Polychrone Finish

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Author Message Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1183 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 05:00 pm:    Can anyone explain what a polychrome finish is? A contractor has proposed combining fluoro-polymer finish for the external surfaces and polychrome finish for the internal surfaces. I don't know what polychrome is? John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1597 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 05:15 pm:    I think of polychrome as Polomyx, Zolatone or similar product. I'm not sure how or why you'd do that on fenestration (which I'm assuming you mean.) Split finishes for fenestration are more likely to have a polyester or acrylic (in a solid color) on the interior, in my experience. SRSLY (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 05:47 pm:    Why not try asking the contractor? After all, they are the ones proposing it. They should know what they are talking about. If by chance they don't know what they are talking about, they should be able to connect you with a manufacturer / supplier / fabricator / etc. that does. If not, I don't think they are very serious about their proposal. Stop wasting your fee by doing the research and make them earn theirs by providing the research to you. Liz O'Sullivan Senior Member Username: liz_osullivan Post Number: 159 Registered: 10-2011 Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 06:59 pm:    I'm looking for the like button, SRSLY. Too often the design team (including me) assumes that crazy proposals from the GC have some basis in reality/availability. They don't always. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1184 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 07:03 pm:    SRSLY The Contractor is being a prick, its a French Contractor whose recent claim to fame is completing the Dodge Island tunnel in Miami, now they want to build a large shopping mall...god help us all. BTW, all this work is being invoiced as an additional service...most contractors are lazy, they would much prefer the architect or specwriter to do the research. So what does SRSLY stand for besides SERIOUSLY? very unoriginal. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1185 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 07:10 pm:    Liz, the request came from very high up the food chain on this job which I started specs on in 2006, it has changed development and construction teams three times....I think this question is valid, but since I hammered my crystal ball after my last crazy job, I thought I'd ask my colleagues here. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1186 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 07:31 pm:    The contractor is Bouygues Construction. Anyone ever work with this firm? SRSLY (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 08:07 pm:    I fail to see how the contractor's nationality is relevant to the discussion. Unless polychrome is French and then they would be more qualified (becasue of the being French part) than those of us who aren't French to answer. They obviously have an idea of what polychrome is, otherwise they wouldn't have proposed it. So why not ask them what they mean by it? It seems like the most effective way to get your answer. Then when you get the answer, be sure to post what it is here. I'm just as curious as you are to find out. P.s.: Would you believe me if I said it stands for "Spec Right, Spec Light, Ye-haw"? I believe it was on the brainstorming list when CSI adopted the 4 C's. Giddy-up! Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1187 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 08:50 pm:    Spec Right, Spec Light, Ye-haw Seriously! Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1188 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 08:55 pm:    My friend and fellow specwriter Tommy Mejia came up with this link: http://www.tapeandlabel.com/index.php/graphic-films/polychrome-polish and this may be what they are referencing, since you can get a high shine chrome finish - The architect directed my query back to the contractor and I am supposed to hear back tomorrow. So I will post it, meanwhile none of the glazing consultants I reached out to had a response. Robert E. Woodburn, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: bob_woodburn Post Number: 108 Registered: 11-2010 Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 10:10 am:    Thanks, Jerome. Just shows what happens when one relies too much on etymology (or at least presumed etymology). One might think, as mentioned above, that a finish combining many (poly) colors (chrome) was meant. Instead, according to the website, it's a bright, high-shine, chrome-like finish available in "unlimited colors" on some kind of polymer film, in a highly polished finish (no extra charge for the pun...). And just to set us straight, at the outset it is referred to as a "Polish" finish. NOT French. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 828 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 10:28 am:    I would be terrified to use a film as a permanent means of coating interior mullions. There are numerous polychromatic paints and coatings. As far as I know, many were developed for the automobile and signage industries. They are available in many different levels so, without qualifiers, the term is pretty much useless. It's like saying that they use polymer technology without telling you either the polymer or the technology. If money is the issue, perhaps you can suggest the use of an AAMA 2603 coating? I presume you want this to be shop-applied so a powder coat acrylic or polyester might work well. That way you can at least count on some level of quality control with an industry standard system. I presume they don't really know what they're suggesting. It's probably something they heard in passing and latched on to it. If they knew what they were talking about, they may have given you better information to start with. Good luck my friend. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1189 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 11:49 am:    Well Ken, I don't know if it is a film or not, one of my colleagues came up with that, neither the architect nor the contractor has yet to confirm what polychrome is. I have been promised an answer later today. George A. Everding, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: geverding Post Number: 769 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 02:27 pm:    Not sure what "polychrome" is either, but as a rule of thumb, I avoided specifying products that sounded like they belonged in a Harry Potter book. Heavy on the magic, light on the facts. John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1598 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 04:00 pm:    Bouygues Construction is one of the largest contractors in the world, with annual revenues of 42 billion dollars. There are not many others larger than that. The link to the polychrome film Jerome posted is for a graphic film. However, there are methods of applying images and designs to "stuff" that are not aimed at the graphics market (which arguably may not be intended for as long a life as a building product). Some use a film as an application method for ink/paint. I would not dismiss films out-of-hand without assessing the particulars. Anon (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 07:26 pm:    Jerome, is this the same project as the one you posted a question about using different coatings interior to exterior? http://discus.4specs.com/discus/messages/24/7313.html?1408586365 If so, were you able to get a split system, or can the fabricator do this on a single extrusion? Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1190 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 10:35 pm:    Anon, different job, this job is a curtain wall system, so the only real exterior extrusion is the pressure plate, the remainder of the extrusion is interior, the glass is insulated. It does appear the Building Owner wants a bright chrome finish on the interior, but I am still waiting for further explanation of "polychrome". Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1191 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2014 - 03:12 am:    The architect has advised that they believe the contractor mistakenly asked for Polychrome when they should have asked for Polycron, a PPG polyester paint finish. I thank all the responses and am proceeding with specifying the curtain wall finish as Polycron on the inside facing surfaces and Duranar on the outside facing surfaces. David J. Wyatt, CDT Senior Member Username: david_j_wyatt_cdt Post Number: 97 Registered: 03-2011 Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2014 - 09:29 am:    Are you kidding? Wow! Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 541 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2014 - 09:51 am:    Does this mean that we shouldn't take at face value whatever a contractor proposes? My world is shattered. Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP, EDAC Senior Member Username: redseca2 Post Number: 457 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2014 - 11:37 am:    Darn it, I was hoping they would finish the interior side curtain wall framing with shiny Contact Paper. Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1898 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2014 - 11:49 am:    Mylar balloon material!