GacoFloor GFE7CZ Metal Epoxy Primer

GFE7CZ is a two-component, lead- and chromate-free epoxy-polyamide primer formulated specifically for metal substrates. It is the primer Gaco requires beneath GacoFloor Anti-Slip coatings wherever those coatings go onto steel or aluminium, and it also serves as a standalone anti-corrosive base coat under a wide range of finish systems.

• Rust-inhibitive – corrosion protection comes from zinc complexed with phosphate at the molecular level
• Lead- and chromate-free, HAPS-free, SCAQMD compliant
• Volume solids 72%
• Coverage: 23 m² per 3.8 litre kit at 0.10 mm (4 mil) dry film thickness – 6.05 m² per litre
• Pot life 4 hours at 21 °C; tack free in 2 hours; recoat after 12 hours
• Meets MIL-PRF-24667C; meets USDA standards for maintenance protective coatings not in direct contact with food in federally inspected meat and poultry plants
• Spray, roller or brush applied. No thinners may be added. No induction period required
• Supplied in 1-gallon and 4-gallon kits. Shelf life 1 year

Coverage is an area rate in square metres per kit at a stated film build. A 4-gallon kit (approximately 15.1 litres) covers about 92 m² at the same 0.10 mm DFT. Source: PDS — GacoFloor GFE7CZ, Two-Component Rust Inhibitive Epoxy Primer, revised 07/2026.

A note on the zinc. The zinc-phosphate complex in GFE7CZ is a non-metallic compound carried in a two-component polyamide epoxy. That is a different material from a conventional inorganic zinc primer, which is ground metallic zinc powder in an inorganic polymeric binder. It is what allows GFE7CZ to give rust resistance both on initial application and where the topcoat is later damaged.

• Beneath GacoFloor Anti-Slip coatings on metal – GFE7CZ is the primer Gaco specifies for that build-up
• Severe industrial and chemical environments – anti-corrosive base coat on prepared steel
• Marine work – steel and aluminium decks; HAPS-free and meets MIL-PRF-24667C
• Food production buildings – primed metalwork; meets USDA standards for maintenance protective coatings not in direct contact with food in federally inspected meat and poultry plants
• General maintenance priming under epoxy, urethane, vinyl, chlorinated rubber and coal tar/epoxy finish coats

GFE7CZ is a metal primer. For on-grade concrete, GacoFloor 100EX is the corresponding epoxy floor primer.

• 1. Mix – Mix the base until homogeneous, add the hardener and stir mechanically for about three minutes until uniform, making sure sediment is lifted off the bottom of the can. No thinners may be added. No induction period is needed — the mixed material can be applied straight away.
• 2. Stripe-coat first – Stripe-coat weld seams and edges before applying the full prime coat.
• 3. Apply – Spray, roller or brush. When spraying, hold the gun perpendicular to the surface and overlap each pass by 50%.
• 4. Film build – Estimated coverage is 23 m² per 3.8 litre kit (250 ft² per US gallon) at 0.10 mm (4 mil) dry film thickness, which corresponds to 0.17 mm (6.5 mil) wet. Apply at a minimum of 0.05–0.075 mm (2–3 mil) DFT above the averaged surface profile, and no more than 0.15 mm (6 mil) DFT.
• 5. Conditions – Material, surface and ambient temperature all between 13 °C and 48 °C, and at least 3 °C above the dew point. Maximum relative humidity 85%.
• 6. Working times – Pot life 4 hours at 21 °C. Tack free in 2 hours at 21 °C. Recoat after 12 hours at 21 °C. Protect the primed surface from contamination; if topcoating is delayed and the surface picks up dirt, clean it again before proceeding.
• 7. Clean up – Clean tools and spray equipment immediately after use with T5112 or T5116 solvent.

Application Equipment

• Airless spray
• Roller
• Brush (stripe coats, edges and weld seams)
• Low-speed mechanical stirrer

• Type: Two-component epoxy-polyamide primer; lead- and chromate-free; rust-inhibitive; contains zinc complexed with phosphate at the molecular level (a non-metallic compound, expressly not inorganic zinc)
• Colour: Gray
• Volume solids: 72%
• Estimated coverage: 250 ft²/gal — 23 m² per 3.8 L kit at 0.10 mm (4 mil) DFT / 0.17 mm (6.5 mil) WFT. A 4-gallon kit covers approximately 92 m² at the same film build
• Film build: minimum 0.05–0.075 mm (2–3 mil, 50–75 µm) DFT above the averaged surface profile; maximum 0.15 mm (6 mil, 152 µm) DFT
• Weight per gallon: 12.6 lb/gal (1.52 kg/L)
• Pot life: 4 hours at 21 °C (70 °F)
• Dry, tack free: 2 hours at 21 °C
• Recoat window: 12 hours at 21 °C
• Application temperature: 13–48 °C (55–120 °F), at least 3 °C above dew point
• Maximum relative humidity: 85%
• 1-gallon kit make-up: resin 2.9 L (4.9 kg) in a 1 gallon can plus hardener 0.87 L (0.86 kg) in a quart can — 3.77 L mixed
• Pack sizes: 1-gallon and 4-gallon kits
• Shelf life: 1 year
• Thinning: none — no thinners may be added
• Induction period: none required
• Clean up: T5112 or T5116 solvents
• VOC: no g/L figure is published for this product. Gaco describes it as a low-VOC formulation, SCAQMD compliant and HAPS-free, but publishes no number and we will not state one

Source: PDS — GacoFloor GFE7CZ, Two-Component Rust Inhibitive Epoxy Primer, revised 07/2026, and the gaco.com product page.

GFE7CZ performs only as well as the metal it goes onto. Steel must be dry, clean and free of previous coatings, rust and surface contamination.

• Degrease first – remove oil and grease by solvent clean (SSPC-SP 1) before blasting, or the blast simply drives the contamination into the profile.
• Abrasive blast – minimum SSPC Commercial Grade SP-6.
• Prime within 8 hours – blasted surfaces must be coated within eight hours.
• Previously painted surfaces – where fully intact, degrease and scuff-sand, but spot-test for lifting first. Any peeling or degrading paint must be removed completely.
• Stripe-coat weld seams and edges before the full prime coat.

Role in the system. GFE7CZ is the primer. It is the layer Gaco requires between prepared metal and the finish system.

Topcoats

GFE7CZ accepts many epoxy, urethane, vinyl, chlorinated rubber and coal tar/epoxy finish coats, and it is the specified primer beneath GacoFloor Anti-Slip systems on metal. Observe the 12-hour recoat window at 21 °C, and clean the primed surface again if topcoating has been delayed and it has picked up dirt.

Related products

• GacoFloor 100EX – the epoxy floor primer for on-grade concrete and suitably prepared timber. A different product for a different substrate.

• MIL-PRF-24667C
• USDA – meets standards for maintenance protective coatings not in direct contact with food in federally inspected meat and poultry plants
• SCAQMD compliant and HAPS-free
• Lead- and chromate-free

GacoFloor products are manufactured by Amrize under the Gaco brand. GFE7CZ is not BBA certified — no BBA certificate exists for it, or for any Gaco product. No warranty period is published for this primer.

GFE7CZ is a two-component epoxy (epoxy resin plus polyamide hardener). Read the Safety Data Sheets for both components in full before use.

• PPE: chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, protective clothing and footwear. Use suitable respiratory protection when spraying or where ventilation is limited. Blasting requires its own respiratory and eye protection and a competent-person assessment.
• Sensitisation: epoxy resins and amine hardeners are skin and respiratory sensitisers. Avoid all skin contact; do not rely on washing after the fact.
• Ventilation: work in a well-ventilated area; provide mechanical extraction in tanks, holds and other confined spaces, and follow confined-space procedures.
• Handling: mix only what can be applied within the 4-hour pot life. Mixed material generates heat as it cures — do not leave a full mixed container unattended.
• First aid – Skin: wash with soap and water and remove contaminated clothing. Eyes: rinse with clean water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention. Inhalation: move to fresh air; seek medical attention if symptoms persist. Ingestion: do not induce vomiting; seek urgent medical advice.
• Storage and disposal: store cool, dry and upright in sealed containers. Allow residues to cure fully before disposing of them as construction waste. Do not pour into drains or watercourses.

• This is a metal primer. GFE7CZ is for iron and steel. For on-grade concrete, use GacoFloor 100EX.
• Coverage: 23 m² per 3.8 litre kit at 0.10 mm (4 mil) DFT; approximately 92 m² from a 4-gallon kit at the same film build. An area rate at a stated film build — change the film build and the coverage changes.
• Pack sizes: 1-gallon and 4-gallon kits. There is no 3-gallon GFE7CZ kit.
• No thinners may be added. Thinning will not correct application problems and will change the film build.
• Blast to SP-6 and prime within eight hours. Leaving a blasted surface overnight loses the preparation.
• Pot life is 4 hours at 21 °C and shortens as temperature rises. Mix in batches.
• Recoat at 12 hours at 21 °C. Clean the primed surface again if topcoating is delayed.
• No VOC figure is published for this product, so none is stated here.
• Technical advice on specification and film build: 01208 832 602.