SSPC-PA 7

July 1, 2002

SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings

PAINT APPLICATION SPECIFICATION NO. 7

APPLYING THIN FILM COATINGS TO CONCRETE
1. Scope

PA Guide 3

A Guide to Safety in Paint

Application
PA Guide 5
Guide to Maintenance Painting
Programs
Paint 12
Cold-Applied Asphalt Mastic
(Extra Thick Film)
Paint 32
Coal Tar Emulsion Coating
Paint 33
Coal Tar Mastic, Cold-Applied
* PS Guide 17.00
Guide for Selecting Urethane
Painting Systems
* SP 12/NACE No. 5 Surface Preparation and
Cleaning of Steel and Other
Hard Materials by High- and
Ultrahigh-Pressure Waterjetting
Prior to Recoating
* SP 13/NACE No. 6 Surface Preparation of Concrete
TU 2/NACE 6G197 Design, Installation, and
Maintenance of Coating
Systems for Concrete Used in
Secondary Containment

1.1 This specification covers methods and procedures

for applying thin film organic coatings to concrete surfaces
by brush, roller, or spray. It is not intended for coatings
applied to concrete floors or similar surfaces where thick
coatings or surfacings are applied by trowel or mechanical
equipment. Surface preparation, pretreatments, and selection of coatings are not covered, except where application
requirements are affected, since these are discussed in
referenced documents.
1.2 This specification is intended for use by owners,
applicators, and others in the coating industry.

2. Description
2.1 This document was prepared to meet the unique
physical and chemical properties of concrete and should not
be used for the coating of other substrates.

3.4 ACI INTERNATIONAL (ACI) STANDARDS1

2.2 This specification is only applicable to thin-film

coatings.

* 224.1R

3. Referenced Standards
* 503R
504R

3.1 The latest issue, revision, or amendment of the

referenced standards in effect on the date of invitation to bid
shall govern unless otherwise specified. Those documents
marked with an asterisk (*) are referenced only in the Notes,
which are not requirements of this specification.

3.5 ASTM INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS2

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D 16

3.2 If there is a conflict between the requirements of any

of the cited referenced standards and this specification, the
requirements of this specification shall prevail.

* D 2240
* D 2583

3.3 SSPC STANDARDS AND JOINT STANDARDS:

* Guide 11
PA 1

1
2

* D 3363

Guide for Coating Concrete

Shop, Field, and Maintenance
Painting of Steel

D 4138

ACI International, P.O. Box 9094, Farmington Hills, MI 48333.

ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2951.

Copyright The Society for Protective Coatings

Provided by IHS under license with SSPC
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS

Causes, Evaluation, and Repair of Cracks

in Concrete Structures
Use of Epoxy Compounds with Concrete
Guide to Joint Sealants for Concrete Structures

1
Not for Resale

Terminology Relating to Paint Related

Coatings, Materials, and Applications
Standard Test Method for Rubber
Property - Durometer Hardness
Standard Test Method for Indentation
Hardness of Rigid Plastics by Means of
a Barcol Impressor
Standard Test Method for Film Hardness
by Pencil Test
Standard Test Method for Measurement
of Dry Film Thickness of Protective
Coating Systems by Destructive Means

SSPC-PA 7
July 1, 2002

D 4285
D 4414

* D 4541

D 4787

* D 5064
* D 5402

D 6132

E 1907

F 1869

4. Definitions6

Standard Test Method for Indicating

Moisture in Concrete by the Plastic Sheet
Method
Standard Method for Indicating Oil or Water
in Compressed Air
Standard Practice for Measurement of Wet
Film Thickness of Organic Coatings by
Notch Gages
Standard Test Method for Pull-Off Strength
of Coatings Using Portable Adhesion
Testers
Standard Practice for Continuity Verification
of Liquid or Sheet Linings Applied to
Concrete Substrates
Standard Practice for Conducting a Patch
Test to Assess Coating Compatibility
Standard Practice for Assessing the Solvent
Resistance of Organic Coatings Using
Solvent Rubs
Standard Test Method for Nondestructive
Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of
Applied Organic Coatings Over Concrete
Using an Ultrasonic Gage
Standard Practices for Determining
Moisture-Related Acceptability of Concrete
Floors to Receive Moisture-Sensitive
Finishes
Standard Test Method for Measuring
Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete
Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride

Bituminous Coating: A protective asphalt- or tar-based

coating applied as a hot melt, solvent cutback, or water
emulsion.
Bug Holes: Small regular or irregular cavities, usually not
exceeding 15 mm (0.6 inch) in diameter, resulting from
entrapment of air bubbles in the surface of formed concrete
during placement and consolidation.
Coating: A thin, liquefiable, or mastic composition that is
converted to a solid protective, decorative, or functional
adherent film after application as a thin layer. Generic term
for paint, lacquer, enamel, etc.
Concrete: A composite material that consists essentially of
a binding medium within which are embedded particles or
fragments of aggregate, usually a combination of fine aggregate and coarse aggregate; in Portland cement concrete,
the binder is a mixture of Portland cement and water.
Curing Agent: An additive component, sometimes called a
hardener or (incorrectly) a catalyst, that helps a coating film
or concrete cure by chemical reaction.
Efflorescence: A white crystalline or powdery deposit on
the surface of concrete. Efflorescence results from leaching
of lime or calcium hydroxide out of a permeable concrete
mass over time by water, followed by reaction with carbon
dioxide and acidic pollutants.

3.6 INTERNATIONAL CONCRETE REPAIR INSTITUTE

(ICRI):3
*

Form Release Agents: Compounds, such as petroleum oil,

wax, and silicone, applied to concrete forms to allow easy
removal from placed concrete after it has cured.

Guideline No. 03732 Selecting and Specifying Concrete

Surface Preparation for Sealers, Coatings,
and Polymer Overlays

Laitance: A thin, weak, brittle layer of cement and aggregate fines on a concrete surface. The amount of laitance is
influenced by the type and amount of admixtures, the degree of working, and the amount of water in the concrete.

3.7 NACE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS:4

RP0188
* RP0288

Discontinuity (Holiday) Testing of New Protective Coatings on Conductive Surfaces

Inspection of Linings on Steel and Concrete

Maintenance Coating: A coating designed to protect highway and railroad structures, chemical and manufacturing
plants, public utilities, and other heavy-duty industrial facilities from deterioration.

3.8 AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION (AWWA)

STANDARD: 5
C-203

Outgassing: The spontaneous discharge of air or moisture

vapor from concrete.

Coal Tar Protective Coatings and Linings

for Steel Water Pipelines Enamel and
Tape - Hot-Applied

International Concrete Repair Institute, 1323 Shepherd Drive, Sterling, VA 20164.

NACE International, P.O. Box 218340, Houston TX 77218.
5
American Water Works Association, 6666 West Quincy Ave, Denver, CO 80235.
6
Definitions taken from SSPC Protective Coatings Glossary (SSPC 00-02) with the exception of the definition of Thin Film Coatings.
4

Copyright The Society for Protective Coatings

Provided by IHS under license with SSPC
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS

2
Not for Resale

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D 4263

SSPC-PA 7
July 1, 2002

Pores: Small interconnected voids, such as in concrete,

which allow fluids to penetrate an otherwise impervious
material.

5.2 MIXING: In all cases, the manufacturers written

instructions for mixing shall be followed, and the products
shall be checked for complete uniformity.

Porosity: The ratio, usually expressed as a percentage, of

the volume of voids in a material to the total volume of the
material including the voids.

5.2.1 Single Component Coatings: Single component

coatings shall be thoroughly mixed to obtain a uniform
composition. Coating that does not have a limited pot life or
does not deteriorate on standing may be mixed at any time
before using, but if settling or phase separation has occurred it must be remixed immediately before using. Coating
shall not remain in spray pots, painters buckets, etc.,
overnight but shall be stored in a covered container and
remixed before use.

Thin Film Coatings for Concrete: In this document, thin

film coatings are defined as coatings with less than 500 m
(20 mils) dry film thickness.

5. Pre-Application Procedures

5.2.2 Multiple Component Coatings: For multiple component coatings, each component shall be thoroughly mixed
before combining and further mixing. Normally, catalysts,
curing agents, or hardeners are added to the base resin. The
manufacturers induction time (sweat-in time) and pot life for
the ambient temperature and volume of coating used shall
be observed. Any unused catalyzed coating shall be discarded at the end of its pot life, or each work day, whichever
occurs first.

5.1 MATERIALS HANDLING AND USE

5.1.1 All coating products shall be delivered to the work
site in original, unopened containers with labels intact.
Minor damage to containers is acceptable if the container
has not been punctured or crimped or has had the lid seal
broken. Each product shall have a readily accessible material safety data sheet.
5.1.2 Each container shall be clearly marked or labeled
to show coating identification, date of manufacture, batch
number, basic chemical composition, special instructions,
and other information as needed to meet governmental
requirements.

5.2.3 Mixing Dry Pigments: Dry pigments that are

separately packaged shall be mixed into coatings in such a
manner that they are uniformly blended and all particles of
the dry powder are wetted by the vehicle.
5.2.4 Mixing Pastes: Pastes shall be made into coatings in such a manner that the paste shall be uniformly
blended and all lumps and particles broken up to form a
homogenous coating.

5.1.3 All containers of coating shall remain unopened

until required for use. Containers should be opened only as
necessary to provide material to the painters. Any mixed
material that has exceeded the stated pot life shall be
disposed of promptly and not used. The data on the container label shall remain legible throughout the use of the
contents. See Note 13.1 for additional information on storage temperatures.
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5.2.5 Manual (Hand) Mixing: Most of the vehicle shall

be poured off into a clean container. The pigment in the
coating shall be lifted from the bottom of the container with
a broad, flat paddle, lumps shall be broken up, and the
pigment thoroughly mixed with the remaining vehicle. The
poured-off vehicle shall be returned to the coating with
simultaneous stirring, or boxed until the composition is
uniform. Boxing is the process of mixing coating by pouring
from one container to another. The maximum container size
for boxing shall be five gallons.

5.1.4 Coating that has livered, gelled, or otherwise

deteriorated during storage shall not be used but removed
from the work site. However, thixotropic materials that can
be stirred to attain normal consistency may be used.
5.1.5 No coating shall be used which has exceeded its
manufacturers listed shelf life. While this is normally one
year for most conventional coatings, products such as 100%
solids coatings often have longer shelf lives and some vinyl
esters have much shorter shelf lives. Toward this end, the
oldest container of coating shall be used first. The owner, at
his own discretion, may permit a coating that has exceeded
its shelf life to be used, after recertification by the manufacturer.

Copyright The Society for Protective Coatings

Provided by IHS under license with SSPC
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS

5.2.6 Power Mixing: The coating manufacturers instructions shall be followed when power mixing (see Note 13.2).
5.2.7 Straining: All pigmented coating shall be strained
after mixing except where application equipment is provided
with strainers. Strainers shall be of a size to remove only
skins and undesirable matter but not to remove the pigment.

3
Not for Resale

SSPC-PA 7
July 1, 2002

6.2 TEMPERATURE

5.2.8 Skins: Where a skin has formed in the container,

the skin shall be cut loose from the sides of the container,
removed, and discarded. If the volume of such skins is
visually estimated to be more than 2% of the remaining
coating, the coating shall not be used.

6.2.1 Coating shall not be applied when the temperature of the substrate, coating, or surrounding air is outside
the manufacturers recommended range without the written
approval of the manufacturer and the owner. If no recommendation is given, use a minimum of 13C (55F) for
chemically curing coatings, and 4C (40F) for others, and
a maximum of 38C (100F) (see Note 13.5).

5.2.9 Ventilation: Mixing of solvent-containing coatings in open containers shall be done in a well-ventilated
area away from sparks or flames.

6.2.2 Unless otherwise recommended by the manufacturer, no coating shall be applied when the temperature of
the concrete substrate exceeds the surrounding air temperature by more than 10 C (18 F) (see Note 13.5).

5.2.10 Air Mixing: Coating shall not be mixed or kept in

suspension by means of an air stream bubbling under the
coating surface.
5.2.11 Plural Component Spray: When plural component spray equipment is used for application, each component of the coating shall be thoroughly mixed in accordance
with the manufacturers instructions and then applied by the
plural component equipment in the ratio recommended by
the manufacturer.

6.3 TOPCOATING OR OVERCOATING

6.3.1 Each coat of a multiple coat system shall be in a
proper state of drying or curing before application of the
succeeding coat, in accordance with the manufacturers
recommendation.

5.3 THINNING
6.3.2 When the maximum recoat time is exceeded or
when topcoating an existing fully cured coating, the existing
coating shall be mildly abraded, solvent washed, or otherwise treated according to the manufacturers recommendation before applying the next coat.

5.3.1 No thinner shall be added to the coating unless

necessary for proper application (see Note 13.3).
5.3.2 The type of thinner shall be that recommended by
the coating manufacturer, and the amount of thinning shall
not exceed that recommended by the manufacturer.

6.3.3 In a multiple coat system, with the exception of

floors, different colored coats shall be used to produce
enough contrast to indicate complete hiding of the undercoat.

5.3.3 Each coating, after thinning, must conform to

published government regulations regarding volatile organic compound (VOC) content.

6.4 SURFACE POROSITY

6. Factors Affecting Application of Coatings

to Concrete

6.4.1 Concrete pores shall be filled or sealed as directed by the contract specification (see Note 13.6).

6.1 MOISTURE
6.4.2 The prime coat for rough concrete surfaces shall
be applied by brush or as directed by the contract specification. If the contract document does not address the application of the primer, the manufacturers instructions shall be
followed.

6.1.1 The moisture in the concrete shall be tested by the

plastic sheet test (ASTM D 4263), by a calcium chloride test
(ASTM E 1907 or ASTM F 1869), or by a moisture meter
approved by the owner to establish that it meets the
manufacturers requirements for the specific coating used
(see Note 13.4).

6.5 JOINTS: Isolation, expansion, construction, or contraction joints shall receive any special treatment specified
(see ACI 504R and SSPC-TU 2).

6.1.2 Coating shall not be applied in rain, fog, or mist or

when the surface temperature is less than 3 C (5 F) above
the dew point.
6.1.3 For moisture-curing coatings, waterborne coatings, or other moisture-sensitive coatings, the humidity shall
remain within the range recommended by the coating manufacturer.
Copyright The Society for Protective Coatings
Provided by IHS under license with SSPC
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS

7. Application
7.1 GENERAL: The methods of application covered by
this specification are brush, roller, air spray, airless spray,

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Not for Resale

SSPC-PA 7
July 1, 2002

or areas damaged during this testing shall be repaired

satisfactorily for the owner.

plural component spray, hot spray, or any combination of

these methods. Methods of application not covered by this
specification are dipping, troweling, flow coating, and fluidized bed. Daubers, natural or synthetic wool mitts, or other
applicators may be used for places of difficult access when
no other method is practical (see Note 13.7). See Section 9
for application methods unique to specific generic types of
coatings. In all cases, application shall occur as soon as
practical after surface preparation and before the surfaces
become contaminated by dirt, dust, grease, oil, or other
interference material (see Notes 13.8 to 13.11). Cleaning
and coating shall be so programmed that detrimental amounts
of dust or other contaminants do not fall on wet, newly
coated surfaces.

7.3.2 If a continuous film, as defined above, is not

required, the contracting parties must agree on the size,
type, and frequency of allowed discontinuities.

7.5 BRUSH APPLICATION: Brushes shall be of a style

and quality that will enable proper application of coating.
Round or oval brushes are generally considered most suitable for irregular surfaces and rough or pitted concrete.
Wide, flat brushes are suitable for large flat areas, but they
should not have a width over five inches (12.5 cm). The
brushing shall be done so that a smooth coat as uniform in
thickness as possible is obtained.

7.1.3 Coating shall be worked into all crevices and

corners (see Section 7.3.2).
7.1.4 All runs or sags shall be brushed out (see Section
7.6.4).

7.6 ROLLER APPLICATION

7.1.5 An attempt shall be made to minimize brush

marks, roller marks, and other surface irregularities.

7.6.1 Rolling shall be done so that a smooth coat as

uniform in thickness as possible is achieved.

7.1.6 Surfaces not intended to be coated shall be

suitably protected from the effects of cleaning and coating
operations.

7.6.2 Roller covers shall be selected that do not shed

fibers into the paint. Their nap shall be appropriate for the
particular surface roughness.

7.2 COATING THICKNESS: Whichever application

method is used, the dry film thickness of each coat shall
meet the requirement of the specification or the
manufacturers recommendation, whichever has precedence, as agreed upon by the contracting parties. Thickness requirements for polyureas and other coatings which
dry immediately upon application are determined by use of
dry film thickness readings alone. Dry film thicknesses of
coatings shall be measured in accordance with ASTM D
6132 (nondestructive) or ASTM D 4138 (destructive). For
coatings which have longer dry times, wet film thickness
shall be measured periodically in accordance with ASTM D
4414 to determine if the specified dry film thickness will be
met. This test will require repair of the damaged wet coating.
ASTM D 4414 gauges may be difficult to use on some rough
surfaces.

7.6.3 Roller application may be used on flat or slightly

curved surfaces and shall be in accordance with the recommendations of the coating manufacturer and the roller manufacturer. Coating rollers shall be of a style and quality that
will enable proper application of coating having the continuity and thickness required.
7.6.4 Roller application shall not be used on irregular
surfaces such as rough spots, pits, crevices, corners, or
edges, unless otherwise specified. When permitted, however, the coating applied by roller on these irregular surfaces shall be subsequently brushed out to form a continuous and unbroken film (see Note 13.12).
7.7 SPRAY APPLICATION (GENERAL)

7.3 CONTINUITY: All coatings shall be applied so that

the cured film is continuous, i.e., breaks in the cured film are
not visible without magnification.

7.7.1 The equipment used shall be suitable for the

intended purpose, shall be capable of properly atomizing
the coating to be applied, and shall be equipped with
suitable pressure regulators and gauges. The equipment
shall be maintained in proper working condition. Spray
equipment shall meet the material transfer requirements of
the local air pollution or air quality management district.

7.3.1 When specified, the dried/cured film of coating

shall be inspected for discontinuities in accordance with
ASTM D 4787 or NACE RP0188. Any discontinuities found

Copyright The Society for Protective Coatings

Provided by IHS under license with SSPC
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS

5
Not for Resale

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7.4 CURE: The adequacy of cure of coatings shall be

determined by a test method specified by the owner. Inadequately cured coatings shall be replaced or properly cured
as specified by the owner.

SSPC-PA 7
July 1, 2002

high enough to properly atomize the coating but not so high

as to cause excessive fogging of coating, excessive evaporation of solvent, or loss by overspray.

7.7.2 Coating ingredients shall be kept uniformly mixed

in the spray pots or containers during coating application
either by continuous mechanical agitation or by intermittent
agitation as frequently as necessary.

7.9 AIRLESS SPRAY APPLICATION: Airless or high

pressure spray application of coating shall be in accordance
with all of the provisions of Section 7.7 and in addition shall
comply with the following:

7.7.3 Spray equipment shall be kept sufficiently clean

so that dirt, dried coating, and other foreign materials are not
deposited in the coating film. Any solvents left in the equipment shall be removed before the equipment is used.

7.9.1 Fluid tips shall be of proper orifice size and fan

angle and the fluid control gun of proper construction, as
recommended by the manufacturer of the material being
sprayed and the manufacturer of the equipment being used.
Fluid tips shall be of the safety type, with shields to prevent
accidental penetration of the skin by the high-pressure
stream of coating.

7.7.4 Coating shall be applied in a uniform layer with

overlapping at the edges of the spray pattern. During application, the gun shall be held perpendicular to the surface
and at a distance that will ensure that a wet layer of coating
is deposited on the surface.
7.7.5 Excessive runs and sags as defined by the specification shall be brushed out immediately, and if not, the
coating shall be removed and the surface repainted. The wet
film may be removed or allowed to dry and removed by
sanding after curing.

7.9.2 The coating pressure at the pump shall be adjusted so that the coating pressure to the gun is proper for
optimum spraying effectiveness. This pressure shall be
sufficiently high to properly atomize the coating. Pressures
considerably higher than those necessary to properly atomize the coating should not be used.

7.7.6 Cracks, crevices, blind areas, and all other areas

that are difficult to access shall be coated by brush or daubers.

7.9.4 The trigger of the gun should be pulled fully open

and held fully open during all spraying to ensure proper
application of coating (see Note 13.13).

7.8 AIR ATOMIZING SPRAY APPLICATION: Air atomizing spray application of coating shall be in accordance with
all the provisions of Section 7.7 and in addition shall comply
with the following:

7.9.4 Airless coating spray equipment shall always be

provided with an electric ground wire in the high-pressure
line between the gun and the pumping equipment. Further,
the pumping equipment shall be suitably grounded to avoid
the buildup of any electrostatic charge on the gun. The
manufacturers instructions are to be followed regarding the
proper use of the equipment. SSPC-PA Guide 3 provides
information on how to use airless spray equipment safely.

7.8.1 The air caps, nozzles, and needles shall be those

recommended by the manufacturers of the material being
sprayed and the manufacturers of the equipment being used.
7.8.2 Traps or separators shall be provided to remove
any oil or condensed water from the air. The traps or
separators must be of adequate size and must be bled
continuously or drained periodically during operations. The
air from the spray gun shall show no condensed water or oil
as tested in accordance with ASTM D 4285.

7.10 HOT AIR SPRAY APPLICATION: Hot air spray

application shall be in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 7.7 and 7.8.
7.11 HOT AIRLESS SPRAY APPLICATION: Hot airless spray application shall be in accordance with Sections
7.7 and 7.9.

7.8.3 The coating pressure to the gun shall be adjusted

for optimum spraying effectiveness. The pressure on the
material in the pot shall be adjusted when necessary for
changes in elevation of the gun with respect to the elevation
of the pot. The atomizing air pressure at the gun shall be
Copyright The Society for Protective Coatings
Provided by IHS under license with SSPC
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS

7.12 PLURAL COMPONENT SPRAY APPLICATION:

Plural-component spray shall be in accordance with all the

6
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7.9.3 Spraying equipment shall be kept clean and shall

utilize proper filters in the high-pressure line so that dirt, dry
coating, and other foreign materials are not deposited in the
coating film. Any solvents left in the equipment shall be
completely removed before applying coating.

7.7.7 Particular care shall be observed with respect to

type of thinner, amount of thinner, coating temperature, and
operating techniques in order to avoid deposition of coating
which is too viscous, too dry, or too thin. It may be necessary
to use an approved different coating material or other
equipment to resolve these problems.

SSPC-PA 7
July 1, 2002

9.3 BITUMINOUS COATINGS: Application methods

for bituminous coatings vary greatly with the type of formulation used. These are fully described in SSPC-PA 1 and
summarized below. For additional information, refer to SSPCPaints 12, 32, and 33.

provisions of Section 7.7 and use either fixed or variable

ratio systems depending upon the ratio of components.
7.13 HIGH-VOLUME LOW-PRESSURE SPRAY: Highvolume low-pressure spray shall be in accordance with all
the provisions of Section 7.7 (see Note 13.14).

9.3.1 Thin Film (<500m/20 mils) Bituminous Coating of Low Viscosity: These coatings shall be applied in
the same manner as conventional coatings.

8. Maintenance Coating
SSPC-PA Guide 5 provides other useful information on
maintenance coating.

9.3.2 Cold-Applied Bituminous Mastic (Extra Thick

Film): These coatings shall be applied by brush, troweling,
or spraying with a heavy-duty pump.

8.1 SURFACE PREPARATION

9.3.3 Bituminous Emulsion Coatings: These coatings (e.g., SSPC-Paint 32) shall be applied by brush, trowel,
or spray.

8.1.1 All loose, cracked, brittle, or non-adherent coating

shall be removed in cleaning, unless otherwise specified,
until only tightly adhered coating remains (see Notes 13.15
and 13.16).

9.3.4 Coal Tar Primer and Enamel Coatings: These

coatings shall be applied in accordance with the requirements of AWWA C-203, unless otherwise specified.

8.1.2 After spot removal of deteriorated coatings, the

edges of the intact coating shall be feather-edged (beveled),
so that the repair patch extending one inch (2.5 cm) beyond
them onto intact coating will have a smoother transition and
better bonding to the intact coating. The specifier is responsible for determining if it is necessary to roughen the surface
of the existing coatings to achieve proper adhesion of the
overcoating material.

9.4 POLYURETHANE AND POLYUREA COATINGS:

Since polyurethane and polyurea coatings are sensitive to
moisture, their exposure to moisture should be limited as
much as possible before, during, and immediately after
application (see Note 13.20). In the case of moisture-curing
urethanes, follow manufacturers written instructions regarding exposure to moisture. Because of their extremely
rapid dry time, polyurea coatings must be applied using
plural component spray equipment.

8.2 COMPATIBILITY: Unless otherwise specified, the

specifier is responsible for determining the compatibility of
all coatings to be applied over existing coatings (see Notes
13.17 and 13.18).

9.5 LATEX COATINGS

9. Special Application Procedures for Generic

Groups of Coatings

9.5.1 A latex primer shall not be applied at a temperature below 10C (50F) or above 49C (120F) unless
specifically recommended by the manufacturer.

9.1 GENERAL: This section covers special application

techniques recommended for specific generic types. In case
of a conflict, the manufacturers recommendation shall govern. For multiple-component thermosetting coatings, the
induction, pot life, and recoat times recommended by the
manufacturer shall be observed. Coatings for concrete secondary containment systems shall be applied by the method
recommended by their manufacturers (see SSPC-TU 2).

10. Drying/Curing of Applied Coating

10.1 No coating shall be applied until the preceding coat
has dried/cured to the extent recommended by the manufacturer (see Notes 13.21 and 13.22). A coating shall not be
applied to a dried coating that has exceeded the maximum
time to recoat recommended by the manufacturer (see
Note 13.23).

9.2 VINYLS AND CHLORINATED RUBBER COATINGS: Vinyls and chlorinated rubber coatings shall be applied by spray, with application by brush limited to small
areas and touch-up (see Note 13.19). When brushing,
application shall be made with a minimum of brush strokes
to avoid lifting or softening of undercoats.

Copyright The Society for Protective Coatings

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No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS

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9.5.2 Stored latex coating shall not be allowed to reach

a temperature of 49C (120F) or be subjected to repeated
freezing and thawing.

SSPC-PA 7
July 1, 2002

10.2 No coating shall be force-dried in a manner that will

cause checking, wrinkling, blistering, formation of pores, or
otherwise adversely affect the appearance or the protective
properties of the coating.

13.2 Power mixing will usually give better mixing in a

much shorter time than mixing by hand. Some materials for
coating concrete should not be mixed by hand and must be
mixed with a power mixer.

10.3 Coated concrete shall be protected from all detrimental effects and materials, such as rain, condensation,
contamination, snow, and freezing, until drying/curing has
occurred to the extent that no damage will occur to the
protective film.

13.3 Coatings to be applied by brush usually require no

thinning. Some coatings may give the user the option of
brush or spray application; however, the spray application
option may require thinning of the coating. Thinning should
be done slowly during the final mixing process, using the
product recommended by the manufacturer.

10.4 No coating shall be subjected to immersion conditions until it is thoroughly dried/cured in accordance with
manufacturers written instructions.

13.4 The plastic sheet test (ASTM D 4263) is a simple

test to indicate the presence of moisture in concrete. ASTM
E 1907 and ASTM F 1869 provide actual moisture transmission rates. Moisture meters give only qualitative results but
do so quickly. For some types of moisture meters, only the
surface moisture is recorded unless nails are driven into the
concrete.

11. Inspection
11.1 All work and materials supplied under this specification shall be subject to timely inspection for conformance
to specification requirements (see Note 13.24). Any deficiencies noted shall be corrected to a satisfactory condition.
In case of dispute, the arbitration or settlement procedure
established in the procurement documents, if any, shall be
followed. If no settlement or arbitration procedure is established, the procedure specified by the American Arbitration
Association shall be used.

13.5 The requirement that the concrete temperature fall

within 10 C (18 F) of the surrounding air temperature is a
general caveat to prevent outgassing for rising temperatures and the detrimental curing or skinning of the coating
being applied. Additionally, the concrete may still have a
temperature below 0C (32F) when the air temperature is
adequate for the coating application. This can develop
condensation on the underside of the coating in which case
it may not adhere to the concrete. This can be a particular
problem with latex coatings. The exact temperatures will
vary among manufacturers for the various formulations, but
this can be used as a general rule of thumb.
Outgassing can be minimized by avoiding application
when the surface temperature is rapidly rising.

12. Disclaimer
12.1 While every precaution is taken to ensure that all
information furnished in SSPC standards and specifications
is as accurate, complete, and useful as possible, SSPC
cannot assume responsibility nor incur any obligation resulting from the use of any materials, coatings, or methods
specified herein, or of the specification or standard itself.

13.6 Larger pores or bug holes may have to be fully

opened to expose the interior before repairing prior to
painting. SSPC-SP 13 provides additional information on
preparing concrete surfaces for coating.

12.2 This specification does not attempt to address

problems concerning safety associated with its use. The
user of this specification, as well as the user of all products
or practices described herein, is responsible for instituting
appropriate health and safety practices and for ensuring
compliance with all governmental regulations.

13.7 Coatings on concrete are generally applied by

brush or spray. Either method is satisfactory if properly
performed and the coating is formulated for the application
method being used. The variations are slight and often
overshadowed by variations in workmanship.
Brushing of primers has the advantage of working
coating into cracks and crevices and other surface irregularities. It may create brush marks, however, with coatings
having limited leveling.
Lacquer-type coatings, such as vinyls, may be applied
by brush with considerable difficulty. The priming coat
brushes on with the least difficulty and results in better

13. Notes
Notes are not requirements of this specification.
13.1 Storage at temperatures between 10 and 32C (50
and 90F) is generally acceptable, unless otherwise stated
by the manufacturer. 100-percent-solids coatings are more
commonly stored between 21 and 32C (70 and 90F).

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13 and ACI 224.1R) to meet project specification requirements and to permit application of protective coatings.

adhesion to the surface than spraying. Finish coats of

lacquer type coating tend to lift underlying coats by solvent
action and brushing combined; for this reason such finish
coatings are best applied by spraying.
With many types of coatings, properly used high-pressure spray methods can result in a thicker, less permeable
film. Spray operators must be properly selected and trained.
Careful supervision and inspection are necessary with the
various spray application methods to insure against such
imperfections as dirty surfaces, dry spray, pinholes, holidays, missed areas, blind spots, contamination of coating or
air, wind loss, or excessive outdoor overspray.
Several advantages are possible with the various highpressure airless methods of coating application, both hot
and cold spray. These include labor savings because of
reduced application time and a greater thickness per coat.
Additional savings also can be traced to less flowback, less
overspray, power (compressor) savings, use of higher solids in coating formulations, and less sensitivity to changes
in ambient temperature during application.

13.9.3 Many coating manufacturers recommend a moisture emission rate of less than 15 g/m2 (3.0 lb/1000 ft2) per
24 hours as measured in accordance with ASTM E 1907.
13.9.4 Generally, all efflorescence and laitance should
be removed from the concrete surface by mechanical surface preparation (see SSPC-SP 13). The surface should be
repaired as necessary to permit good primer adhesion.
Some coatings do not require the removal of all laitance.
13.10 SURFACE PREPARATION
13.10.1 The concrete surface should be cleaned as
specified in the procurement documents to remove form
release agents, curing agents, dirt, grease, and other deleterious contaminants. In the event that no cleaning has
been specified, the surface preparation should be no less
than the coating manufacturers recommendations for the
intended service environment. High pressure water cleaning and waterjetting (SSPC-SP 12) are often used to clean
concrete (see SSPC-SP 13 for surface preparation alternatives).

13.8 BELOW-GRADE CONCRETE

13.8.1 New Construction: Concrete slabs and walls at
or below grade to be internally coated with relatively impervious systems should receive a moisture barrier such as a
sheet membrane on the side of the concrete in contact with
the soil or rock. Use of penetrating waterproofing systems
may be helpful.

13.10.2 The surface of the bare concrete should be

roughened to the profile recommended by the manufacturer
of the primer. (ICRI Guide No. 03732 provides information
on the proper concrete profile for different coating thickness
and how to obtain the profile.)

13.8.2 Existing Structures: Concrete slabs and walls

at or below grade that do not have an effective vapor barrier
in place are generally not acceptable substrates over which
to apply impervious coating systems. Moisture testing in
accordance with ASTM E 1907 should be conducted to
determine specific suitability for manufacturer acceptance.

13.11 New concrete generally requires a minimum of 28

days curing time unless both parties agree to a lesser time.
Additives, admixtures, type of cement, sand, and aggregate
can influence shrinkage and may require a longer cure time.
During this period, most of the shrinkage cracks occur.
Certain coatings, however, are designed to be applied over
damp or green concrete and can be used as curing
membranes (see SSPC-Guide 11).

13.9 PRE-SURFACE PREPARATION

13.9.1 The soundness (surface tensile strength) of the
concrete surface should be tested prior to cleaning for
coating for conformance to project specification requirements (see ASTM D 4541; ACI 503R, Appendix A; and Note
13.24). All structural concrete members should be inspected
by a professional engineer or authorized project quality
control personnel prior to coating to avoid masking any
structural defects or deficiencies.

13.12 With roller application of coating on concrete,

high production rates approaching that of conventional
spraying may be possible. The method works best on large
smooth areas such as tanks or walls. Difficulties may be
encountered when coating rough spots, pits, edges, corners, etc. to ensure that adequate coating is applied. Supplementary brush coating is mandatory for those areas on
concrete, even though special rollers for these areas are
available for general work. The requirements are generally
the same as for brush and spray coating. Excellent results
have been achieved, and it is possible to build up specified

13.9.2 Prior to actual surface preparation of concrete

for coating, surface conditions and irregularities must be
addressed. All projections, cracks, and other surface irregularities should be repaired before cleaning (see SSPC-SP

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film thicknesses by this method. Roller coating is particularly

useful where spraying cannot be undertaken due to the
hazards from overspray or the flammability of solvent.

13.19 Lacquers, such as vinyls and chlorinated rubbers, are not used much today because of their high VOC
content

13.13 Except for plural component spray, the trigger of

the gun should be released at the end of each stroke. There
is a possibility that the mix ratio in the initial discharge from
a plural component spray may not be correct.

13.20 SSPC-PS Guide 17.00 provides additional information on polyurethane coatings.

13.21 Application of coating before the preceding coat
has dried/cured may result in such adverse effects as lifting,
wrinkling, or loss of adhesion of undercoats.

13.14 High-volume low-pressure spray has a high transfer efficiency and can be used where other equipment with
lower transfer efficiency is not permitted, as well as under
less restrictive conditions.

13.22 If the maximum time for topcoating is exceeded,

the undercoat will require complete removal or a special
surface treatment, such as light sanding, as recommended
by the coating manufacturer.

13.15 Loose, cracked, or brittle coating can usually be

removed by moderate pressure with a dull putty knife.

13.23 Suitable test methods to determine the extent of

curing include solvent rub (ASTM D 5402), pencil hardness
(ASTM D 3363), Barcol hardness (ASTM D 2583) for thick
film coatings, or the durometer test (ASTM D 2240).

13.16 The bond strength of the coating to the concrete

should be measured in accordance with ASTM D 4541 or
ACI 503R, Appendix A. These methods will require patching
of damaged coating and may require patching of concrete.

13.24 The Inspection of Coatings and Linings, A Handbook of Basic Practice for Inspectors, Owners, and Specifiers (SSPC publication 97-07) provides information on testing of concrete for soundness. Information on the inspection
of concrete and coatings on concrete can be found in The
Inspection of Coatings and Linings as well as in NACE
RP0288.

13.17 A convenient field test for coating compatibility is

ASTM D 5064.
13.18 In all cases, coatings applied to concrete must be
compatible with the alkali normally present on concrete.
SSPC-TU 2 provides data on the chemical and physical
properties of commonly used generic types of coatings.

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