BASF launches ULTRA-Cool coatings for metal roofs

Technology helps save energy consumption and costs; gives color options

SOUTHFIELD, Mich./LAS VEGAS, October 23, 2001 – BASF Corporation’s Industrial Coatings Regional Business Unit (RBU) introduced a new, premium cool coating for metal substrates at the annual METALCON Show in Las Vegas [Booth # 1040]. ULTRA-Cool™ coatings dramatically increase the reflectivity of medium to darker colors, thereby reducing heat levels on vital applications like metal roofing.

Excessive heat absorption of roofing materials and surfaces are a concern since more energy would be required to keep interior spaces cool and comfortable. Roofing materials that absorb heat are also a chief culprit in the "Urban Heat Island" effect, a phenomenon that causes the air over urban areas to be significantly hotter than surrounding suburbs. This effect, along with increased demands on power plants to supply energy for cooling, has led to notable increases in smog levels. Technology to achieve a "cool roof" effect that enables a reduction in air temperature and energy consumption – and the accompanying costs -- has been available, but only in white and other light colors. As such, metal roofing presented limited design options for a "cool roof" performance.

New ULTRA-Cool coatings provide the benefits of heat reflectivity performance and a full range of color choices, as well as the same quality as BASF’s Fluoroceram^® and Ultraceram™ metal coatings. Furthermore, using ULTRA-Cool coatings enables energy cost savings since interior spaces are kept cooler, increases the life expectancy of roofs due to less expansion and contraction, and affords a potential qualification for monetary incentives that are increasingly being offered for switching to reflective roofing products.

"Energy conservation has become a big issue this year with the rolling blackouts that occurred in California and a national debate on how future demands for energy will be met," said Jim Kendall, Vice President, Industrial Coatings RBU, BASF Corporation. "Our new ULTRA-Cool coatings meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star^® specifications for ‘cool roofs.’ BASF is an Energy Star partner and is in the process of qualifying ULTRA-Cool coatings for this program."

According to BASF data, selected standard ULTRA-Cool colors will show a 38.3 percent reflectivity, while identical colors from conventional coatings achieve only a 25.2 percent level. Each additional percentage point of reflectivity reduces metal temperature by one degree, thus affirming the advantages of using this new technology to reduce energy consumption and costs.

"Metal roofing in general offers many recognized benefits, such as greater fire resistance, lighter weight, seamless integrity, color choice and longevity," said Susan Conley, Director of Marketing, BASF Industrial Coatings. "These standard benefits along with the environmental advantages offered by ULTRA-Cool make this new product a viable option."

Further information on this innovation is located on the Internet at www.ULTRA-Cool.basf.com.

BASF is the world's largest producer of chemicals and related products. Based in Mount Olive, N.J., BASF Corporation is the North American affiliate of BASF AG (Ludwigshafen, Germany), which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "BF." BASF Corporation had sales of $7.9 billion in 2000. BASF in North America employs more than 15,000 people at more than 50 locations, and can be found on the Internet at www.basf.com/usa.

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ULTRA-Cool and Ultraceram are trademarks of BASF Corporation. Fluoroceram is a registered trademark of BASF Corporation. Energy Star is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.