How to Update and Develop an
Effective Coating Specification
Presented by: Skip Vernon, Coating and Lining
Technologies, Inc.
Introduction
• The purpose of this webinar is to discuss some best
practices for preparing and administering a quality
specification for application of high performance protective
coatings and linings. This webinar focuses on strategies for
developing an appropriate set of requirements for applying
coatings and linings to obtain maximum coating system
performance and service life. A well-prepared and
administered specification can help ensure the contractor
performs the work according to the specification in the
allotted time.
What is a Specification?
• The use of the term “specification” is
subject to differing interpretations.
– It can be used to describe that portion of the
Contract Documents comprising all the
technical sections.
– Or, if talking to someone in the paint
business, the user may simply be referring to
section 09900 “Painting”
– In this presentation we only address the
painting section
What is a Specification?
• Specifications take on many forms and
formats.
• There are four basic methods of
specifying. They include:
– Proprietary
– Prescriptive
– Performance
– Reference Standard
Specification?
• The specification is a part of the Contract. If a Contract is
defined as a set of promises a court will enforce – then
the coating specification embodies the coating related
promises made by the Contractor to the Owner.
• A coating specification can be long, detailed and complex
or a coating specification can be short and simple.
• The goal is to maximize clarity and minimize confusion,
while clearly communicating what the Owner/Buyer
wants.
• It can be considered a rulebook for the Contractor and
QC and QA personnel responsible for inspecting work.
Specification
• The goal is create a specification that clearly
defines the work and answers the question
“what did the Contractor promise to do?”
• A well written specification is
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Clear
Concise
Correct
Complete
Specification
• While it can be simply stated, creating a specification that
meets the 4 C’s is difficult.
• Most specifications will likely generate questions – those
questions should be clarified through proper procedures
and conflict reconciliation language (e.g., addenda, more
stringent, RFI, change orders, etc.).
• It often takes years of experience and the proper
qualifications to develop a good coating specification.
• Use of a qualified coating consultant can be important,
especially for Engineers and Architects with limited coating
expertise.
Specification
• A well-written specification details the
qualitative and quantitative requirements
for the finished product so that all of the
parties are clear on the requirements.
Specification
• Several organizations provide information
and training on writing specifications. They
include:
– Construction Specification Institute (CSI)provides more general information on proper
specification writing.
– SSPC – provides more specific information on
coatings, including standards, guides, and
good painting practices.
Specification
• SSPC provides documents that can
assist with the preparation of a coating
specification. They include:
– SSPC Technical Insight Reports: Preparing
and Using Protective Coating Specifications
– SSPC Guide Documents (e.g., SSPC PA 1)
– SSPC Standards (e.g., surface cleanliness
standards, etc.)
SSPC Technical Insight Report: Preparing
and Using Protective Coating Specifications
• The purpose of this report is to describe some
best practices for preparing and administering
a quality specification for application of high
performance protective coatings and linings to
industrial structures.
SSPC-PA 1
• SSPC-PA 1, Shop,
Field, and
Maintenance Painting
of Steel
– Provides info on good
painting practices
Key Elements of a Coating
Specification
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Scope of project
References
Precedence of documents
Definitions
Submittals
Work Plan
Key Elements (cont’d)
• Quality Assurance
• Delivery and storage of materials and
equipment
• Description of project site conditions
• Specified type of abrasives
• Procedures and equipment for inspection
testing
Key Elements (cont’d)
• Specified types of coating materials
• Coating materials delivered and their
identification
• Acceptable ambient conditions
• Pre-cleaning prior to surface preparation
• Blast cleaning of surfaces
• Coating application
Key Elements (cont’d)
• QC inspection and documentation
• Warranty
Scope of Project
• Introduction that describes
the general scope of the
project. It should provide
enough information about
the project so that potential
bidders could decide if this
is a project they would be
qualified to perform.
Scope of Project (cont’d)
• It should provide a description of the project
location
• May include a map or plan of the work area
• It might also include information on what
areas ARE to be coated and what areas are
NOT to be coated
References
• The reference section of the specification typically provides
a listing of all documents cited in the specification. (Listing
documents that are not cited elsewhere in the
specifications can create confusion and generate requests
for clarification.)
Precedence of Documents
• An order of precedence can be established
in the event there is a conflict or an
ambiguity in the documents.
Definitions
• Include definitions of words and terms used in
the specification, especially when there is a
concern that other participants could define the
term differently.
• Acronyms, such as WFT, DFT,
etc., can be defined.
Submittals
• Can be used for products, practices, or
procedures to be used to complete the
work.
• Used to verify Contractor intends to use
and/or understands the use of the specified
products and procedures.
• Documentation (preferably objective quality
evidence) the Contractor provides to the
Owner to support complete conformance.
Submittals (cont’d)
• A sample of submittal materials required
prior to beginning the work:
– Manufacturer’s PDS
– Manufacturer’s MSDS
– Samples of specified liquid coatings
– Coating draw-down films
– Any required permits, access rights, etc.
Submittals (cont’d)
– Laboratory test results
– Certificates of product
conformity
– Project specific work plan
– Project specific safety, health
and environmental protection
plan
– Containment drawings
– 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 might 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 may 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)
• May also include written procedures
detailing the individual production
processes being conducted
• Examples include:
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Mobilization and setup
Abrasive blasting
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
Work Plan (cont’d)
• While some specifiers want to create highly detailed
specifications with strict submittal requirements and
a full approval process, doing so may result in a
highly prescriptive specification that would impact
warranty obligations.
• Means and methods are typically left to the
discretion of the Contractor.
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)
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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
Delivery and Storage of Materials
and Equipment
• A delivery and storage
section of the
specification could
contain special
requirements for
packing and shipping
products, equipment
and their components
Description of Project Site
Conditions
• Information on any environmental
limitations or other conditions at the project
site that might affect project work would be
presented
• This section may also describe where the
contractor can locate work, equipment,
trailers, lunch room and shower facilities
Abrasives
• The chosen abrasives should be tested
pursuant to the specified Standards
(e.g., SSPC SP 6) requirements, (SSPCAB 1, 2, 3 or 4) for conformance to
specification before use.
Equipment for Inspection Testing
• Identify the inspection equipment necessary or
required to determine compliance (e.g., surface
cleanliness, surface profile and coating
thickness, etc.) to be available at the work site
for production workers to monitor the quality of
their own work and QC personnel to verify the
specification requirements are being met.
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 or submitted and
approved and having sufficient remaining
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 can reference
manufacturer’s recommendations or list applicable
ambient conditions for surface preparation and
coating application and curing. Ambient conditions
include, but are not limited to:
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Air temperature
Surface temperature
Dew point/relative humidity
Wind speed
Lighting for all work areas
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 precleaning
Blast Cleaning of Surfaces
• 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
Coating Application
• The application section of the
specification would identify acceptable
(or unacceptable) methods to apply the
specified materials
• Manufacturer’s
Recommendations
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
– Amount of thinner, if any, permitted
– Ambient conditions for application
– Induction time at different temperatures
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
QC Inspection and
Documentation
• Project documentation, including inspection and
testing records, should be compiled.
• When compiled in sufficient detail, they can be used
to determine the contractor’s compliance with
specification requirements and approved
procedures
• Content and form should be identified or agreed
upon
• Forms should be signed by the coatings inspector
Warranty
• The warranty section of the specification is
important. It is a continuing obligation
under the Contract. They typically require:
– That all materials and equipment be new and
of good quality
– That the work be free from defects
– That the work conforms to all contract
documents
– The length of time the warranty is in effect
Summary
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A coating specification is a legally binding document.
It is typically a contract between the owner and the
contractor. A coatings specification is part of a
contract; it should be workable and understandable. A
coating specification should also be practical,
allowing the owner to effectively communicate the
desired outcome. The specification should not be
unreasonably restrictive, but be detailed enough to
fully and accurately describe the desired end product.