FAQ

For a cool roofing product to perform best in hot sunny conditions it needs to have a high Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) and a high thermal emittance. COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel has both. It is cooler than ZINCALUME® steel and the rest of the COLORBOND® steel product range mainly because it achieves the highest TSR. It also has slightly higher thermal emittance than standard COLORBOND® steel because of its thicker paint system.

No. BlueScope Steel has worked exclusively with our paint suppliers to develop a coating solution that delivers the thermal benefits of COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel.

Years of extensive testing have been completed to ensure COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel maintains all of the quality and durability benefits of COLORBOND® steel. This includes the assessment of physical properties, accelerated corrosion and outdoor exposure as well as consistent production capability.

Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) is a measure of the ability of a surface to reflect the sun’s energy. Any energy that is not reflected is absorbed by the surface causing it to heat up.

The Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) value for COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel in the colour Whitehaven® is 77%.

The Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) value of COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel in Whitehaven® is greater than COLORBOND® steel in standard colours by between 9% and 52% depending on the selected colour.

The solar absorption value of COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel in Whitehaven® is 0.23. To see the comparative values and BCA ratings of the complete COLORBOND® steel range, check our colour classification guide.

BlueScope Steel's research team use a spectrophotometer in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM E903-96, which is amongst the most accurate methods for determining solar reflectance. Independent cross-checks with other laboratories are also conducted.

The Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) will drop for any light coloured surface if it becomes dirty. How much it drops depends on what is making the roof dirty. Fortunately all COLORBOND® steel products have excellent resistance to dirt retention, so regular washing from the rain usually leads to excellent maintenance of TSR.  For examples of COLORBOND® steel maintaining its solar reflectance, please view our test study

Post-applied solutions may initially have a higher Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) value, however studies suggest that the solar reflectance of COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel may be greater in a very short period of time due to its excellent maintenance of TSR. To learn about BlueScope Steel’s studies on solar reflectance and see the results of an Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) metal roofing study comparing the performance of post-painted and pre-painted products, please read the test study.

No. An R-Value is a term describing a material or system that provides a consistent level of resistance to heat flow. COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel roofing provides a varying level of resistance to heat flow into a building depending on the strength of the sun.

There are several advantages associated with using COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Air-conditioned commercial buildings may enjoy direct cooling benefits that typically pay back the costs many times over the life of the roof.
• Single story commercial buildings without air-conditioning are likely to be cooler in hot weather improving thermal comfort within the building.

COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel keeps the roof cooler leading to less thermal stress.

Specifying COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel over lower solar reflectance roofing materials also may help mitigate the impact of urban heat islands and can favourably impact the lifespan of roofing materials, see our test study.

Adding more insulation is quite different from using COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel, which functions purely to stop heat getting in by keeping the roof cool. Insulation helps stop heat getting in and out of a roof. For a building that is mainly occupied and cooled during the day, it's an advantage to let it cool down overnight instead of keeping the warmth in with extra insulation.

Because COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel keeps the roof cooler it leads to less thermal stress on the roofing system and may help reduce local warming. This means that the intensity of a local urban heat island may be reduced see our test study. On the other hand, increasing insulation leads to higher external roof temperatures.

For price comparisons, the material cost of insulation to achieve the same reduction in heat flow into a building is typically similar to the premium for COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel. This may not even take into account other factors. For instance, thicker insulation may be more difficult and costly to install, particularly if a roof spacer is required.

In combination with insulation, COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel roofing will allow you to achieve the highest possible cooling performance for your building.

In most Australian climate zones, the cooling energy saved usually more than offsets any additional heating energy, particularly for buildings that are predominantly cooled during the daytime, such as commercial buildings. In winter the sun is lower in the sky so sunlight on the roof is less intense, days are shorter and there is often more cloud cover.

Yes. COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel contains Thermatech® solar reflectance technology which is the same technology that is used in the standard 20 COLORBOND® steel colours.

Yes. Thermatech® technology that is incorporated into COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel roofing performs in the same way and offers the same product benefits.

Thermatech® technology in COLORBOND® steel is used to enhance the Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) of homes as well as commercial buildings. COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel in Whitehaven® has the highest TSR in our product range, and has been designed specifically for commercial and industrial roofing applications.

The cooling energy savings associated with COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel have been quantified in our own BlueScope Steel building study. This involved comparing the relative running costs of three identical insulated buildings, the only difference being the type of roofing material used. The results have been used as a guide to possible savings for other buildings. This is further supported by information from reputable sources in the public domain, see our Calculator and Case Studies.

Using COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel not only results in cost savings from reduced ongoing operational costs but also has the potential to reduce up-front expenditure on HVAC cooling equipment. For an understanding of the possible savings for your particular commercial or industrial building, we refer you to the following link - http://coolmax.colorbond.com/tools-and-calculator

Cooling energy savings will vary considerably as each building is unique in its construction and operation. Factors that will influence potential savings can include building shape, building function, the amount, quality and installation of roof insulation. The type and efficiency of HVAC equipment and the presence of ducting within or near the roofspace.

COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel helps reduce the surface temperature of a roof, which can translate to a cooler room temperature. A BlueScope Steel building study found that the insulated building with COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel in Whitehaven® used for roofing reduced the internal temperature of the room in hot weather by up to 2°C compared to the identical building with a roof made from ZINCALUME® steel. View our Test Study.

COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel is available in three introductory sizes: 0.42 x 940mm and 0.48 x 940mm for roofing, and 0.55 x 1200mm for accessories.

For roofing profiles, please see www.steelselect.com.au

Prices for COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel are available from BlueScope Steel suppliers. Please see the supplier list for more information.

COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel is available in three sizes. The two roofing sizes are available on two weeks production lead time plus transit times. The accessory or flashing size is available on three weeks production lead time plus transit times. Please see our supplier list.

COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel is not offered in Ultra as part of the introductory offer. However if you require higher performing corrosion resistance, please contact a supplier of COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel or BlueScope Steel to check availability.

COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel is available in one colour, Whitehaven®.

Visit our supplier locator.

Yes. Samples of COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel in Whitehaven® are available in a standard swatch size. Contact Steel Direct on 1800 022 999 or order swatches online. We refer you to the following link - http://coolmax.colorbond.com/downloads

Yes. In the introductory offer there is an accessory feed size for flashings. Fasteners are available from our fastener suppliers.

Yes, COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel is produced to AS2728.

Yes, please visit www.steelselect.com.au for information.

Currently COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel meets the highest level of concession available under the Deemed to Satisfy provisions of the BCA. Alternatively, the higher TSR value may be used within energy assessment software to improve performance, reduce insulation or compensate for underperforming elements of a building.

Sec J requires you to verify the energy efficiency of the building from a heating and cooling perspective. This is typically done in one of two ways:

1. Comply with a series of Deemed to Satisfy (DTS) requirements such as putting a certain amount of insulation in the roof and walls. The use of COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel may or may not provide concessions as the requirements are necessarily conservative.
2. Use energy efficiency verification software, which gives you wider scope. This is the more common method for commercial buildings because the cost of the expert modelling is insignificant compared with the potential efficiency gains that can be made over using DTS measures. The use of COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel for roofing in the verification software is likely to provide the most benefit. For instance, a reduction of roof insulation may then lead to a roof spacer not being required. Alternatively the use of COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel may compensate for an underperforming element or an element that is expensive to achieve the level required.

Appropriate fasteners matched to Whitehaven® are available in the market. If you require further assistance refer to SteelDirect 1800 022 999.

For roofing applications, BlueScope Steel offers a warranty* against corrosion to perforation by weathering in the natural elements for a period of up to 30 years from the date of installation. BlueScope Steel also warrants* that the paint system on COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel roofing will not flake or peel due to natural weathering for a period of up to 20 years from the date of installation.

^{*Warranty terms and conditions apply. Warranties are not available for all products and applications. The duration and terms and conditions of available warranties vary according to product use and application. Please visit www.bluescopesteel.com.au/warranties for further information}

Yes. As with all BlueScope Steel warranties, to estimate the warranty for your specific application or to apply for your warranty online, visit www.bluescopesteel.com.au/warranties.

COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel has equivalent corrosion performance to COLORBOND® steel in marine environments, as reflected by the equivalent warranty offer.

COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel roofing has equivalent corrosion and paint durability performance to COLORBOND® steel, as reflected by the equivalent warranty offer. However, COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel has greater solar reflectance than COLORBOND® steel.

The product will perform similarly to COLORBOND® steel in Surfmist® and can therefore be used in any application where that product has been considered suitable. Both COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel in Whitehaven® and COLORBOND® steel in Surfmist® reduce the potential for glare compared to ZINCALUME® steel.

The position of most commercial and industrial roofs mitigates the likelihood of roof glare because they are often high-set with a low pitch so they are rarely seen from the ground and the surface has very little impact. Roof glare complaints are commonly associated with mirrored sunlight causing a significant impact on visual amenity. In most Australian locations the path of the sun throughout the year is to the north of buildings. This means most of the mirrored reflection from a roof travels toward the south and above the roof. Therefore the area of concern for a commercial or industrial building is when a neighbouring residential area is directly to the south and above, overlooking the roof. In this instance a high gloss or bare metallic roof may not be appropriate.

Yes. As with other bright and light-coloured materials, consideration should be given to visual amenity, particularly in hilly terrain where the roof can be viewed by neighbouring properties to the south and above.

All light products have a greater tendency to show dirt than darker colours. Fortunately all COLORBOND® steel has excellent resistance to dirt retention, so regular washing from the rain is all that is usually required to keep your roof looking great.

For more information about COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel speak with an expert at Steel Direct on 1800 022 789.

See Steel Select for specifying COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel.