A job worth doing is worth doing well. But how do you know what doing the job well means? That’s why standards are used to determine whether the level of quality required for a given product or project has been met. Often those standards are set within a specific industry, to meet the needs of the unique structures therein.
A Look At Bridge Maintenance in Minnesota
Keeping bridge paint coatings in good condition protects underlying steel structures against corrosion, especially at beam ends, joints, bearings, and other locations where water and roadway salt can corrode bridge elements. When a bridge inspection identifies localized corrosion, these areas must first be cleaned. Then a maintenance paint is coating applied which will limit the long-term damage potential from corrosion and extend the service life of the bridge.
Maintaining and repairing Minnesota’s more than 4,000 steel bridges is a challenge to local and state budgets. Evaluating each structure at least once every two years also adds to the heavy workload of bridge maintenance crews and bridge inspectors.
So, in 2014, Minnesota’s Department of Transportation looked at maintenance paint coating systems crews could use with minimal surface preparation to extend the life of existing paint coatings on steel bridges. Four manufacturers provided five paint coating systems. MNDot tested them out and found them comparable at protecting bridges from corrosion, even in Minnesota’s harsh winter conditions.
The researchers prepared recommendations for MnDOT to use as it updates its Bridge Maintenance Painting Manual. These included conditions for when to apply maintenance paint coatings and when to remove paint and recoat bridges.
Painting Quality Isn’t the Only Standard Which Must Be Met
We must be concerned with the impact our job has on public safety, since they can result in serious injury or death of project workers or the public. When planning your steel structure painting project, some factors to consider are:
- Worker Safety
- Air, Water, and Other Environmental Pollution
- Control of Overspray
- Disposal of Contaminated Waste
An experienced painter who upholds industry standards will ensure the job is done correctly with these things in mind.
How Protective Coating Industry Standards Are Maintained
The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), is a professional association focused on the protection of assets and performance of materials. AMPP was created when NACE International and SSPC the Society for Protective Coatings merged in 2021. AMPP is active in more than 130 countries and has more than 40,000 members.
The AMPP Standards Committees (SCs) are responsible for the generating, publishing, and maintaining all AMPP products that require a consensus-driven process. This includes:
- Standards
- Technical Reports
- Guides
- Qualification Procedures
These cover all aspects of surface preparation, protective coatings application, quality assurance, and corrosion prevention and control.
Cobalt Coatings Is a Member of AMPP
Cobalt Coatings is a Member of AMPP and as such, we uphold their standards in every job we do. You can count on our experience and our professionalism. If you have a steel structure that needs painting, contact us today.
