Inspection of Coating Systems on Civil Works Structures: Lessons Learned
Abstract
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) builds, operates, and maintains a large number of Civil Works structures such as dams and bridges. To protect these important structures against rust and corrosion, it is essential that they be coated using the proper systems and techniques. Quality assurance (QA) for Civil Works costing systems is provided through the use of paint meeting Government-approved formulas; QA during application is the USACED inspector's responsibility. To ensure proper application methods, the USACE inspector in the field must be both knowledgeable and vigilant. When a paint job is inspected at each stage, potential problems often can be identified and corrected before remedial action becomes prohibitively expensive. The U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (USACERL) provides USACE with expert consulting on Civil Works coating systems. It has been found that almost every paint failure can be traced to improper coating techniques-- including surface preparation, mixing, thinning, and application not complying with contract specifications. This report describes the lessons learned from some 15 years of inspecting and testing coatings on a variety of structures. This information is intended to help inspectors identify potential problems and instruct painters on the appropriate corrective action.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA213315
Entities
People
- Alfred D. Beitelman
- Dana L. Finney
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory