What is the SolidLux UV coating system?

Many of the properties that make EverStep Solid suitable for the most demanding environments — the fire class, the anti-slip, the immediate load-bearing capacity — do not come from the profile alone, but from the finish: the SolidLux UV coating system by Royal Van Wijhe Verf. This article gives the overview of the system; the individual test methods and classifications are covered in the articles on anti-slip, fire class and emissions. We explain how the system is constructed, what UV curing means and which documented performances make the system suitable for environments with strict requirements — from homes to public buildings.

One system, three layers

The SolidLux system consists of a build-up of matched layers. The base is a bio-based adhesion primer, with a demonstrable bio-based content in accordance with NEN-EN 16640. On top comes the base coat, which provides adhesion and a liquid-tight layer with a measured adhesive strength of more than 4.0 N/mm² in accordance with EN 1542 — well above the standard requirement of 1.5 N/mm². The finish is a top coat with integrated anti-slip texture. The layers are tested and applied exclusively as a system; it is precisely that coherence that makes the performance demonstrable.

Instant UV curing: installed today, in use today

Traditional coatings dry for hours to days, depending on temperature and humidity. SolidLux cures under direct UV light: the layer is chemically and mechanically loadable immediately after curing; the through-curing does not depend on the ambient temperature, within the prescribed processing conditions. For a home this means: installed today, up the stairs tonight. For a homeowner association, school or care institution it means something that weighs more heavily — a stairwell is an escape route and cannot be out of use for days. With this system, closure time is limited to the installation itself.

Anti-slip and fire class: demonstrated at system level

The anti-slip top of the system has been tested for dynamic friction: the measured coefficient of friction is above 0.60 — well above the NEN 7909 threshold values for dry and wet use. The coating system has also been tested in accordance with the European fire standard EN 13501-1, resulting in fire class Bfl-s1: limited contribution to fire and limited smoke development. Schools, care institutions and commercial buildings impose exactly this kind of requirement on stair finishes; with these documented performances, EverStep Solid can be assessed against them. Whether a specific requirements programme is met is determined per project. More background can be found in our articles on anti-slip and NEN 7909 and on fire class Bfl-s1.

Solvent-free and tested for indoor air

The system is solvent-free and has been tested by Eurofins: it meets the requirements of Indoor Air Comfort Gold, one of the strictest European assessments for emissions into indoor air. In spaces where people live, learn or recover, that is not a detail but a condition. In the article on emissions and indoor air we go deeper into the test results.

By Royal Van Wijhe Verf — B Corp

SolidLux is part of Royal Van Wijhe Verf from Zwolle, the first chemical company in the world with B Corp certification. This means sustainability does not stop at the product: the manufacturer measures and publishes the CO2 footprint per product and works with bio-based raw materials wherever possible. For Omnistair, that combination — Dutch manufacturer, demonstrable performance, credible sustainability policy — was the reason to link the system to EverStep Solid and GripStep Pro.

For professionals: documentation available per layer

An official product information sheet exists for every layer in the system, with technical specifications, standard references and test results. Architects, homeowner associations and dealers preparing a specification or project file can request this documentation — so every system property can be traced back to the corresponding document.

A coating contributes significantly to how a staircase performs under years of intensive use. The SolidLux system makes that performance demonstrable — per layer, per standard, per test result. All Omnistair claims and their sources can be found in the overview what the Omnistair claims are based on. Would you like to see the product information sheets or discuss the application for your project? Contact us via our contact page.