Comprehensive protection of the structures of the control tower at Barcelona Port

As it is located on the seafront, the control tower at Barcelona Port is totally exposed to the salinity of the environment, making it necessary to consider a highly efficient anti-corrosion system. The metal structure of the building consists of six storeys in painted structural steel sections and a secondary structure in galvanised steel. To ensure comprehensive protection, the work is carried out in two phases: treatment of the metal structure and treatment of the wooden slats.

1. Metal structures.  A single treatment is chosen for all the metal elements in order to facilitate the work of the appliers and improve the system as a whole, as there are no areas adjacent to different products, which may have lower levels of protection. The proposed system achieves a C5 H degree of protection according to the new ISO 12944-6:2018 standard, and is classified from a point of view of its atmospheric corrosivity as “very high.” The treatment consists of 5 steps: cleaning with metal and/or hand tools, ultra high pressure water washing and three coats of paint. 

The first coat provides a protective film against corrosion, the second adds thickness to the cured epoxy base coat and the topcoat provides hardness, flexibility, adhesion and stability.

2. Wooden slats. The auxiliary building has a façade made of a latticework of copper-treated pine louvres on a tubular galvanised steel substructure. The surface of the wooden slats was ageing, which affected their aesthetic finish and led to degradation. In the intervention, the wooden slats were not removed from either of the two surfaces, but were treated in-situ, taking care not to touch other elements such as the glass. This treatment is divided into two phases: cleaning and manual and/or metallic sanding of the slats and application of the finish in 4 layers: coloured impregnating agent, UV protection wax effect impregnating agent, waterproof sealant and matte finish.