shows: The coil coating trade association walks through the production stages: cleaning, pretreatment, coating, curing and quality control. Checked against the video's description.

Video: ✅ Coil Coating Process by National Coil Coating Association, on YouTube. Chosen from the video's published description.

What this video shows: A metal roofing expert explains galvanic reaction when dissimilar metals touch in the presence of moisture. Checked against the video's description.

Video: Mixing Metals on a Metal Roof? How Galvanic Reaction Causes Roof Failure by The Metal Roofing Channel, on YouTube. Chosen from the video's published description.

Glossary

RFI
A request for information: a written question sent to the designer or supplier when a specification is unclear, conflicting or leaves a contact pair unscreened.
Galvanic corrosion
Faster corrosion of the less noble of two different metals that are electrically connected by an electrolyte such as rain or condensate.
Nobility
A ranking of metals from least noble, which corrode first, to most noble; among the metals taught here, the Copper Development Association seawater series runs from zinc up to passive stainless steel.
Runoff corrosion
Corrosion of a downstream metal by water that has run off a more noble metal such as copper, with no direct contact.
Preservative-treated lumber
Wood treated against rot with copper-containing preservatives such as ACQ; in direct contact with some metals it can speed corrosion.
Printed color name
The name printed on a manufacturer color chart. AFS orders and fabricates from that name, confirmed against a physical chip, never from an on-screen swatch.