Commercial
Structural Steel Paintingto ISO 12944On-Site, Site-Safe
Long-term corrosion protection for your steelwork, worked to ISO 12944 and applied on-site by qualified teams — so your programme keeps moving and your structure stays protected for the long term.
CSCS, SSSTS, IPAF and PASMA qualified. Out-of-hours working and RAMS on request.
ISO 12944
Worked to standard
On-site
Keeps programme moving
IPAF/PASMA
Work at height
£10m
Public liability cover
Overview
Structural Steel Painting explained
This is on-site structural steel painting worked to ISO 12944 — the international standard for corrosion protection of steel structures — protecting steelwork against rust and degradation for the long term.
Who it's for
It is for main contractors, structural engineers, developers and asset owners who need steel protected or recoated in place, on live construction and industrial sites.
When it's needed
It is needed on new-build steelwork, during refurbishment of existing structures, and as planned maintenance where protective coatings have reached the end of their service life.
Why go professional
Professional application matters because corrosion protection only performs when specified and applied correctly — the right system, film build and preparation for the environment, delivered by qualified operatives working safely at height.
The cost of leaving it
What happens if it's ignored
Putting the job off — or trusting the wrong finish — rarely stays a small problem.
- Unprotected or under-specified steel corrodes from the inside of the coating outwards, quietly compromising a structure until repair becomes major work.
- Coatings applied without the correct preparation or film build fail early, forcing repeat access and repeat cost.
- Removing steel to coat it off-site is rarely viable once a structure is erected, and stalls the wider programme.
- Uncontrolled works at height on a live site create serious safety and compliance risks.
How we work
Our process, step by step
A clear, proven system that removes the guesswork and delivers a finish that lasts.
- 1
Enquiry & specification
We review the ISO 12944 environment category and specification, then assess site access and condition.
- 2
RAMS & preparation plan
Method statements and risk assessments are prepared, and surface preparation coordinated with a specialist subcontractor where required.
- 3
Access & containment
Safe access is established with IPAF and PASMA equipment, and areas are protected and contained.
- 4
Apply the system
Coating systems are applied on-site to the specified film build and standard, with each coat checked.
- 5
Inspect & hand over
The finished system is inspected against specification and handed back, backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee.
The benefits
Why choose Shaw Spray for structural steel painting
Long-term protection
Corrosion protection worked to ISO 12944 to suit the structure's exposure environment.
Programme-friendly
On-site application keeps steel in place and your construction programme moving.
Qualified teams
Fully site-safe operatives able to integrate with a principal contractor's regime.
Flexible hours
Out-of-hours and weekend working available to suit live sites.
Coordinated prep
Blasting and heavy preparation arranged via a trusted specialist subcontractor when required.
Guaranteed
Backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee and £10m public liability cover.
In detail
Structural Steel Painting: materials, methods and more
Working to ISO 12944
ISO 12944 is the international standard governing corrosion protection of steel structures through protective paint systems. We work structural steel painting to this standard, selecting and applying systems appropriate to the corrosivity category of the environment — from interior dry conditions through to exposed and coastal exposure. Correct specification, surface preparation and film build are all essential to achieving the intended service life, and we deliver each stage to that standard on-site.
Surface preparation and coordination
Coating performance begins with preparation. Where blasting or heavy surface preparation is required on-site, we coordinate this through a trusted specialist subcontractor, managing the interface so preparation and coating flow together as one programme. This gives you a single point of contact for the protective treatment of your steelwork while ensuring the substrate is properly prepared before any system is applied.
Qualified, site-safe delivery
Structural steel work is almost always at height and on live sites, so safety and competence are non-negotiable. All operatives hold relevant CSCS cards, every gang includes an SSSTS-qualified team member, and we hold IPAF and PASMA for working at height. RAMS are available on request for every project, allowing us to mobilise onto construction and industrial sites and work within your safety management system.
New-build, refurbishment and maintenance
We apply protective systems to new structural steelwork, recoat existing structures during refurbishment, and carry out planned maintenance where coatings have reached the end of their life. Delivered on-site across London and the South East with multiple gangs and flexible working hours, our steel painting keeps assets protected without pulling steel out of a live structure.
Our work
Recent structural steel painting projects
Real photographs from our own projects — no stock imagery.
FAQs
Structural Steel Painting — your questions answered
What specification do you work to?
Structural steel painting is carried out to ISO 12944, the international standard for corrosion protection of steel structures, with the system matched to the exposure environment.
Do you handle surface preparation?
Blasting and heavy surface preparation are carried out by a trusted specialist subcontractor when required on-site, coordinated by us so preparation and coating run as one programme.
Can you work out of hours?
Yes. Out-of-hours and weekend working is available to keep live sites operational and to suit your programme.
What qualifications do your teams hold?
All operatives hold relevant CSCS cards, every gang includes an SSSTS-qualified member, and we hold IPAF and PASMA for work at height.
Can you provide RAMS?
Yes. Risk assessments and method statements are available on request for every project.
Do you work on live construction sites?
Yes. Our qualified, site-safe teams mobilise across live construction and industrial sites and integrate with the principal contractor's safety regime.
How long will the coating last?
Service life depends on the ISO 12944 system specified for the environment; correct preparation and film build are designed to protect the steel for the long term, and our work is backed by a 10-year workmanship guarantee.
Do you cover London and the South East?
Yes. We deliver on-site structural steel painting across London and the South East, with the ability to mobilise multiple gangs.
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Get started
Ready for a structural steel painting that lasts?
Book your free, no-obligation survey today. Tell us about your project and we'll respond the same day.
CSCS, SSSTS, IPAF and PASMA qualified. Out-of-hours working and RAMS on request.