London Eye Substructure Refurbishment with Interzone 954
Specialist Painting Group partnered with Red 7 Marine to refurbish the London Eye substructure, the carbon steel structure beneath the landmark in the River Thames. The existing coating had deteriorated badly, so the team carried out mechanical surface preparation and applied Interzone 954, a high performance modified epoxy protective coating.
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The Challenge Beneath the London Eye
The London Eye substructure sits in the tidal Thames, where it is repeatedly wetted and exposed as the tide rises and falls. This splash and tidal zone is one of the harshest environments steel can face, because constant cycles of wetting and drying, combined with oxygen and waterborne contaminants, accelerate corrosion.
The existing coating system had suffered significant deterioration, with numerous areas showing complete failure. Without renewed protection, corrosion would continue to attack the carbon steel and shorten the life of this vital part of the attraction.
Access and Working with the Tide
Reaching the London Eye substructure called for a specialised floating platform. Red 7 Marine and SPG used powered access and a tender, working during low tide to expose as much of the steel as possible and to keep operations safe and efficient.
Tidal working means every task is planned around a limited window. Preparation and coating have to be sequenced so each area is completed and protected before the water returns, which demands careful coordination between the marine and coatings teams.
Surface Preparation and the Interzone 954 Coating
The team carried out thorough mechanical surface preparation, including abrading the areas where the original coating system remained intact so the new coating would bond to it properly. Good preparation is what allows a coating to perform in a tidal environment, where any weakness in adhesion is quickly exploited by water.
Once the surfaces were prepared, the team applied Interzone 954, a high performance modified epoxy protective coating system designed to protect the structure against further environmental damage. Find out more about our protective coatings and corrosion protection services.
Protecting Marine and River Structures
Piers, jetties, bridge foundations and substructures all face similar conditions to the London Eye. Coating them successfully depends on safe marine access, surface preparation suited to damp conditions and coating systems formulated for immersion and splash zones. Guidance from bodies such as the Institute of Corrosion helps specifiers choose the right approach.
Planning a Coating Project
Every successful coating project starts with understanding the condition of the existing coating and the steel beneath it. A survey identifies where the coating has failed, how far corrosion has progressed and whether the old system can be overcoated or needs to be removed completely. That information shapes the choice of surface preparation method and the new coating specification.
SPG supports asset owners through each of these stages, from coating inspection and specification advice through to preparation and application. Projects such as the London Eye substructure show how the right plan, agreed at the outset, keeps work safe, efficient and on programme.
Choosing the Right Surface Preparation Method
No single surface preparation method suits every job. Abrasive blasting, UHP water jetting, mechanical preparation, CO2 blasting and RPR heat induction each have strengths depending on the substrate, the coating being removed and the environment around the work. On the London Eye substructure, the method was chosen to suit the structure and its setting. Assessing these factors early helps avoid delays and reduces risk once work begins. Where abrasive methods are suitable, our abrasive blast cleaning team can prepare larger areas of steel.
Why Choose SPG
Specialist Painting Group has delivered industrial coating projects since 1997. Our operatives are ICATS certified, and we hold RISQS, SafeContractor, ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 accreditations, giving clients the competence, safety management and quality systems they expect from a specialist contractor.
Explore the sectors we work in, or contact us to discuss a marine or riverside structure.
