Fosroc Dekguard FC
Single-component, water-based acrylic emulsion coating that shields exposed concrete and masonry from carbonation, chloride ingress and weathering.
What is it?
A single-component, ready-to-use water-based acrylic emulsion protective and decorative coating for atmospherically exposed concrete, cementitious substrates and masonry.
Where is it used?
Exterior surfaces of RCC buildings, bridges, water tanks, boundary structures and facades exposed to rain, CO2 and airborne chlorides.
Why use it?
It forms a continuous breathable film that resists carbonation and chloride ingress, the two main drivers of reinforcement corrosion, while giving a durable decorative matt finish.
How is it applied?
Applied by brush, roller or airless spray in two coats (a third for opacity) over a clean, sound, fairing-coated substrate at roughly 0.20 litre/m2 per coat.
About Fosroc Dekguard FC
Fosroc Dekguard FC sits in the anti-carbonation / protective-coating family of the Fosroc concrete-protection portfolio. It is a single-component, water-based acrylic emulsion coating supplied ready for immediate site use, designed to protect atmospherically exposed reinforced concrete, cementitious renders and masonry from the aggressive elements that shorten a structure’s service life: carbon dioxide, driving rain, and dissolved chloride ions. Reinforced concrete in Indian conditions is constantly under attack from these agents. As CO2 from the atmosphere penetrates the concrete cover, it reacts with the alkaline pore solution and lowers the pH in a process called carbonation; once the carbonation front reaches the embedded steel, the protective passive layer breaks down and the reinforcement begins to corrode, causing cracking, spalling and the familiar rust staining seen on ageing facades. Chloride ions, whether wind-borne in coastal belts or present in the original mix, accelerate the same corrosion mechanism. Dekguard FC works by laying down a continuous, low-permeability acrylic film over the surface that dramatically slows the diffusion of CO2, water and chlorides into the cover concrete, effectively extending the time before corrosion can initiate. Because it is water-based, it carries low odour, is non-flammable, and cleans up with water, which makes it well suited to occupied buildings, campuses and sites where solvent fumes are a concern. It is offered in grey, white and a range of special colours on request, giving a matt decorative finish that doubles as an architectural coating. For Space Arc Engineering’s clients across Delhi NCR and Pan-India, Dekguard FC is a practical, cost-effective choice for routine facade protection and as the final protective layer in a Fosroc Renderoc concrete-repair system.
The technical insight
The performance of Dekguard FC comes from the physics of its cured acrylic film rather than any chemical reaction with the substrate. The coating has a specific gravity of 1.37 to 1.41 at 25 C and a solids content of 55 to 59 percent by weight (both varying slightly with colour), so a meaningful film of binder and pigment is left behind once the water evaporates. That film is engineered to be a strong barrier to carbon dioxide diffusion while remaining permeable to water vapour, an important distinction: it must stop CO2 and liquid water getting in, yet let trapped moisture vapour escape so the coating does not blister or delaminate. The applied scheme matters as much as the product. To achieve the rated protection the coating must be built up to an unbroken, pinhole-free film at the specified consumption of approximately 0.20 litre/m2 per coat over a minimum of two coats. Any blow-holes, bug-holes or pitting in the concrete will leave gaps in the protective film, which is why Fosroc specifies filling these defects first with Renderoc FC, a cementitious fairing coat, and levelling rougher substrates with a product from the Fosroc Repair Range. Touch-dry is reached in about 30 minutes and the surface can be recoated after 2 hours under normal conditions. It complies with Jordanian Standard Specifications No. 31, 1994 for emulsion paints; note that this is an emulsion-paint specification rather than a dedicated anti-carbonation standard such as EN 1062, so for projects demanding certified CO2-diffusion resistance the higher-grade Dekguard S should be considered.
Where it is used
- Anti-carbonation protective coating for exterior reinforced concrete facades and columns
- Decorative and protective overcoat on cementitious renders and plastered masonry
- Final protective layer in Fosroc Renderoc concrete-repair and refurbishment systems
- Protection of external concrete surfaces against driving rain and chloride-laden coastal air
- Recoating and refurbishment of ageing concrete building exteriors
- Protective finish on boundary walls, parapets, chajjas and exposed structural concrete elements
Key advantages
- Water-based, low-odour and non-flammable, suitable for occupied and enclosed sites
- Single-component and ready for immediate site use, no on-site mixing or catalysts
- Provides a barrier against carbon dioxide, water and chloride ions in a single product
- High resistance to long-term weathering and durable across varied Indian climatic conditions
- Fast handling times, touch-dry in around 30 minutes and recoatable in 2 hours
- Available in grey, white and special colours with a clean matt decorative finish
- Applicable by brush, roller or airless spray, and tools clean up with plain water
- Cost-effective protection well matched to large facade areas and repair-system topcoats
Limitations & considerations
- Complies with an emulsion-paint standard (Jordanian Spec No. 31, 1994) rather than a dedicated anti-carbonation standard like EN 1062, so it is a general-grade rather than certified high-performance coating
- Not crack-bridging; on substrates with active or moving cracks an elastomeric coating such as Dekguard Elastic is more appropriate
- Substrate temperature must be above 5 C at the time of application
- Requires a sound, clean, fully prepared substrate; blow-holes and pitting must first be filled with Renderoc FC for an unbroken film
- Being water-based, it is sensitive to rain and frost before the film has dried and cured
- Theoretical coverage of 0.20 litre/m2/coat reduces in practice due to wastage and substrate roughness
- 12-month shelf life and must be protected from frost and high-temperature/high-humidity storage
Selection & best practice
Begin with thorough substrate preparation: the surface must be sound, dry and free of laitance, mould-release oils, curing compounds and any algae or moss, best achieved by light grit-blasting followed by a proprietary biocide treatment where growth is present. Fill all blow-holes and pitting with Renderoc FC and level rough areas with a Fosroc Repair Range product so a continuous film can be formed. Apply Dekguard FC in two full coats, thinning only the first coat with clean water as the substrate demands, and observe the 2-hour minimum recoat interval; add a third coat where extra opacity or hiding power is needed. Do not start work if the substrate is below 5 C or if rain is expected before the film has dried. Maintain the specified consumption of around 0.20 litre/m2 per coat to ensure the protective barrier is achieved, allowing for practical wastage above the theoretical figure. Clean all tools and spray equipment with clean water immediately after use, and store unopened pails in cool, dry, frost-free conditions, using stock within the 12-month shelf life.
Specifications
| Product type | Single-component, water-based acrylic emulsion protective coating |
| Primary protection | Carbon dioxide (anti-carbonation), water and chloride ions |
| Finish | Matt |
| Colours | Grey, white; special colours on request |
| Specific gravity | 1.37 – 1.41 @ 25 C (colour dependent) |
| Solids by weight | 55 – 59% (colour dependent) |
| Touch dry | 30 minutes |
| Recoat time | 2 hours |
| Number of coats | 2 coats (third coat for hiding power if required) |
| Coverage | Approx. 0.20 litre/m2 per coat (theoretical) |
| Application method | Brush, roller or airless spray |
| Minimum substrate temperature | 5 C |
| Flammability | Non-flammable |
| Standards compliance | Jordanian Standard Specifications No. 31, 1994 (Emulsion Paints) |
| Companion fairing coat | Renderoc FC (for filling blow-holes / pitting) |
| Packaging | 18 litre pails |
| Shelf life | 12 months in original unopened packs, cool dry frost-free storage |
| Clean-up | Clean water immediately after use |
Industry use cases
Commercial and residential buildings
Protective and decorative anti-carbonation coating on RCC facades, columns and plastered masonry to extend the life of exposed concrete and refresh building appearance.
Infrastructure and bridges
Topcoat protection over repaired concrete on bridge piers, abutments and exposed structural elements as part of a Fosroc Renderoc repair scheme.
Coastal and marine-adjacent structures
Barrier coating on external concrete in coastal Indian belts where airborne chlorides and driving rain accelerate reinforcement corrosion.
Repair and refurbishment contractors
Final protective layer applied after patch repairs and fairing with Renderoc FC, sealing the whole surface against renewed carbonation and chloride attack.
Institutional and campus projects
Low-odour, non-flammable water-based option for schools, hospitals and offices where solvent coatings are undesirable on occupied exteriors.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is Fosroc Dekguard FC and what does it do?
How many coats and how much material do I need?
What surface preparation is required before applying Dekguard FC?
Can it be applied by spray, and how soon can I recoat?
How is Dekguard FC different from Fosroc Dekguard S?
Is Dekguard FC suitable for cracked concrete?
How we position Fosroc Dekguard FC
Within the Fosroc range, Dekguard FC is the value-grade, water-based member of the Dekguard anti-carbonation family, most often specified alongside the Fosroc Renderoc concrete-repair system: blow-holes are filled with Renderoc FC fairing coat, structural patches made good with Renderoc hand-placed or spray-grade mortars, and Dekguard FC applied as the final protective skin. Where a project calls for certified, premium anti-carbonation performance with high UV stability, the solvent-based aliphatic acrylic Dekguard S is the step-up product; where the substrate has live or moving cracks, the elastomeric crack-bridging Dekguard Elastic is more appropriate. Against competing systems in the Indian market, Dekguard FC competes with Sika anti-carbonation and protective coatings such as Sikagard, with MBS (MYK Laticrete) protective coatings, with Dr. Fixit’s exterior protective and anti-carbonation coatings such as the Raincoat and Newcoat ranges, and with STP Limited protective coating products. Honestly assessed, Dekguard FC’s strengths are its water-based low-odour formulation, single-component convenience, multi-element barrier and integration with the wider Fosroc repair ecosystem; its limitation is that it conforms to an emulsion-paint standard rather than a dedicated anti-carbonation specification, so for tender work demanding documented EN 1062-type CO2-diffusion resistance, specifiers should weigh Dekguard S or an equivalent certified coating. As an authorised Fosroc distributor and applicator across Delhi NCR and Pan-India, Space Arc Engineering can advise on the right Dekguard grade, supply genuine Renderoc and Dekguard products, and support correct specification and on-site application.
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