Materials System Specification

09-SAMSS-087 7 February 2017

Qualification Requirements for Epoxy
Coatings Applied on Damp Steel Surfaces
Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee

Contents
1 Scope ................................................................ 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations .................................... 2
3 References ........................................................ 2
4 Definition ........................................................... 4
5 General Requirements ...................................... 5
6 Qualification Tests and Requirements ............... 5
7 Method of Packaging ......................................... 8
Revision Summary................................................... 8

Previous Issue: 27 March 2012 Next Planned Update: 7 February 2020

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Contact: Chi, Sangki (chisx) on phone +966-13-880-9571

©Saudi Aramco 2017. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-087
Issue Date: 7 February 2017 Qualification Requirements for Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 7 February 2020 Coatings Applied on Damp Steel Surfaces

1 Scope

This specification defines the minimum mandatory requirements for qualifying

individual coating products for use in Saudi Aramco's approved protective coating system
APCS-22A and APCS-22B. It shall be used when any of the following situations occur:

1.1 Initial Product Approval

This specification shall be given to coating manufacturers, or other vendors of

coating products, that wish to obtain initial approval for products that have not
previously been qualified in accordance with this specification.

1.2 Periodic Product Compliance Checks

This specification shall be used for periodic product compliance checks on

previously approved coatings. The periodic product compliance check of this
specification shall be every five (5) years from the date of issuing the revised
standard. The RUS shall notify the supplier/s to recheck their products for
compliance. It shall be made available to the organization conducting the
compliance tests.

2 Conflicts and Deviations

2.1 Any conflicts between this specification and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs), Engineering Standards (SAESs),
Standard Drawings (SASDs), or industry standards, codes, and forms shall be
resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer Representative through the
Manager, Consulting Services Department, of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

2.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this specification in writing to the Company or
Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
and forward such requests to the Manager, Consulting Services Department of
Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

3 References

Material or equipment supplied to this specification shall comply with the latest edition
of the references listed below unless otherwise noted:

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-087
Issue Date: 7 February 2017 Qualification Requirements for Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 7 February 2020 Coatings Applied on Damp Steel Surfaces

SAEP-1200 Process Flow Requirements for Qualification

Procedures of Industrial Coating and Abrasive
Blasting Products

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specification

09-SAMSS-060 Packaging Requirements for Coatings

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-H-001 Coating Selection and Application Requirements for
Industrial Plants and Equipment
SAES-H-004 Protective Coating Selection and Application
Requirements for Offshore Structures and
Facilities

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM B117 Salt Spray (Fog) Testing
ASTM D610 Evaluating Degree of Rusting on Painted Steel
Surfaces
ASTM D660 Evaluating Degree of Checking of Exterior Paints
ASTM D661 Evaluating Degree of Cracking of Exterior paints
ASTM D714 Evaluating Degree of Blistering of Paints
ASTM D822 Operating Light-and-Water Exposure Apparatus
(Carbon-Arc Type) for Testing Paint, Varnish,
Lacquer, and Related Products
ASTM D1193 Reagent Grade Water
ASTM D1640 Drying, Curing or Film Formation of Organic
Coatings at Room Temperature
ASTM D1654 Methods for Evaluation of Painted or Coated
Specimens Subjected to Corrosive Environments
ASTM D1849 Package Stability of Paint
ASTM G26 Operating Light-Exposure Apparatus (Xenon Arc
Type) with and without Water for Exposure of
Nonmetallic Material
ASTM D5894 Standard Practice for Cyclic Salt Fog/UV Exposure
of Painted Metal

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-087
Issue Date: 7 February 2017 Qualification Requirements for Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 7 February 2020 Coatings Applied on Damp Steel Surfaces

ASTM D4541 Standard Test Method for Pull-Off Strength of

Coatings Using Portable Adhesion Testers

The Society for Protective Coatings

SSPC PA2 Measurement of Dry Paint Thickness with Magnetic
Gages
SSPC SP10 (Sa 2½) Near White Blast Cleaning
SSPC VIS 1 Pictorial Surface Preparation Standards for
Painting Steel Surfaces

International Standards Organization

ISO 2815 Buchholz Indentation Hardness Test
ISO 8501-1 Visual Assessment of Surface Cleanliness
ISO 8502-3 Assessment of dust on steel surfaces prepared for
painting (pressure sensitive tape method)
ISO 8502-6 Extraction of Soluble Contaminants for Analysis -
The Bresle Method
ISO8503-5 Replica Tape Method for Determination of the
Surface Profile

National Association of Corrosion Engineers

NACE TM0404 Offshore Platform Atmospheric and Splash Zone
New Construction Coating System Evaluation

4 Definition

Dry-To-Recoat: The length of time it takes for a freshly applied coating to reach that
drying stage at which another coating can be applied without incurring any surface
irregularities such as loss of adhesion, blistering or lifting.

Dry-To-Touch: The length of time measured from a coating's application to the drying
stage where the coating has hardened enough so that it can be “touched lightly without
any adhering to the finger.”

Pot Life: The time a raw material or semi-finished product retains its processing
properties after final preparation such as mixing of components or adding of catalysts.

Responsible Unit Supervisor (RUS): The group leader of Nonmetallic, CP &

Coatings Group who is designated by the Manager, Consulting Services Department.

Vendor: The coating manufacturer

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-087
Issue Date: 7 February 2017 Qualification Requirements for Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 7 February 2020 Coatings Applied on Damp Steel Surfaces

5 General Requirements

5.1 For purposes of this specification the Buyer's Representative shall be the
Responsible Unit Supervisor (RUS) in the Consulting Services Department of
Saudi Aramco.

5.2 In order to qualify a coating system as acceptable under this specification,

the coating supplier shall submit a certified test report documenting that the
proposed coating system meets the qualification tests and requirements of this
specification. Preparation and testing shall be performed and/or witnessed by
3rd Party Laboratory or inspection agency that should be acceptable to the Paints
and Coatings Standards Committee in Saudi Aramco. This report shall be
submitted to the Saudi Aramco RUS for review and approval.

5.3 All initial product qualification tests shall be carried out at no cost to Saudi
Aramco.

6 Qualification Tests and Requirements

6.1 Physical Property Tests

6.1.1 Package Stability of Paint

When stored at 52 ± 1°C for 1 months in accordance with ASTM D1849,

the sample shall meet the following requirements:
a) weight loss - No weight loss
b) skinning, pressure and corrosion - 10
c) settling - 6 or better
d) grains, lumps, or streaks - 8 or better

6.1.2 Spray Properties

The ready mixed primer and topcoat shall be easily applied in one coat to
a vertical surface at a dry film thickness as per paragraph 6.2.6 with no
tendency to orange peel, sag, creep or run.

6.1.3 Drying Times

When tested in accordance with ASTM D1640 Dry-To-Touch Time

shall be six (6) hours or less and the Dry-To-Recoat Time shall not
exceed 10 hours at 20°C.

6.1.4 Usable Pot Life

At 40ºC, the viscosity of the ready-mixed paint shall remain within the
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-087
Issue Date: 7 February 2017 Qualification Requirements for Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 7 February 2020 Coatings Applied on Damp Steel Surfaces

range recommended by the manufacturer for sprayability without

additional thinning for not less than 1 hour.

6.1.5 Adhesion Test

a) Prepare test panels as in paragraph 6.2 except for curing which shall
be as shown in Table 1.

Table 1
Drying Times
APCS Coating Substrate
at 25 ± 1ºC
Primer Damp Steel 72 hours
22A
Topcoat Damp Primer Seven days

22B Single coat Damp Steel Seven days

b) Determine the adhesion of the prime coat to the substrate, intercoat

adhesion, or cohesion of any coat of the painting system by using an
adhesion tester in accordance with ASTM D4541. Lightly sand the
coated surface and aluminum dolly and apply an epoxy adhesive.
Allow the adhesive to cure as directed by the adhesive supplier.
Scribe the coating and adhesive around the dolly prior to testing.
Make a minimum of three trials and report. The minimum value shall
be 5,000 kPa (750 psi). Include the details of the mode of failure in
the report besides the pull-off value. Adhesion test shall be
conducted before and after the performance test per paragraph 6.3.1.

6.1.6 Indentation Hardness Test

Using the draw down application method, apply one coat of top coat to a
polished metal or glass panel. Dry film thickness shall be specified as
per paragraph 6.2.6. Allow the coating to cure for 7 days at 20ºC.
Perform the Buchholz Hardness Test in accordance with ISO 2815.
The minimum acceptable reading shall be 60.

6.2 Test Panel Preparation

6.2.1 Test panels shall be ASTM A36 hot rolled steel approximately 100 mm
X 150 mm. Prior to preparing the surface, the condition of the test panel
shall be equivalent to SSPC VIS 1 Rust Grade A, Adherent Mill Scale.
The minimum thickness of the test panel shall be 5 mm.

6.2.2 Abrasive blast the test panels to meet (but not exceed) the cleanliness
requirements of Near White Metal Blast, SSPC SP10 (Sa 2 ½).

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-087
Issue Date: 7 February 2017 Qualification Requirements for Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 7 February 2020 Coatings Applied on Damp Steel Surfaces

6.2.3 After cleaning the surface, residual dust level shall be checked and dust
rating shall be level 2 or better in accordance with ISO 8502-3.

6.2.4 The profile of the blasted surface shall be 40-65 micrometers

(1.5-2.5 mils) and shall be determined with replica tape in accordance
with ISO 8503-5.

6.2.5 The residual chloride of surface shall be around 40 mg/m2 and it shall be
measured in accordance with ISO 8502-6.

6.2.6 Immediately prior to each coatings application, spray a light mist of

ASTM D1193 Grade water onto the surface to be coated. The surface
shall be visually damp but shall not have a water sheen.

6.2.7 Mix and apply the coatings in accordance with Vendor's

recommendations. Cure the coatings for seven days at a temperature of
32 ± 1ºC and 95-100% relative humidity. Dry film thickness shall be
measured and recorded in accordance with SSPC PA2, and shall meet
the following requirements:
For APCS-22A
- Each coat : 200 micrometers (8 mils) maximum
- Total system : 300 - 400 micrometers (12-16 mils)
For APCS-22B
- Single coat : 350 - 500 micrometers (14-20 mils)

6.3 Performance Tests

6.3.1 Prepare two panels in accordance with paragraph 6.2 and scribe each
panel in accordance with ASTM D1654. Expose panels alternately in a
Q-UV in accordance with ASTM D5894, and a salt fog cabinet in
accordance with ASTM B117, Salt Spray (Fog) Testing. Place the
panels in the Q-UV for 168 hours then place the panels in the Salt Fog
for 336 hours. Continue this cyclic testing until a total of 5 cycles
(2,520 hours) has been completed. At the conclusion of the test, each
coating will be evaluated for and meet the criteria found in Table 2.

Table 2
Standard Acceptable Rating
Evaluating Degree of Blistering of
ASTM D714 No blisters
Paints
Evaluating Degree of Checking of
ASTM D660 No checking
Exterior Paints
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-087
Issue Date: 7 February 2017 Qualification Requirements for Epoxy
Next Planned Update: 7 February 2020 Coatings Applied on Damp Steel Surfaces

Standard Acceptable Rating

Evaluating Degree of Cracking of
ASTM D661 No cracking
Exterior Paints
Evaluating Degree of Rusting on
ASTM D610 9 or better
Painted Steel Surfaces
Standard Evaluation of Painted or Rating of Failure at
ASTM D1654 Coated Specimens Subjected to Scribe shall be 9 or
Corrosive Environments better

6.3.2 Rust Creepage Resistance, Edge Retention, and Thermal Cycling

Resistance test shall be conducted in accordance with NACE TM0404.
Each coating will be evaluated and shall meet the acceptance criteria
found in Table 3.

Table 3
Test Test Method Acceptance Criteria
Rust Creepage
NACE TM0404 Section 7 Less than 3 mm
Resistance
Edge Retention NACE TM0404 Section 8 Min. 85%
Thermal Cycling
NACE TM0404 Section 9 No defect
Resistance

6.3.3 Maximum Service Temperature

The maximum service temperature of the coating system shall be at least

120ºC. To verify compliance with this requirement, conduct adhesion
tests on coated panels that have been prepared in accordance with
paragraph 6.1.5 and then exposed in an oven for 14 days at 120ºC.

The adhesion shall be at least 90% of that obtained on samples prepared

and tested in accordance with paragraph 6.1.5 but not subsequently
exposed in an oven.

7 Method of Packaging

Coatings shall be packaged in accordance with 09-SAMSS-060.

Revision Summary
27 March 2012 Revised the "Next Planned Update". Reaffirmed the contents of the document, and reissued
with editorial revision to removed SAES-H-101 and replaced with SAES-H-001.
7 February 2017 Major revision to be in line with the latest issue of related international standards. New test
methods were added such as rust creepage test, edge retention test and thermal cycling test.

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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