Designation: A 972/A 972M – 00 (Reapproved 2004)

Standard Specification for

Fusion Bonded Epoxy-Coated Pipe Piles1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 972/A 972M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope G 14 Test Method for Impact Resistance of Pipeline Coat-

1.1 This specification covers pipe piles with protective ings (Falling Weight Test)
fusion-bonded epoxy powder coating applied by the electro- G 20 Test Method for Chemical Resistance of Pipeline
static spray, flocking, or fluidized bed process. Coatings
2.2 American Petroleum Institute Specification:
NOTE 1—The coating applicator is identified throughout this specifica- API RP 5L7 Recommended Practice for Internal Fusion-
tion as the manufacturer.
Bonded Epoxy Coating of Line Pipe3
1.2 Other organic coatings may be used provided they meet 2.3 National Association of Corrosion Engineers Stan-
the requirements of this specification. dards:
1.3 Requirements for the powder coating are contained in TM0175 Visual Standard for Surfaces of New Steel Cen-
Annex A1. trifugally Blast Cleaned with Steel Shot or Steel Grit
1.4 This specification is applicable for orders in either SI (NACE No. 2)4
units (as Specification A 972M) or inch-pound units [as Speci- RP0490 Holiday Detection of Fusion-Bonded Epoxy Exter-
fication A 972]. The values stated in either SI or inch-pound nal Pipeline Coatings of 250 to 750 µm (10 to 30 mils)4
units are to be regarded as standard. Within the text, the 2.4 Steel Structures Painting Council Standards:
inch-pound units are shown in brackets. SSPC VIS 1 Visual Standards5
1.5 The following precautionary statement refers to the test SSPC-SP1 Surface Preparation Specification No. 1: Solvent
method portion only, Section 8, of this standard: This standard Cleaning5
does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, SSPC-SP10 Near White Blast Cleaning5
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this
standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices 3. Ordering Information
and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior 3.1 Orders for pipe piles under this specification may
to use. include the following information:
3.1.1 Specification for designation and year of issue,
2. Referenced Documents 3.1.2 Size (pipe pile outside diameter and nominal wall
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 thickness),
A 252 Specification for Welded and Seamless Steel Pipe 3.1.3 Quantity.
Piles 3.1.4 Length,
B 117 Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus 3.1.5 Portions to be coated (full length or distance from
D 4060 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic end),
Coatings by the Taber Abraser 3.1.6 Requirements for certifications (see 4.1 and 12.1),
G 8 Test Method for Cathodic Disbonding of Pipeline 3.1.7 Requirements for material samples (see 4.3),
Coatings 3.1.8 Requirements for patching material (see 4.4),
G 12 Test Method for Nondestructive Measurement of Film 3.1.9 Requirements for visual standards for surface cleaning
Thickness of Pipeline Coatings on Steel comparison (see 5.1),
3.1.10 Requirements for test frequency (see 8.1, 8.2), and
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is under the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee A01.09 on Carbon Steel Tubular Products .
3
Current edition approved Sept 1, 2004. Published October 2004. Originally Available from the American Petroleum Institute (API), 1220 L St., Washington
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as A 972/A 972M – 00. DC 20005.
2 4
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Available from the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE), 1440
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM South Creek, Houston, TX 77084.
5
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC), 40 24th St., 6th Floor,
the ASTM website. Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4656.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 A 972/A 972M – 00 (2004)
3.1.11 Requirements for inspections at the manufacturing 6.3 The powder coating shall be applied and cured in
plant (see 10.1). accordance with the powder coating manufacturer’s written
recommendations.
4. Materials and Manufacture 6.4 Areas of pipe piles not requiring coating to allow for
4.1 Steel pipe piles to be coated shall meet the requirements welding or other purposes shall be specified by the purchaser
of Specification A 252 as ordered. and shall be blocked-out during the coating application.
7. Requirements for Coated Pipe Piles
NOTE 2—Surface conditions such as slivers, gouges, laminations, pits,
and sharp edges may cause coating application difficulties and effort 7.1 Coating Thickness:
should be made to hold these conditions to a minimum. 7.1.1 The minimum coating thickness after curing on the
4.2 The powder coating shall meet the requirements listed in pipe piles shall be 300 µm [12 mils].
Annex A1 and shall be approved by the purchaser. 7.1.2 The coating thickness shall be measured in accordance
with Test Method G 12 following the instructions for calibra-
4.2.1 If specified in the order, a written certification shall be
tion and use recommended by the thickness gage manufacturer.
furnished to the purchaser that properly identifies the supplied
7.2 Coating Continuity:
powder coating, batch designation of each batch used in the
7.2.1 Holiday detection shall be performed on each coated
order, quantity represented, date of manufacture, name and
pipe pile in accordance with NACE RP0490 or a 67.5 V direct
address of manufacturer, and states that the powder coating,
current, 80-k V wet-sponge holiday detector in conjunction
meets the requirements of Annex A1.
with a wetting agent.
4.3 If specified in the order, a representative 0.2 kg [8 oz.] 7.2.2 Holidays detected shall be patched in accordance with
sample from each batch of the powder coating shall be supplied the patching material manufacturer’s written recommenda-
to the purchaser. The sample shall be packaged in an airtight tions.
container and identified by batch designation.
4.4 Patching material shall be compatible with the powder 8. Test Frequency
coating and recommended by the manufacturer of the powder 8.1 Measure the coating thickness on a minimum of every
coating. If specified in the order, patching material shall be 10th pipe pile.
supplied to the purchaser. 8.2 Test the coating continuity over the entire coated surface
of each pipe pile.
5. Surface Preparation
9. Permissible Coating Damage and Repair of Damaged
5.1 Prior to blast cleaning, the surfaces of steel pipe piles to Coating
be coated shall be precleaned, as required, in accordance with 9.1 Coating damage to pipe piles due to handling or other
SSPC-SP1. Steel surfaces shall be cleaned by abrasive blast causes shall be repaired in the manufacturer’s plant with
cleaning to near-white metal in accordance with SSPC-SP10. patching material prior to shipment.
The cleaning media used shall produce an anchor pattern 9.2 The areas of coating damage shall be prepared for the
profile of 38–100 µm [1.5–4.0 mils]. Either of the following application of patching material by cleaning the damaged area,
visual standards of comparison shall be used to define the final removing the damaged coating using grinders or other suitable
surface condition: SSPC-VIS 1 or NACE TM0175. Expended means, feathering the adjacent coating, and removing all
blasting media debris and dust shall be removed from blasted remaining residue or dust.
surfaces prior to applying the powder coating. 9.3 The application of the patching materials to the dam-
5.2 Prior to application of the fusion-bonded epoxy powder aged areas shall be in accordance with the patching material
coating, raised slivers, scabs, laps, sharp edges, or seams shall manufacturer’s written recommendation.
be removed using abrasive grinders. No individual area of
grinding shall exceed 230 cm2 [36 in.2]. The total area of 10. Inspection
grinding shall not exceed 1 % of the total surface area. 10.1 The purchaser’s representative (inspector) shall be
allowed entry to the area of the manufacturer’s plant where
NOTE 3—Pipe piles with excessive grinding should be reblasted prior to
coating to establish a suitable anchor pattern in the ground area.
work on the purchaser’s order is being performed during times
of operation. The manufacturer shall afford the inspector all
6. Coating Application reasonable facilities to satisfy that the material is being
furnished in accordance with this specification.
6.1 The powder coating shall be applied to the cleaned steel 10.2 The inspector shall be allowed to select completed pipe
surfaces before visible oxidation occurs, but not exceeding 3 h piles randomly for inspection and testing in the manufacturer’s
after cleaning. plant. Such inspections and tests conducted by the inspector
6.2 To achieve the required coating thickness (see 7.1), the shall not interfere unnecessarily with the manufacturer’s op-
steel shall be preheated prior to applying the powder coating in eration.
accordance with the powder coating manufacturer’s written
recommendations. The heat source shall not leave a residue or 11. Rejection
contaminant on the steel surfaces. If oxidation occurs, the steel 11.1 Coated pipe piles represented by test specimens that do
shall be cooled to ambient temperature and recleaned before not meet the requirements of this specification shall be re-
applying the powder coating. jected. At the manufacturer’s option, rejected sections shall be

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 A 972/A 972M – 00 (2004)
replaced, or may be stripped of coating, cleaned, recoated, and 13.2 Pipe piles shall be stored off the ground on supports
resubmitted for acceptance testing in accordance with the that prevent excessive deflection. Stacked pipe piles shall be
requirements of this specification. isolated with suitable separators to prevent coating damage.
12. Certification 13.3 Bundling bands for packaging and tie-down bands for
shipping shall be padded or made of material that shall not
12.1 Upon request by the purchaser, the manufacturer shall
furnish, at the time of shipment, written certification that the damage the coating. Pipe piles shall be supported during
coated sections meet the requirements of this specification. shipping in a manner that prevents impact damage to the
coating and excessive deflection.
13. Handling, Packaging and Shipping
13.1 Coated pipe piles shall not be dropped, dragged, or 14. Keywords
handled in any manner that will result in damage to the coating.
14.1 corrosion resistance; fusion-bonded epoxy powder
Equipment for handling coated sections shall have padded
coating; pipe piles
contact areas.

ANNEX

(Mandatory Information)

A1. QUALIFICATION OF ORGANIC COATINGS FOR PIPE PILING

A1.1 Scope panels coated with a minimum of 0.3 mm [12 mils] of coating
A1.1.1 This specification covers qualification requirements over a mandrel at 0 6 2°C [32 6 4°F]. Tests shall be performed
for a barrier epoxy powder coating for protecting pipe piling. in accordance with 5.3.3.1 of API RP 5L7 with an acceptance
criterion of 1.5° total deflection at 0 6 2°C [32 6 40°F]. Bends
A1.2 Coating Material shall be visually inspected; any visible tears or cracks in the
A1.2.1 The coating material shall be a 100 % solids, heat coating at bends is cause for rejection, unless located with 2.5
curable, thermosetting, epoxy powder coating. mm [0.1 in.] of the edge of the strap. Unopened stretch marks
A1.2.2 At the request of the purchaser, the manufacturer of on the coating surface do not constitute coating failure.
the fusion-bonded epoxy powder coating shall be required to
A1.3.4 Abrasion Resistance—The abrasion resistance of the
certify that products used to coat pipe piling meet the require-
coating shall be tested by a taber abraser (see Test Method
ments of this specification.
D 4060), or its equivalent, using four standard steel plates for
A1.3 Coating Requirements this apparatus coated to a thickness of 0.30 to 0.35 mm [12 to
A1.3.1 Chemical Resistance—The chemical resistance of 14 mils] and CS-10 wheels with a 1-kg [2.2-lb] load per wheel.
the coating shall be evaluated according to Test Method G 20 The maximum allowable weight loss shall not exceed 100 mg
by immersing coated plates in each of the following: distilled [0.0035 oz.]/1000 cycles. The abrasion wheels shall be cleaned
water, an aqueous solution of 3 M CaCl2, an aqueous solution after 500 cycles.
of 3 M NaOH, and a solution saturated with Ca(OH)2. A1.3.5 Salt Fog—The weathering resistance of the coating
Specimens without holidays and specimens with intentional shall be tested using a salt spray cabinet following Practice
holes drilled through the coating 6 mm [1⁄4 in.] in diameter B 117 for 1000 h. The coating shall not blister, and the coating
shall be tested. The temperature of the test solutions shall be 24 disbondment shall not exceed 3 mm [0.12 in], as measured
6 2°C [75 6 4°F]. The minimum test time shall be 45 days. from the edge of the scribe area.
The coating shall not blister, soften, lose bond, or develop
A1.3.6 Cathodic Disbondment—The effects of electrical
holidays during this period. The coating surrounding the
and electrochemical stresses on the bond of the coating to steel
intentionally made holes shall exhibit no undercutting during
the 45-day period. and on the film integrity shall be assessed in an elevated
A1.3.2 Impact Resistance—The impact resistance of the cathodic disbondment test. Test Method G 8 shall be followed
coating shall be tested in accordance with Test Method G 14 except that flat plates coated with the proposed material shall
using a 16 mm [5⁄8 in.] diameter tup, 300 µm [12 mils] be used. The drilled coating defect shall be 3 mm [0.12 in.] in
minimum coating thickness on a 3 mm [1⁄8 in.] thick panel at diameter, the electrolyte solution shall be 3 % NaCl by mass
24 6 2°C [75 6 4°F]. Three tests shall be performed. The dissolved in distilled water, the electrolyte solution temperature
minimum acceptable value shall be 9 J [80 in.-lb.] of impact shall be 65 6 2°C [150 6 3.6°F], and the test duration shall be
with no visible breaks in the coating. 24 hours. The average coating disbondment radius of three test
A1.3.3 Coating Flexibility—The flexibility of the coating panels shall not exceed 6 mm [0.24 in.] as measured from the
shall be evaluated by bending three 16 mm [5⁄8 in.] thick edge of the intentional coating defect.

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 A 972/A 972M – 00 (2004)
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