CoatingsPro Magazine

NOV 2014

CoatingsPro offers an in-depth look at coatings based on case studies, successful business operation, new products, industry news, and the safe and profitable use of coatings and equipment.

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30 NOVEMBER 2014 COATINGSPROMAG.COM Specifying Success W hat is a specifcation? It is the legal written word that tells the contractor what they are required to do, when they are to do it, and where they are to do it. It may or may not tell them how to do it. Te coating specifca- tion is generally adapted to a particular situation and may have varying degrees of clarity and accuracy. Unclear and blurred specifcations require interpre- tations by the contractor and the coating inspector that may lead to questionable and argumentative consequences and or unsatisfactory coating performance. So how does it start? When the determination is made to perform a work-related course of action (aka coating a structure), the frst step in obtaining a quality product is formulating that specifc course of action. One specifc course of action is to write a specifcation. Te specifcation is the tool that enables the asset owner (aka specifcation writer) to instruct the contractor exactly what is wanted. However, in many cases the specifcation writer is not a professional specifcation writer or a coating specialist. Even if he or she was, the writer rarely uses a written guide or checklist to ensure all aspects of the coating specifcation are sequential and clearly defned. Tis idea can be somewhat compared to an airline pilot using a checklist for takeofs and landings. Tough the pilot may know how to fy the airplane (based on years of experience), a sequential checklist is used for takeofs and landings to ensure that no procedure is overlooked, forgot- ten, or missed. Today, specifcations are much more complicated than what was required in the past because of the need to fulfll legal as well as technical issues. Imperfections in the written word tend to give rise to disputes and litigation. Terefore, it is critical that a coating specifcation delineates system- atically, thoroughly, and legally the requirements needed to fulfll both technical and legal issues. Te quality of a coating project/ system begins with the specifcation. If the specifcation is incomplete or imperfect, quality sufers. It would be rare that the quality of a fnished coating project is greater than the specifcation requires. Tere are many purposes for a specifcation. Among them is the goal of making the bidding process fair and equitable to all potential bidders. Another goal is to preserve a non-con- frontational transition from the start of the coating project to the end of the project without a reduction in quality. But how do you write one? A Specification Outline Tis example explains a sequential process of writing a contract specif- cation for coatings. Te suggestions and format listed can be used as a guide to help a specifer develop his or her own checklist that will ensure a quality product. 1. Introduction (Scope): This will include the name of the asset owner, the title or name of the project, and the date and location of the project. The name of the project and location should be the heading on the speci- fication, e.g., XYZ Engineering Command, "Interior Lining of a Concrete Petroleum Fuel Tank" (Dec. 2013) Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. In cases where the asset owner is not the specification writer, the author of the specifica- tion should be listed along with his or her address and phone number. Avoid repetition of work described elsewhere in the specification. 2. References: List all pertinent publi- cations only and their dates and paragraphs that will form a part of the specification, e.g., ASTM D 4285 (1995) "Indicating Oil and Water in Compressed Air," and Society of Protective Coatings (SSPC) PA 2 (the most recent standard) "Measurement of Dry Paint Thickness With Magnetic Gages." The coating contractor should have these references available at all times on the jobsite. 3. Definitions: Provide a list of definitions either in the Definitions portion of the specification or throughout the specification in the appropriate locations. This can resolve disputes caused by regional or geographical dialects. 4. Work Plan Submittal: Provide (in Appendix A) a sequential detailed outline (aka Work Plan) of the requirements that the contractor must complete and submit with his or her bid. The Work Plan will show the contractor's detailed procedures By Tomas R. (Randy) Glover, President and Owner of O.T.B. Technologies, Inc. Writing a Coatings Spec

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