PROCEDURE FOR INTERNAL COATING/LINING OF EQUIPMENT USING

INTERNATIONAL PAINT’S MATCOTE COATING SYSTEM

1. SCOPE:
This procedure covers the surface preparation, application and inspection for the fiberglass lining
of the internal surfaces of tanks, vessels and other equipments including internal attachments
using International Protective Coatings’ Matcote Coating System.

2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
2.1. The contractor shall be familiar with the following specifications and understand all procedures
specified herein.
2.2. The contractor shall be an approved applicator by International Protective Coatings.
2.3. The contractor, in the presence of BAPCO C&I Engineer, shall subject all work and application
procedures under this specification to inspection as defined herein.
2.4. Unless defined in this specification, overcoating times and other application details shall be in
accordance with paint data sheet/s.
2.5. No coating shall be carried out if the prevailing weather conditions do not meet the application
condition specified in the paint data sheet/s.
2.6. The contractor shall clarify with C&I Engineer which coating system (see clauses 5 & 6) shall be
used for a particular area in the tank, vessel or any equipment. An Inspection List/Work Order
will be issued by C&I Engineer thru Field Services Supervisor or Construction Engineer
specifying the area or extent of coating to be carried out.

3. SAFETY:
3.1. Contractor shall make sure that the tank, vessel or any other equipment is in safe condition at all
times. If in doubt, they should readily inform the Field Services Supervisor or Construction
Engineer to make the necessary arrangements.
3.2. Contractor shall maintain proper ventilation at all times.
3.3. Contractor shall be responsible for safe storage and handling of all materials.
3.4. Work shall be carried out only upon securing the proper and necessary work permit/s.

4. SURFACE PREPARATION:
4.1. Before abrasive blasting takes place, the surface is to be checked for oil, grease, other surface
contaminants and sharp edges or protrusions caused by weld spatter, sharp weld crests, burrs and
gouges. Any contaminants and/or irregularities in the surface shall be properly removed prior to
abrasive blasting.
4.2. The surfaces to be gritblasted shall be washed with high pressure fresh water to remove all
contaminants. Carry out test to determine the level of chloride contamination.
4.3. All surfaces to be coated shall receive a near-white metal blast to SA 2 ½ (ISO 8501-1, SSPC
SP10) with sharp angular profile (75 – 100 μm). Abrasive material shall be used once only and
shall not be recycled.
4.4. Before application of coating material in any stage (priming, caulking, laminating & top coating);
blast residue, dust or any contaminants shall be removed by wiping, air blowing and/or vacuum
cleaning.

5. COATING SYSTEM 1 (With Fiberglass):

5.1 Prime Coat:
5.1.1. All blasted surface shall receive a prime coat of 25 – 40 μm DFT of Interline 982
(TPA018/TPA019) epoxy holding primer. Primer shall be applied by airless spray method, but
the brush/roller method maybe used with agreement of C&I Engineer. Use clean short nap
synthetic rollers. New rollers to be washed in clean solvent and vigorously spun to remove loose
 fibers. Ensure that stripe coating is done on all welds, corners, edges and surface irregularities
(pitting, gouges, etc.). Primer must be applied before oxidation of the steel occurs. If oxidation
does occur, the entire oxidized area should be reblasted to SA 2 ½.
5.2. Caulking Compound:
5.2.1. Upon priming and prior to application of laminate, Interline 983 (THA007/THA008) caulking
compound shall be applied at all welds, pitted areas, nozzles/openings, or other surface projection
to provide a smooth uniform transition between surfaces. The DFT is dependent on the
configuration of the surface to be coated. For small nozzles/openings where it is not possible to
apply laminate, the DFT should be 1250 – 1400 μm. Caulking compound shall not be applied on
threads of small openings.
5.3. Epoxy Laminate:
5.3.1 All primed and caulked surfaces except small nozzles/openings/threads shall receive an
intermediate coat of 1250 – 1400 μm DFT of Interline 985 (THA001/THA002) epoxy with
International GQA015 fiberglass roving.
5.3.2 Remove protruding fiberglass strands or other irregularities in the laminate by abrading or
sanding.
5.4. Top Coat:
5.4.1 All surfaces shall be coated with 300 – 350 μm DFT of Interline 925 (THA125/THA126 or
THA125/THA127) solvent free epoxy. (NOTE: Do not use Interline 985 Gel Coat as Top Coat)

6. COATING SYSTEM 2 (Without Fiberglass):

6.1 Prime Coat:
6.1.1. Refer to clause 5.1.
6.2. Top Coat:
6.2.1 Refer to clause 5.4.

7. REPAIR OF EXISTING COATING:

7.1. For those with defect up to the base metal:
7.1.1. Completely removed the affected fiberglass coating by gritblasting or by chipping. When
chipping is applied, make sure that the base metal will not be affected by chipping tool.
7.1.2 Abrade the adjacent fiberglass coating to blend into the new coating to be applied.
7.1.3 Prepare surface as per clause 4 of this procedure.
7.1.4 Apply coating as per clause 5 or clause 6 of this procedure.
7.2. For those which requires re-application of topcoat:
7.2.1. Sweepblast the topcoat until the laminate is visible.
7.2.2. Apply topcoat as per clauses 4.4 and 5.4 of this procedure. If oil is present, remove it with
solvent cleaner and wipe dry.

8. INSPECTION:
8.1. Visual inspection will be required before gritblasting, after surface preparation prior to
application of prime coat, after application of primer and caulking compound, and after the final
coating. Visual inspection after surface preparation prior to application of prime coat is a must-
see for C&I Engineer, so the contractor shall inform Field Services Supervisor or Construction
Engineer to make the necessary arrangements at least 1 day prior to gritblasting. The contractor
shall also carry out the measurement of surface profile in the presence of C&I Engineer.
8.2. Dry film thickness (DFT) after each stage of coating shall be measured.
The final DFT shall be measured upon curing, and the minimum DFT shall be 1575 μm (62 mils)
for coating with fiberglass and shall be 325 μm (12.8 mils) for coating without fiberglass.
The procedure for measurement of DFT and its acceptance shall be as per SSPC-PA 2.
8.3. The entire coating shall be tested for holidays using holiday detector (Voltage set at 100 volts per
25 μm or 1 mil) with a silicone brush electrode or equivalent. The minimum voltage to be used is
 6000 volts for 1575 μm coating and 1300 volts for 325 μm coating. Sponge holiday detector can
also be used for 325 μm coating.
8.4. All coating defects (low DFT, holidays, etc.) shall be removed and/or repaired as per
recommendations by International Protective Coatings and as per direction by the C&I Engineer.

9. CURING TIME
9.1. Prior to reinstatement into service of the tank, vessel or other equipment, the internal lining must
be allowed to cure in well ventilated conditions for a period specified by International Protective
Coatings. Usually, minimum of five days is required during summer and minimum of seven days
during winter.

10. DOCUMENTATIONS
10.1. The contractor is required to prepare and/or produce the following documentations. These
documentations shall be reviewed and approved by C&I Engineer prior to start (if applicable) of
the coating job.
10.1.1. Method Statement
10.1.2. QC or Inspection and Test Plan
10.1.3. Chloride Analysis Report
10.1.4. Materials Test Certificates or Certificate of Conformance (Paints & abrasives)
10.1.5. Daily Coating Reports (This report should contain details as per Appendix 1, Daily Coating
Report Form)
10.1.6. DFT Report
10.1.7. Holiday Test Report
10.1.8. Non-conformance Report
10.1.9. Certificate of Guarantee