Writing Clear Coating Specifications for Waste Water Treatment Facilities

1. Writing Clear Coating Specifications for Waste Water Treatment Facilities James D. Machen KTA-Tator, Inc.

2. Webinar Content • This webinar describes an approach for: • Preparing clear, understandable, user- friendly technical specifications for coating projects • Determining what key information is needed to prepare effective WWTP specifications

3. Webinar Content (cont.) • Primary focus: • Field maintenance, painting of existing WWTP steel and concrete components, and equipment

4. Learning Outcomes • Completion of this webinar will enable the participant to: • Identify the basic steps to prepare a quality specification • Specify materials for the aggressive exposure environments encountered in wastewater treatment facility.

5. Basics of Preparing a Coating Specification • Today’s high performance coating/lining systems are technologically advanced and complex in: • Formulation (e.g., high solids and 100% solids) • Surface cleanliness requirements (e.g., min. SSPC-SP 10/ NACE No. 2 Near-white Metal Blast) • Application (e.g., plural component spray) Particularly the coating systems used in aggressive environments such as those in WWTP

6. Basics of Preparing a Coating Specification • Coatings Specifications: • Must effectively communicate coating/lining requirements to optimize performance, service life and corrosion protection

7. Basics of a Coatings Specification • The Specification is: • A key document detailing the qualitative/quantitative requirements of the work process necessary to achieve an acceptable finished product • Legal contract between owner and contractor

8. Basics of a Coatings Specification • Specification Format • Not the focus of this webinar, but … • The best specifications are in a user friendly format where clear requirements are presented logically and systematically

9. Basics of a Coatings Specification • A well written specification will… • Be clear and unambiguous • Convey to bidders that they will be held responsible to meet all contract requirements - Holding responsibility encourages qualified bidders/discourages unqualified • Reduce the potential for non-conformances • Minimize/eliminate contract deviations - Ensure deviations are identified in the bid phase so they can be addressed by specification addenda

10. Basics of a Coatings Specification • A well written specification will… • Identify site conditions that may impact work - Mandate pre-bid meeting attendance and site visit to identify potential differing site conditions

11. Basics of a Coatings Specification • A specification that is weak, unclear or ambiguous may result in… • Widely fluctuating bid ranges • Costly change orders resulting from different interpretations of the specification requirements • Delays due to disputes • Multiple addendums attempting to clarify requirements • Contract default and litigation

12. Basics of a Coatings Specification • Specifications should not be: • Unreasonably restrictive (anticipate problem areas) • Prescriptive (specify end results, not means and methods of getting there)

13. Basics of a Coatings Specification • Use of Shall, Should and May in coating specifications • Shall: A requirement • Should: A preference or strong recommendation • May: An acceptable alternative

14. Basics of a Coatings Specification • Two types of specifications for coating work • New construction • Maintenance painting of existing structures (focus of Webinar) • Content different • Maintenance painting specifications are more complex • Must address a variety of site and owner concerns (i.e., regulations, restrictions, policies, etc.)

15. Basics of a Coatings Specification • Five ways of specifying coatings • “Trade name” • “Trade name or equal” • “Qualified Products Lists” • “Performance” • “Formulation” • Advantages and limitations to each

16. Components of a Coating Specification • Specification Formats: • Construction Specifiers Institute (CSI) • Many others • Standard specifications • Special provisions/notes • Common specification components • General • Products (materials) • Execution

17. Key Information to be Considered When Preparing WWTP Specifications

18. Majority of WWTP Structures and Primary Focus of this Webinar are… • Steel Structures • Tanks • Support Structures • Equipment/Components • Concrete Structures • Formed (tanks, walls, floors) • CMU

19. WWTP Structures and Primary Focus (cont.)

20. WWTP Exposures Include… • Atmospheric • May include process fumes and condensing moisture containing any or all raw or treated effluents or process treatment chemicals • Submerged or frequent wetting • Underground • Secondary Containment • Elevated Temperature

21. Scope and Limits of Work • Because WWTPs contain multiple structures and exposures, it is critical to clearly… • Identify the project • Specify the project location • Identify the scope and limits of work • Supplement written descriptions with project plans/drawings

22. Scope of Limits of Work (cont.) • Avoid itemized lists of individual items/components to be painted • Inevitably items/components will be omitted • When possible, identify limits by: • Plant systems from Point A to Point B, or • Identify points on plans/drawings

23. Scope and Limits of Work (cont.) • With systems or plan/drawing limits identified, use specification wording such as… • “Prepare and paint all previously painted concrete and steel surfaces within those limits including, but not limited to, (i.e. tanks, structural steel piping, etc.)” • Identify surfaces not to be painted

24. Scope and Limits of Work (cont.) • Specify mandatory pre-bid/pre-construction meetings and “walk-thru” scope and limits • Reinforce scope/limits or work/items not be painted

25. Important General Information • State availability of responsibility for services at the jobsite… • Availability of utilities (i.e., electric, compressed air, water) • Storage and staging areas

26. Important General Information (cont.) • Identify any specific jobsite requirements or special conditions… • Safety precautions • Use of facilities

27. Specifying Surface Preparation and Painting Material Requirements for Maintenance Painting

28. Selecting Painting Systems • Typically best to base selection on: • Previous successful performance history (site history or manufacturer’s history) • “IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT.” • Only exception may be if new regulations (i.e., EPA) restrict use • Manufacturer discontinues product(s)

29. Selecting Painting Systems (cont.) • Qualified Products list (QPL) • Product with history of successful performance • Products tested for specific exposures, conditions

30. Selecting Painting Systems (cont.) • Without a QPL, specifier must … • Clearly identify the exposure environment • Atmospheric, immersion, frequent wetting, fumes • Characterize composition of waste stream • Plant operations keep records of “what is in the waste stream” (i.e., temperature, alkalinity, acidity, solids content, other chemicals)

31. Selecting Painting Systems (cont.) • Once exposure environment and waste stream is characterized, identify candidate generic coating types using… • Specifier’s experience • Professional coating consultants • Paint manufacturer’s experience • Be sure to submit exposure and waste stream characterization to consultants and coating manufacturers for review

32. Selecting Painting Systems (cont.) • Require paint manufacturers to identify (in writing) specific products/systems based on the exposure and waste stream characterization • Include performance histories and contact information (preferably min. of 5 years)

33. Selecting Painting Systems (cont.) • Confirm performance history and review product characteristics (i.e., ambient conditions for application/curing, methods of application (brush/roll/spray – specialized methods) • Require paint manufacturers to visit the plant as part of the product/system confirmation process

34. Specifying Surface Preparation Requirements • Review manufacturers technical product data • Specify the recommended surface cleanliness or a higher level (i.e., SSPC-SP 5/NACE No. 1 White Metal Blasting Cleaning; SSPC-SP 10/ NACE No. 2, Near White Metal Blast Cleaning) • Determine if there are special product requirements that may limit product use on site

35. Specifying Surface Preparation Requirements (cont.) • The previously described procedures for specifying surface preparation and paint materials were intended for maintenance painting projects where the existing paint is being totally removed

36. Specifying Surface Preparation Requirements (cont.) • If overcoating of existing paint systems is being considered… • A thorough coating condition assessment must be performed by a qualified coatings professional to identify whether the existing paint is a viable candidate for overcoating

37. Conclusion • A clear, well-written WWTP coating specification must be combined with: • The use of qualified, reputable, coating contractors • Thorough quality control/quality assurance in-process inspection by the Contractor and the Owner (or their representative) • Anniversary inspections and warranty requirements

38. Conclusion • This Webinar: • Identified the basic steps to prepare a quality specification • Described the type of service environments encountered • Described the procedures to properly specify materials for the aggressive exposure environments encountered in wastewater treatment facility

39. Writing Clear Coating Specifications for Waste Water Treatment Facilities James D. Machen KTA-Tator, Inc.