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more expensive than the low cost per gallon alternative. PRINCIPLE No. 5 — Know your equipment manufacturer and the representative that you wi l l have to work with on that part icular si te. A coating specification for a potable water tank rarely is written for a job with a definite time table for completion on a specific site. Both new construction and maintenance painting contractors have to take into consideration the fact that their bids might be based on a comple- tion time frame in the summer when very little relative environmental controls are required, but fabrication delays can easily extend the painting dates into the winter months when cold and damp conditions are prevalent inside the tank. Many internal linings for potable water tanks are speci f ied with a polyamine epoxy system. Without dehumidi f icat ion equipment and controls, the amine curing agent in the epoxy will tend to exude to the surface when the relative humidity is above 50 percent and the air temperature is below 60˚F. That exudate reacts with available moisture and carbon dioxide to create an amine blush that can be just a light, almost-invisible slick or it can be a thick, amber colored layer. In either case, it has to be removed before applying the top coat, or the coating will delaminate. PRINCIPLE No. 6 — Know the coatings inspection company and the coatings inspector likely to be retained by the owner for that particular site. A coating inspector's job is to ensure that the requirements of the coating specifica- tion are achieved. A good NACE-certified coating inspector is trained to cooperate with the coating contractor to help him meet the requirements of the coating specification rather than to arbitrarily demand surface preparation standards or application parameters that are not feasible on that job site. It is not to the benefit of either the contractor or the inspector to have an adversarial relation- ship. It certainly is not to the benefit of either the contractor or the owner for the coating inspector to delay the job by narrow definitions of what is required in the specification. Summary There are many very good contractors in the coatings industry. The better ones make it their business to read the speci- fication thoroughly before they ever bid a job. They also make it a point to clarify any questions they have at either the pre-bid meeting or the pre-job meeting. Specifiers can significantly contribute to a successful job completed on time and within budget by making sure the coating specification is clear and concise for each and every job. The specification must be "Site Specific." CP BASF Acronal® NX 3250, NX 3587 and NS 567: sFROMPUREACRYLICSPECIALTYTOALLPURPOSESTYRENEACRYLIC sEXCELLENTTOUGHNESS DURABILITYANDENERGYEFlCIENCY sLOWTGELASTOMERIC MEETS!34-D AND#ALIFORNIA4ITLE sSELFCROSSLINKEDACRYLICELASTOMERS NOZINCOXIDEOR OTHERCATALYSTSREQUIREDFORADHESIONANDSTRENGTH Acronals - pure performance and appearance for your fl exible roofi ng needs. Call 1.800.251.0612 BASF - We've Got You Covered for Long Lasting Protection. Write in Reader Inquiry #268 January 2009 J www.coatingspromag.com 31