Pittsburgh PPG Boosts Tech Data Center Paint Sales
The Pittsburgh-based company is seeing surging demand for specialized fire-resistant coatings used in new computing sites.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Data Centers
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PPG Industries reports a surge in demand for its specialized Steelguard 951 paint as tech companies ramp up construction of data centers to power artificial intelligence. The manufacturer expects sales of these protective coatings to triple by 2026.
Why it matters
As tech firms construct massive new computing sites to support rapid artificial intelligence development, demand has spiked for materials that can protect critical steel infrastructure from fire and static electricity.
PPG's Steelguard 951 coating is engineered to expand from 1 millimeter to nearly 10 millimeters in thickness when exposed to fire. This crust acts as a thermal barrier, insulating the underlying steel from extreme damage.
The players
PPG
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, this company is a global manufacturer of paints, coatings, and specialty materials.
The details
Researchers at the company demonstrate the effectiveness of the coatings by applying direct heat from torches to treated steel panels. The specialized paint is formulated to provide essential resistance against fire, rust, and static electricity within server environments.
Timeline
PPG recorded $4.5 billion in total sales during the most recent quarter.
The company projects a tripling of data center paint sales by 2026.
The Tech Race
The reliance on Steelguard 951 reflects the broader infrastructure arms race in the data center industry as firms shift toward specialized passive fire protection. This moves beyond traditional construction materials to address the unique volatility and high-density heat output of modern AI hardware.
As data centers become more ubiquitous, these protective coatings play a vital role in ensuring the continuous uptime of the digital services and AI tools consumers use daily. Reliable fire protection in these facilities helps prevent outages that would otherwise disrupt internet-based workflows.
The takeaway
The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is driving innovation in industrial materials that were previously considered standard commodities. Pittsburgh-based manufacturers are finding significant growth by adapting legacy protective technologies to meet the high-stakes safety needs of the digital era.
Further reading
For more information on current facility development trends, visit the Data Centers section.
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