Water and Wastewater Protective Coating Systems

Article 04 of 24

Reading Specifications, Standards, Submittals, and Approved-Product Requirements

The project requirements define what must be installed, how the work must be performed, what must be documented, and how the completed coating system will be accepted.

Read the Entire Requirement Before Pricing the Work

A coating contractor cannot reliably estimate a water or wastewater project by reading only the product name and square footage. Critical requirements may be distributed among drawings, coating schedules, technical specifications, general conditions, supplementary conditions, safety requirements, owner standards, addenda, and referenced documents.

The specification may require concrete repairs, abrasive blasting, dehumidification, containment, ventilation, confined-space procedures, stripe coating, holiday testing, adhesion testing, disinfection, manufacturer inspection, warranties, spare materials, or detailed closeout records.

If those requirements are discovered after the contract is awarded, the contractor may face unplanned costs, schedule delays, disputes, or work that cannot be accepted.

The Project Requirements Work Together

The contract documents should be reviewed as a connected set. Do not assume that one section contains every coating requirement.

• Drawings: Show locations, dimensions, elevations, details, joints, penetrations, access conditions, and limits of work.
• Coating schedule: Connects substrates and service areas to specified coating systems.
• Technical specifications: Define products, preparation, application, inspection, testing, and execution requirements.
• General and supplementary conditions: Address contracts, coordination, submittals, schedules, changes, payment, warranties, and administrative responsibilities.
• Owner standards: May impose additional product, color, safety, documentation, or maintenance requirements.
• Addenda: Modify the bidding documents before contract award.
• Approved submittals: Document the products, procedures, equipment, and qualifications accepted for the project.
• Written clarifications and changes: Resolve questions and modify requirements through the project’s authorized process.

Do Not Invent a Document Hierarchy

Contractors sometimes assume that the drawings always control the specifications or that the more demanding requirement automatically controls. Those assumptions may be wrong.

The contract documents may contain an order-of-precedence provision explaining how conflicts are handled. If no clear direction is provided, or if requirements appear inconsistent, submit a written request for information before pricing or performing the affected work.

Do not resolve a significant conflict through an informal field conversation. Obtain written direction from the party authorized to interpret or modify the contract.

How to Read a Coating Specification

Many technical specifications are organized into three parts. The exact format varies, but the following structure is common.

Referenced Standards Become Part of the Requirement

A project specification may incorporate an industry standard by reference. The specification may contain only a short instruction because the referenced standard supplies the detailed requirements.

Examples relevant to water and wastewater coating work may include:

• AWWA D102: Coating steel water-storage tanks
• AWWA C210: Liquid-epoxy coatings and linings for steel water pipe and fittings
• AWWA C222: Polyurethane coatings and linings for steel water pipe and fittings
• NSF/ANSI/CAN 61: Health-effects requirements for products and materials in drinking-water contact
• AMPP/SSPC standards: Steel and concrete surface preparation, cleanliness, inspection, and testing
• ASTM standards: Test methods for coating thickness, adhesion, moisture, holidays, physical properties, and other specified characteristics
• OSHA regulations: Workplace safety requirements applicable to the work

The estimator must identify which standards are mandatory, obtain the required editions, and understand their effect on labor, equipment, materials, inspection, documentation, and schedule.

Do not assume that the newest published edition automatically controls. The contract may identify a specific edition. If no edition is stated, request clarification when the difference could affect the work.

Read the Coating Schedule Line by Line

The coating schedule may be organized by system number, substrate, structure, service environment, or facility area. Each scheduled system should be traced back to the drawings and technical specification.

For every system, confirm:

• Where the system begins and ends
• The substrate and its expected condition
• Required cleaning and surface preparation
• Repair and resurfacing requirements
• Primer, intermediate, lining, and finish materials
• Number of coats and thickness of each coat
• Total required system thickness
• Color and identification requirements
• Detailing at joints, cracks, edges, welds, and penetrations
• Inspection and testing requirements
• Cure and return-to-service requirements

Understand Named Products and Approved Equals

A specification may list one product, several acceptable products, an approved system by manufacturer, or a performance requirement that allows proposed alternatives.

The words “or equal” do not give the contractor unilateral authority to substitute any product believed to be similar. The proposed system must be submitted and approved through the process established by the contract.

A Proposed Equal Should Address the Complete System

• Intended service and chemical exposure
• Substrate compatibility
• Surface-preparation requirements
• Primer, repair, resurfacing, lining, and finish components
• Required thickness and number of coats
• Physical and chemical performance data
• Potable-water certification when required
• Application equipment and environmental limitations
• Cure and return-to-service time
• Inspection and testing compatibility
• Color, appearance, and ultraviolet resistance
• Manufacturer experience and technical support
• Warranty terms and exclusions

Changing one component may affect compatibility, cure, certification, warranty, and responsibility. Avoid assembling an untested system from unrelated manufacturers unless the project requirements expressly permit it and written compatibility is provided.

The Submittal Is a Project-Control Document

A submittal should demonstrate how the contractor intends to comply with the project requirements. It should not be treated as a stack of unrelated product sheets.

A complete coating-system submittal may include:

• A cover sheet identifying the specification section and coating-system number
• A list of each proposed product and its function in the system
• Current technical data sheets
• Current safety data sheets
• Application instructions
• Surface-preparation and repair recommendations
• Mixing ratios, induction times, pot life, and thinning limitations
• Required wet- and dry-film thicknesses
• Minimum and maximum recoat intervals
• Cure requirements and return-to-service times
• Chemical-resistance information
• Potable-water certification and listing limitations when required
• Color selections
• Applicator qualifications
• Manufacturer technical-service commitments
• Inspection and testing procedures
• Proposed deviations clearly identified for review

Approved Does Not Mean Responsibility Has Disappeared

An approved submittal does not normally relieve the contractor of responsibility for complying with the contract documents, verifying quantities and dimensions, coordinating the work, or identifying deviations.

If the submittal contains a conflict with the specification, do not assume that approval silently changes the contract. Identify the deviation clearly and obtain written direction through the project’s authorized process.

The exact legal effect of a submittal depends on the contract. Review the project requirements and seek qualified advice when responsibilities are unclear.

Compare the Specification with Manufacturer Requirements

The project specification and manufacturer instructions should be compared before materials are purchased or work begins.

Potential conflicts include:

• Specified thickness outside the manufacturer’s published range
• Different surface-profile requirements
• Specified application temperature below the product minimum
• A recoat interval that cannot be achieved within the shutdown schedule
• Required testing that may damage or penetrate the installed system
• Use over a substrate or repair material not addressed by the manufacturer
• A potable-water use that falls outside the certified listing
• Return-to-service timing that does not allow adequate cure

When requirements conflict, submit the issue in writing. Do not select whichever instruction is easier or less expensive.

Use Requests for Information Correctly

A request for information should identify a specific question and provide enough information for a clear decision.

A useful coating RFI should include:

1. The drawing, detail, specification section, schedule, or standard involved
2. The exact location or structure affected
3. A concise description of the conflict, omission, or uncertainty
4. The effect on cost, schedule, performance, safety, or coordination
5. Supporting information from the coating manufacturer when applicable
6. A requested response date that reflects the project schedule

Track the RFI until a written response is received. Distribute the answer to estimating, purchasing, project management, field supervision, quality control, and affected subcontractors.

Hold a Coating Preconstruction Meeting

A focused preconstruction meeting helps move the requirements from paper into an executable field plan.

Recommended participants include the owner, engineer, general contractor, coating contractor, coating manufacturer, inspector, facility operations personnel, safety personnel, and other parties responsible for substrate repairs or process isolation.

Topics should include:

• Limits and sequence of work
• Substrate condition and repair responsibility
• Surface-preparation acceptance
• Environmental control and ventilation
• Material storage, mixing, and application
• Mockups or test areas
• Inspection hold points
• Testing procedures and acceptance criteria
• Repair procedures
• Shutdown and cure schedule
• Disinfection and return to service
• Required records and closeout documentation

Build a Project Requirements Matrix

A requirements matrix converts lengthy project documents into a working control tool. Prepare one row for each structure, exposure zone, or coating-system number.

Update the matrix when addenda, approved substitutions, RFIs, change orders, or revised submittals affect the work.

Article 04 Knowledge Check

1. Why is the product name and square footage insufficient for estimating a coating project?
2. What information is commonly found in Parts 1, 2, and 3 of a technical specification?
3. What happens when an industry standard is incorporated into a project specification by reference?
4. Why does “or equal” not authorize an automatic product substitution?
5. What information should be included in a complete coating-system submittal?
6. What should the contractor do when the specification conflicts with manufacturer instructions?

Technical References and Further Study

• American Water Works Association: Current standards and manuals covering water-storage tanks, water pipe, protective coatings, inspection, and water-system construction.
• NSF International: NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 and current certified-product listings for drinking-water system components.
• AMPP: Current standards and guides for concrete and steel surface preparation, coating application, inspection, and protective systems used in water and wastewater service.
• ASTM International: Test methods referenced by the project specification for moisture, adhesion, thickness, holidays, cure, and physical properties.
• Construction Specifications Institute: Resources addressing specification organization, product requirements, execution requirements, and construction-document coordination.
• Project-specific documents: Drawings, specifications, addenda, approved submittals, RFIs, change documents, manufacturer instructions, and owner standards.

Standards, certifications, manufacturer instructions, and project requirements change. Always verify the controlling documents and required editions before bidding or performing the work.

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