Industrial Fallout

Industrial fallout is any contaminant that lands on a car from any industrial or human activity, usually commercial in nature.

This is the important distinction because it may imply negligence to take precautions against contamination and a commercial enterprise may be liable.

Fallout is generally any substance, wet or dry, which has got into the air, or fallen from above and usually occurs on factory estates or near building projects.

It is fairly common within the trade to use "industrial fallout" and "rail dust" interchangeably, because they often amount to the same thing, which is ferrous metal particles adhering to your car's paintwork. However, industrial fallout is not limited to metal contamination.

Examples of Industrial Fallout

Here are some examples, all of which we have encountered.

• Paint and coatings overspray and splatter: This includes resin paints used on lampposts, railings and bridges. Road marking paint, wood stains and varnishes etc.
• Soot: This can come from factory chimneys, ships at dockyards, or as a result of fires.
• Limescale: This can come from contaminated water dripping from buildings and is a hazard of underground parking.
• Chemical spillages: Usually a result of traffic accidents where lorries have spilled their load and could be anything from diesel to detergent.
• Adhesives: Many adhesives, silicone sealants and insulation materials are sprayed, meaning they can get into the air.
• Tar and bitumen: Commonly used to seal building roofs, this can stray from building sites.
• Concrete and cement: This can include wet concrete and plaster, or dry cement powder, plus debris from demolitions.
• Metal particles: This is contained in soot and exhaust, but can also be belched out by extractor fans, or caused by welding, grinding, or many other industrial processes.
• Firework damage: What goes up, must come down, and spent fireworks may still be hot can cause burns and stains. Likewise, soot from bonfires can be considered fallout.

What it means

Industrial fallout is the catch-all term for tiny particles that drift out of industry and traffic and then settle on your car. These can include iron dust from train wheels and brakes, particles from lorry and car brakes, factory emissions, power stations and other industrial processes. Once they land on the paint while it is slightly warm or damp, the particles can stick into the clearcoat and begin to oxidise, showing up as tiny orange or dark specks and leaving the paint feeling rough to the touch.

Why it matters

• Looks like rust spots: On light colours especially, industrial fallout can make a relatively new car look peppered with rust-coloured dots and stains.
• Can stain the clearcoat: As the metal particles rust, they can discolour the clearcoat itself, leaving shadows even after the particles are removed.
• Interferes with polishing and protection: Bonded fallout acts like embedded grit - if it is not removed, it can be dragged around by wash mitts and polishing pads and it can also reduce how well waxes, sealants and coatings bond.
• Indicator of storage and environment: Heavy fallout is often a sign that a car has been stored near railways, industrial sites or busy roads, which is useful context when inspecting used cars and lease returns.

Where you’ll see it

You will see the term “industrial fallout” on detailing inspection sheets, new car preparation notes and decontamination service menus. It is commonly mentioned in connection with iron fallout removers (the chemicals that turn purple as they react), rail dust contamination and bonded contaminants that need more than shampoo to remove. Dealers and bodyshops may also refer to it when explaining orange spots on cars that have been stored near railway lines or factories.

Context

Industrial fallout sits within the wider category of bonded contamination on paintwork, alongside things like tar spots, tree sap residue and overspray. Detailers usually tackle it during the decontamination stage using iron fallout removers and other specialist chemicals, followed by clay bars or clay pads to pull off any remaining particles. Proper removal of industrial fallout is an important step before machine polishing or applying long term protection such as ceramic coatings.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the orange specks are rust coming through from the metal panels, when they are usually rusting particles sitting in or on the clearcoat.
• Trying to scrub fallout off with harsh sponges or brushes and creating extra wash marks and scratches in the process.
• Skipping iron fallout remover and claying, then machine polishing over embedded contamination and dragging metal particles across the paint.
• Applying wax, sealant or ceramic coating straight over heavy industrial fallout, trapping contamination in place and reducing the performance and durability of the protection.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 18/11/2025 17:57