1. The Importance of Specification Writing
Neil Pittman
Sr. Corrosion Engineer
Lake Superior Consulting

2. WHY? A specification becomes a legal part of the contract.
Defines what is to be done.
Identifies what coating to use.
Removes assumptions and miscommunication.
Promotes Cooperation.
Good paints fail.
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3. WHO? Employ a coating engineer. Hire a consultant.
Send an employee to NACE CIP 1.
Have a corrosion engineer write it.
Plagiarize
Munger, Charles – Corrosion Prevention by Protective Coatings, Houston: NACE International, 1999.
NACE International
SSPC
Coating manufacturers’ literature
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4. WHEN? Send specification out with bid package.
Review at pre-bid meeting.
Review at prejob meeting.
Train inspectors and applicators.
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5. What? Purpose* Scope* Definitions References Safety Requirements
Coating Material*
Surface Preparation*
Coating Application*
Inspection*
Repairs*
Daily Production Report
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6. PURPOSE
This section describes what items/assets are covered by this painting specification and when to use this specification. It also covers what generic types of coatings are applicable:
Epoxies
Urethanes
Zinc rich
Galvanizing
Powders
Multi-coat systems
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7. SCOPE
The Scope is different than the purpose. The scope goes into details about operating temperatures, locations and desired results.
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8. DEFINITIONS
Should
Shall
May
Can
NACE, SSPC
DFT
WFT
Etc.
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9. REFERENCES
NACE
ISO
ASTM
API
CSA
SSPC
Proprietary Procedures
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10. SAFETY PPE Guards MSDS LOTO Glasses Hard hats Shoes Fall protection
Respirators
Abrasive blasting
Guards
MSDS
LOTO
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11. REQUIREMENTS Applicator qualification
Proprietary
NACE
SSPC
Applicator furnished equipment, consumables and labor
Inspection
Quality program
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12. COATING SELECTION How? Service life Service Conditions Constraints
Temperature
Water
Onshore/Offshore UV
Chemicals
Substrate
Constraints
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13. SURFACE PREPARATION Inspection Soluble Salts Pre-cleaning
Atmospheric conditions
Equipment requirements
Blotter test
Abrasives
Cleanliness
Anchor profile
Blowdown
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14. COATING APPLICATION Storage Preheating Dehydration Mixing and thinning
Pot life
Method
Stripe coat
WFT
Overlap
Visual inspection
Curing
Recoat window
DFT
Holiday detection
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15. INSPECTION
The inspection section will outline what measurements must be taken and what are acceptable results.
ITP
Surface preparation
Application
Visual
DFT
Cure
Holiday detection
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16. ITP
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17. REPAIRS Size Low DFT areas Repair material Stripping
Surface preparation
Cure
Heating
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18. DAILY PRODUCTION REPORT
Every measurement that is required by the specification
Dates and times
Tally
Signed by 3rd party inspector
Checklist
Benefits the applicator
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19. CONCLUSION Is this a large task? Is it an important task?
How much does a specification cost?
Now
Later
Is it OK to plagiarize ideas?
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20. QUESTIONS
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