Return to Technical Information
by Jay Beswick
(Published originally in the MCLA Newsletter, v. 2, ns. 1, 1989)
The Los Angeles CountyTransportation Commission has recognized the need to protect their more than one-half million square feet of bridges and retaining walls along the Los Angeles light rails right-of-way.
The Commission arranged a comparison testing of available anti-graffiti systems through Community Youth Gang Services, contacted by the Quality Assurance Divsion of Trans-Cal, the consulting firm for L.A.C.T.C. Agency staff in turn notified various manufacturers of anti-graffiti paints, then supervised the installation of sample systems by manufacturer representatives. To make a fair evalution of the systems tested, twenty-five varieties of inks, markers and aerosol paints were used.
Of twenty-five manufacturers of anti-graffiti coatings invited to participate in a demonstration of product capability, eleven responded. Of the eleven products demonstrated, eight failed to remove all twenty-live selected defacement materials, while nine required an unrealistic amount of time to remove five of the selected aerosol paints.
Of the remaining two products, both sacrificial coatings, one was particularly effective . This product, which reflected the greatest resistance, is a carbohydrate system, a revolutionary concept, unlike conventional resin coatings. Called REPELLO, it is manufactured by L.M. Scofield, with patented ingredients from Switzerland. When the coating has dried it is almost impossible to detect. Removal is done with a hydro-blaster, eliminating the need for harsh chemicals. Future testing has been scheduled, to investigate this product's viable uses, and these we hope will include the protection of the city's murals.