KTA Professional Engineers and Senior Consultants Jay Helsel & Mike Reina discuss maintenance painting including when to touch-up, overcoat, or remove & replace the coating. Scenarios are posed as the two discuss their positions on each. KTA President Ken Trimber moderates. Click below to watch via Youtube, Stream or Download on Soundcloud, or Download for
Installation of a coating to a cathodically-protected pipeline or structure without first testing its resistance to cathodic disbondment can result in catastrophic failure of the coating. However, there are over twenty international standard test methods to evaluate a coating’s inherent resistance to cathodic disbondment; each with its own set of parameters and materials, which can
Moisture in walls can affect the performance of coating and water-repellent systems. While ASTM publishes standards for determining the moisture content of cementitious substrates, their primary focus is concrete floors. Until this year, little guidance was available for the measurement of moisture content in walls, either from ASTM or other organizations. Similarly, tolerance of pinholes
When steel is shop-painted, it is usually primed with a zinc coating, and the remaining coat(s)applied to all surfaces except the top of top flanges that will be embedded in concrete. If shear studs will be installed in the top flanges after painting, it is often questioned whether the paint must be removed prior to
Galvanizing is the application of a zinc layer to steel by a variety of methods such as hot dip, continuous or electro-deposition. In many instances galvanized steel is not painted since the service life of galvanizing alone typically exceeds that of conventional protective coatings. When paint is applied to galvanizing it often is referred to
Background Ergonomics is a field study that involves the application of knowledge about physical, psychological, and biomechanical abilities and limitations of the human body. This knowledge is applied to the planning, design, and evaluation of work environments, jobs, tools, and equipment to improve worker performance, safety and health. In layperson terms, ergonomics is fitting the
Fire resistive coatings generally refers to a broad group of materials known as sprayed fire resistive materials (SFRM). These coatings provide protection to structural steel in buildings and other structures by serving as an insulative layer in the event of a fire. The coatings are rated by how long they provide such protection, typically from
As a building owner, if you begin to suspect that the paint on your building has faded and become dull, your next concern may be whether there is a way to prove that has occurred. Additionally, you will want to know if you have any recourse with the manufacturer if those assumptions are correct. Most
This 17 minute podcast features KTA’s Carly McGee, moderated by KTA’s Ken Trimber. It discusses key aspects of slip-critical bolted connections including testing methods, testing equipment and standards, and a discussion based on frequently asked questions. Carly is KTA-Tator Inc.’s Physical Testing Laboratory Manager. She’s a member of the RCSC Standards Committee, which is the
High temperature-resistant coatings are used in a variety of industries and markets to prevent corrosion of steel subjected to extreme temperatures while in service. There are several testing protocols that are used to evaluate the performance of these coatings; however, performance comparisons are challenging since there is little uniformity or consistency of the test methods.
When paint is blistering and peeling, laboratory analysis is often required to determine the cause. But what types of samples are needed, and how should the samples be collected? These are important questions, as the greatest sources of error faced by laboratories when analyzing coating failures occur before the box of samples is even opened.
Bare galvanizing provides excellent corrosion protection at a pH between 7 and 13, but corrosion of the zinc increases as the pH becomes more acidic (less than 7), or more alkaline (greater than 13). When galvanizing is exposed to the lower or higher pH ranges, it should be painted. Paint should also be applied when
For clear, magnified images and quick, targeted analyses of elemental composition, SEM-EDS is the method of choice. Introduction. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) can be used to examine samples at very high magnifications – up to 1 million times! The analysis of coating failures with an SEM typically only uses magnifications up to 10,000X, however,
ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Energy Standard 90.1-2010 and the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code require that building envelopes be designed to limit uncontrolled air leakage into and out of buildings. Air leakage in buildings is controlled at the time of construction by installing air barrier systems. ASTM E1186-17, “Standard Practices for Air Leakage Site Detection in Building Envelopes
This 24- minute podcast also features Ken Trimber as moderator, while Doug Reardon advocates total shop painting and John Todd promotes shop painting with field finish coating. Scenarios are posed by Trimber as Todd and Reardon take turns providing support for their approaches while divulging plenty of information on the subject. A podcast breakdown is
Introduction Many employers and organizations seek training that is inexpensive, relevant to their industry/marketplace, focused on the goals of the employees as well as the organization, and can be delivered with minimal interruption to productivity. Employees desire training that is immediate, focused, and specific to their needs. How can a course meet all expectations? Understanding
Introduction Throughout most the world in developed countries, the public relies on access to a safe drinking water supply; something we frequently take for granted until it is compromised. Potable water frequently traverses through steel pipe to deliver it both safely and economically. However, because water in contact with steel will cause it to corrode,
Chances are, you have seen at least one procedural cop drama over the years. These shows all tend to follow a fairly standard formula: the crime occurs, the investigator is called in, the investigator gathers clues and interviews suspects, evidence is sent to a laboratory to confirm or refute theories, and by the end of
Introduction Adhesion is an important physical characteristic of applied coating films and systems, and testing is frequently used as an indicator to whether an adequate bond exists between the substrate and primer (first coat) and/or between coats in multiple coat applications. Adhesion testing may be a requirement of a coating specification, or may be used
Introduction Efficient handling of materials is vital to the steel fabricating and coating shop processes. These facilities typically employ powered industrial trucks, overhead and gantry cranes, and slings to move tons of materials such as steel within the confines of a building, between buildings, and to/ from transportation vehicles. Material handling is not done without