Presented by: Derrick Castle, PCSKentucky Transportation Cabinet

Writing a Good Specification for Bridge Painting

Learning Outcomes• At the end of this webinar, you will be

able to:– Recognize the essential elements needed

in a coating specification to obtain quality work

Introduction• A detailed coating

specification is a complex and sometimes confusing document to navigate. Yet, it is the rulebook for QC and QA personnel responsible for inspecting work

Introduction• It takes years of experience and the

proper qualifications (e.g., SSPC Protective Coatings Specialist) to develop a good coating specification

Specification• The part of the contract that details

the qualitative and quantitative requirements for the finished product

Coating Specification• The single most important

characteristic of a specification is that it must be part of a competent design, defined loosely as complete, accurate and inclusive of all information that contractors need to accurately estimate the cost of complete performance

Coating Specification

• Each coating specification for a steel bridge structure should start with SSPC PA 1 as the foundation

• Each coating specification for a concrete bridge structure should start with SSPC PA 7 as the foundation

SSPC-PA 1• SSPC-PA 1, Shop, Field, and

Maintenance Painting of Steel

SSPC-PA 7• SSPC-PA 7, Applying Thin Film

Coatings to Concrete

Key Elements• Scope of project• References• Precedence of documents• Definitions• Submittals• Work Plan

Key Elements (cont’d)• Description of project site conditions• Delivery and storage of materials and

equipment• Pre-cleaning prior to surface

preparation• Surface preparation• Surface preparation media

Key Elements (cont’d)• Specified types of coating materials • Coating materials delivery and their

identification• Acceptable ambient conditions• Coating application

Key Elements (cont’d)• Kits and equipment for inspection

testing• Quality control inspection and

documentation• Quality assurance inspection and

documentation• Warranty

Scope of Project• Introduction that

describes the general scope of the project. It should cover requirements for all:– Materials– Labor– Equipment and tools

Scope of Project (cont’d)• It should provide a description of the

project location • May include a map or plan of the work

area• Define clearly what areas ARE to be

coated and what areas are NOT to be coated

References• A reference section of the

specification should provide a listing of all documents cited in the specification and NO others

Precedence of Documents• Set an order of precedence in the

event that there is a conflict or an ambiguity between referenced documents

Definitions• Include definitions of all words and

terms used in the specification that are not universally understood

Submittals• Require project documentation

(objective quality evidence) that the contractor is to provide to the owner to support complete conformance

Submittals (cont’d)• A sample of submittals required prior

to initiation of production:– Any required permits, access rights, etc.– Project specific work plan– Project specific safety, health and

environmental protection plan– Containment drawings

Submittals (cont’d)

– Manufacturer’s PDSs– Manufacturer’s MSDSs– Samples of specified

liquid coatings– Coating draw-down

films– Laboratory test results– Certificates of product

conformity – Warranty

Submittals (cont’d)• Sample submittals required after

initiation of production:– Request for information (RFI) log– Contract change order log– Submittal log– Daily production reports – Daily inspection and test reports

Submittals (cont’d)– Corrective action

requests (CARs)– Nonconformity log– Corrective action log– Preventive action log

Work Plan

• The specification should require the contractor to develop a work plan that translates the requirements of the specification into a series of steps for field implementation

Work Plan (cont’d)• The work plan may include such

procedures as:– Health, safety and environmental

compliance plan– Confined space entry plan– Procurement of necessary material– Procurement of necessary jobsite and

support equipment

Work Plan (cont’d)• The work plan should include:

– Assigning the management team to the project

– Obtaining craft workers with the necessary skills

– Mobilization of all of the above– Worker training and personal protective

equipment (PPE) needed– Inspection and test plan

Work Plan (cont’d)• Should also include written

procedures detailing the individual production processes being conducted

• Examples include:– Mobilization and setup– Surface preparation– Coating application and curing– Clean-up

Work Plan (cont’d)

• When using a work plan, optional hold or check points may be placed in the specification to permit inspection for conformance of work to date before proceeding further

✓-OK

Description of Project Site Conditions

• Information on any environmental limitations or other conditions at the project site that might affect project work should be presented

• This section may also describe where the contractor can locate work, equipment, trailers, lunch room and shower facilities

Delivery and Storage of Materials and Equipment

• A delivery and storage section of the specification should contain special requirements for packing and shipping products, equipment and their components

Delivery and Storage of Materials and Equipment (cont’d)

• Conditions for acceptance of these items at the project site should also be included, along with special storage, handling and disposal requirements necessary to prevent contamination or damage

Pre-Cleaning Prior to Surface Preparation

• This section of the specification describes the required pre-cleaning actions before the actual surface preparation for coating

• It also describes the required levels of pre-cleaning

Surface Preparation

• Any required special equipment or procedures should be specified along with the required level of cleaning and profiling

• Other requirements that may be included are:– Field checking for cleanliness of abrasives– Field checking for cleanliness of air supply used in

abrasive blasting and blow down– Quality of water used in waterjetting

Surface Preparation Media

• The specified media should be tested for conformance to the specification before use, e.g., expendable abrasive media for oil content, crystalline silica and soluble contaminants by the referenced test methods in SSPC-AB 1

Specified Types of Coating Materials

• A materials section of the specification lists the coating materials to be used on the project. It may provide:– The names and code identifications of

approved products– A qualified product list (QPL)– A description of the generic material– A description of the required performance

Coating Materials Delivered and Their Identification

• Upon delivery, the coating materials must be identified as those specified and having sufficient shelf life to meet contract requirements

• It is good practice to require checking of the condition of the containers upon delivery and the condition of the coating in the containers prior to mixing

Acceptable Ambient Conditions

• This section of the specification lists applicable ambient conditions for surface preparation and coating application and curing. These include, but are not limited to:– Air temperature– Surface temperature– Dew point/relative humidity– Wind speed– Lighting for all work areas

Coating Application• An application section of the

specification should state acceptable methods that can be used to apply the specified materials

Coating Application (cont’d)• Application concerns are listed below:

– Condition in container– The ratio by volume of the components

to combine– Instruction for mixing components– Induction time at different temperatures– Amounts of thinner, if any, permitted– Ambient conditions for application

Coating Application (cont’d)– Pot life at different

temperatures– Recoat window– Contrasting colors for

multiple coat systems– Stripe coating

requirements– Acceptable dry film

thickness range

Kits and Equipment for Inspection Testing

• Inspection kits and other equipment necessary for testing for surface cleanliness, surface profile and coating thickness must be available at the work site in order for production workers to monitor quality of their own work and QC personnel to verify that the specification requirements are being met

QC Inspection and Documentation

• Project documentation, including inspection and testing records, must be used to determine the contractor’s compliance with specification requirements and approved procedures

• These forms should be signed by the coatings inspector

Quality Assurance• A quality assurance section of the

specification includes prerequisites, standards, limitations and criteria that define the quality for products and work. They may include, but are not limited to:– Qualifications of the coating contractor– Qualifications of certified protective

coating specialist (PCS)

Quality Assurance (cont’d)– Qualifications of coating inspection

company– Qualifications of a quality control (QC)

coating inspector– Qualifications of individuals performing

abrasive blasting, waterjetting, coating application, airless spray and plural component spray

Quality Assurance (cont’d)– Qualifications of a certified industrial hygienist

(CIH)– Qualifications of a testing laboratory for coatings– Qualifications of a testing laboratory for

abrasives– Certifications of materials– Regulatory requirements– Field sampling requirements– Pre-construction conference and coordination

meeting

Warranty• The warranty section of the

specification requires:– That all materials and equipment be of

good quality and new– That the work be free from defects not

inherent in the quality required or permitted

– That the work conforms to all contract documents

– The work is suitable for the intended purpose

Summary

• A coating specification is a legally binding document. It is

a contract between the owner and the contractor. While a

coatings specification is a legal document, it must be

workable and understandable. A coating specification

should also be practical, so that the owner can effectively

communicate the desired outcome, including the project

schedule. The specification should not be unreasonably

restrictive, but should anticipate problem areas that the

contractor may encounter and must overcome to

successfully complete the contract.

Questions

Conclusion• This concludes our webinar for today.

Please join us for our next webinar, March 16th at 11am EST on Confined Space Safety