Every Reynaers profile we fabricate is powder coated to Qualicoat's international durability specification. Here's what Class 1 and Class 2 actually mean, how the natural "Florida test" proves it, and why it matters for a facade that has to look good for decades.
Qualicoat is the international quality label for powder-coated aluminium used in construction. Licensed applicators — including the finishing lines Reynaers profiles pass through before fabrication — are independently audited, and every coating batch is tested against a published seal-of-approval specification.
Qualicoat classification has nothing to do with which colour or texture you choose — every RAL shade and structured finish is available in either class. It's purely a measure of how well the coating holds its appearance under years of real outdoor sun, heat and moisture.
Rather than relying only on accelerated lab simulation, Qualicoat classes are proven with natural outdoor weathering exposure at a test station in South Florida — one of the most UV-intensive, humid climates used anywhere in the coatings industry as a real-world durability benchmark.
Small coated aluminium test panels, produced alongside the same batch of powder used on production profiles, are mounted outdoors and left to weather under genuine sunlight for the full test period.
Two properties are tracked against the unexposed reference panel:
Both properties must stay within Qualicoat's published limits for the coating to keep its class certification — Class 2's limits are the stricter of the two, and are checked at more points along the way.
Both classes use the same Florida exposure methodology — Class 2 simply demands the coating hold up for longer, and to a tighter standard.
| Property | Class 1 | Class 2 (Super Durable) |
|---|---|---|
| Test method | Natural Florida exposure, ISO 2810 | Natural Florida exposure, ISO 2810 |
| Panel angle | 5° south-facing | 5° south-facing |
| Exposure period | 1 year | 3 years, evaluated annually |
| Minimum gloss retention | ≈50% at 1 year | ≈75% at 1 year, ≈50% at final 3-year check |
| Colour change (ΔE) | Within Qualicoat's colour-dependent limit | Same table, tighter interim caps at each annual check |
| Typical application | Standard architectural, sheltered elevations | Facades, coastal, south-facing & long-term exposure |
| Reynaers standard since | — | 2025, across the full window, door & patio range |
Class 2 powder is formulated to resist fading, chalking and gloss loss for years longer than Class 1 under continuous UV exposure — your frames keep their factory finish for longer.
South-facing glazing and properties nearer the coast see the most UV and salt-laden air. Class 2 was developed specifically for this kind of sustained outdoor exposure.
Since 2025, Reynaers fabricates its full window, door and patio range in Class 2 powder coat as standard — across 250+ RAL, sanded and structured finishes — at no premium over the previous Class 1 standard.
Every 2Rsystems installation carries our standard 10-year system guarantee, now backed by a higher-durability coating as standard across the range.
Speak to our team — we'll talk you through finish options and durability for your specific project, at no cost.
Call 01794 721 100