Every four years, billions of people from all around the globe unite to watch the Olympic Games.
Hosted in renowned cities worldwide, this year’s Olympic Games will be held in Paris, France. They have only been held in Paris, France twice before - in 1900 and 1924. Now, 100 years later, Paris will once again become the world stage for these iconic games.
With multiple iconic areas throughout the city hosting various sporting events, many locations needed to undergo maintenance in order to ensure their structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. Sponge-Jet’s distributor in France, SA3, contributed to several of these restorations, one of which was the iconic Grand Palais. 
Standing in the heart of Paris, the Grand Palais is renowned for its breathtaking nave and glass roof. Built with more than 6,000 metric tons of steel, this structure had never undergone a full restoration until this past year. As they prepared their structure to be the stage for both the fencing and taekwondo events in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, they looked to SA3 for help.
Tasked with the surface preparation of 1,500m² of steel posts and steel beams, SA3 knew Sponge-Jet products would be right for the job. It was noted that there were multiple layers of paint that needed to be removed, with thicknesses that varied from 700 to 1000 microns (27 - 40 mils). At least one of these layers was found to contain lead, highlighting the importance of safely decontaminating this site.
When working on a hazardous waste project, such as one containing lead, contractors must follow strict procedures. Lead and abatement professionals have often used Sponge Media™ on abatement and decontamination projects, as Sponge Blasting not only limits worker exposure to hazardous materials, but it also dramatically reduces waste disposal costs due to its recyclability.
The profile specifications for this project called for a minimum profile of 75µ (3 mil), and the level of cleanliness called for SA2.5. Based on these required specifications, SA3 ultimately chose Red Sponge Media™, a good choice for steel with many layers of paint and advanced corrosion.
Proper surface preparation is essential to a long-lasting and visually appealing finish. As the foundation for paint, surfaces need to be profiled to create an anchor pattern that allows for correct adhesion to the substrate. Not only does this extend the life of the coatings by preventing corrosion or peeling paint for many years to come, but it also allows for a smooth finish of the coatings - a must when you’re on the world stage.
In the newly restored Grand Palais, the Sponge-Jet and SA3 teams are excited to watch the fencing and taekwondo events at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the next coming weeks!
