Materials System Specification

09-SAMSS-070 16 July 2011

Qualification Requirements for Splash Zone
Epoxy Compound (APCS-19A) and (APCS-19B)
Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

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

Previous Issue: 28 February 2005 Next Planned Update: 16 July 2016

Revised paragraphs are indicated in the right margin Page 1 of 7
Primary contact: Mansour, Mana Hamad on 966-3-8760264

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2011. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-070
Issue Date: 16 July 2011 Qualification Requirements for Splash Zone
Next Planned Update: 16 July 2016 Epoxy Compound (APCS-19A) and (APCS-19B)

1 Scope

This Specification defines the minimum mandatory requirements for qualifying

individual coating products for use in Saudi Aramco's approved protective coating
systems APCS-19A and APCS-19B for hand-applied and spray-applied splash zone
coatings. 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, who wish to obtain initial approval for products that have not
previously been qualified in accordance with this specification.

1.2 Purchase Requisitions/Purchase Orders

This specification shall be attached to Purchase Requisitions or Purchase Orders

when those documents address the procurement of coating products that have
not been previously qualified in accordance with this specification.
Exception:

This specification should not be included with purchase orders or requisitions for
coating products that have been previously qualified per this specification and in
compliance with the periodic checking. This specification should also not be
included with purchase orders or requisitions for coated items or equipment when
a Saudi Aramco approved protective coating system has been specified.

1.3 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 RSA 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.

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-070
Issue Date: 16 July 2011 Qualification Requirements for Splash Zone
Next Planned Update: 16 July 2016 Epoxy Compound (APCS-19A) and (APCS-19B)

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 Documents

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

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

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specification

09-SAMSS-060 Packaging Requirements for Coatings

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-H-101 APCS-19A Splash Zone Compound, Hand Applied Grade
SAES-H-101 APCS-19B Splash Zone Compound, Spray Applied Grade

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM A36 Structural Steel
ASTM D610 Evaluating Degree of Rusting on Painted Steel
Surfaces
ASTM D714 Evaluating Degree of Blistering of Paints
ASTM D1640 Drying, Curing or Film Formation of Organic
Coatings at Room Temperature
ASTM D1849 Package Stability of Paint
ASTM D2794 Resistance of Organic Coating to the Effects of
Rapid Deformation (Impact)
ASTM G42 Cathodic Disbonding of Pipeline Coatings
Subjected to Elevated or Cyclic Temperatures

National Association of Corrosion Engineers

NACE TM-01-74 Laboratory Methods for the Evaluation of

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-070
Issue Date: 16 July 2011 Qualification Requirements for Splash Zone
Next Planned Update: 16 July 2016 Epoxy Compound (APCS-19A) and (APCS-19B)

Protective Coatings Used as Lining Materials in

Immersion Service

The Society for Protective Coatings

SSPC-PA2 Measurement of Dry Coating Thickness with
Magnetic Gages
SSPC-Vis 1 Visual Standard for Abrasive Blast Cleaned Steel

4 General Requirements

4.1 For purposes of this specification, the Buyer's Representative shall be the
Responsible Standardization Agency Representative (RSA) in the Consulting
Services Department of Saudi Aramco.

4.2 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 an
independent laboratory or inspection agency that should be acceptable to the
Paints & Coatings Standards Committee in Saudi Aramco. This report shall be
submitted to the RSA for review and approval.

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

5 Qualification Tests and Requirements

5.1 Physical Property Tests

5.1.1 Package Stability of Paint

When stored at 52 + 1°C for 6 months in accordance with ASTM D1849,

the sample shall meet the following requirements:
a) Weight loss - 0
b) Skinning, pressure and corrosion - 10
c) Settling - 6 or better
d) Grains, lumps, or streaks - 8 or better

5.1.2 Adhesion Test

5.1.2.1 Prepare test panels as described in paragraph 5.2 and allow the
coating to cure for 7 days at 25°C ± 1°C.

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-070
Issue Date: 16 July 2011 Qualification Requirements for Splash Zone
Next Planned Update: 16 July 2016 Epoxy Compound (APCS-19A) and (APCS-19B)

5.1.2.2 Determine the adhesion of the splash zone coating to the

substrate by using an adhesion tester, 450 kg capacity. Lightly
sand the coated surface and the 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 average. The average shall be at least 4125 kPa
(600 psi) to be acceptable.

5.1.3 Application Properties

The ready mixed paint shall be easily applied by hand and/or spray to a
minimum dry thickness of 2500 micrometers (100 mils) on vertical
surface with no tendency to sag, creep or run.

5.1.4 Drying Times

When tested in accordance with ASTM D1640, the Dry-Through

(or Dry-To-Handle) Time shall be 16 hours or less.

5.1.5 Cure Times

When applied at the recommended thickness the compound shall cure to

solid, tough, non-sticky condition within 24 hours at 25°C.

When applied and cured underwater at 25°C the compound shall cure to
a solid, tough, non-sticky condition within 7 days.

5.1.6 Usable Potlife

At 40°C, the viscosity of the ready-mixed compound shall remain within

the range recommended by the manufacturer for hand (APCS-19A) or
spray (APCS-19B) application without adding thinner for not less than
the following times:
APCS-19A: 30 minutes
APCS-19B: 20 minutes

5.2 Steel Panel Preparation

5.2.1 Surface Preparation

a) Make the test panels from ASTM A36 hot-rolled steel
approximately 100 mm X 150 mm. Prior to preparation of the
surface, the condition of the test panel shall be equivalent to

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-070
Issue Date: 16 July 2011 Qualification Requirements for Splash Zone
Next Planned Update: 16 July 2016 Epoxy Compound (APCS-19A) and (APCS-19B)

SSPC-Guide to Vis 1 Rust Grade C, Rusted. The minimum

thickness of the test panels shall be 5 mm.
b) The surface cleanliness of the test panels shall meet (but not
exceed) the requirements of SSPC SP10, Near White Blast
Cleaning (SIS Sa2-½, Very Thorough Blast Cleaning).
c) The profile of the blasted surface shall be 75 micrometers
(3.0 mils) minimum.

5.2.2 Coatings Application

a) Mix, apply, and cure the coatings in accordance with the Vendor's
recommendations. Recommended application is wet-on-wet to
build up the required thickness.
b) Measure and record the dry film thickness in accordance with
SSPC PA2.
c) The dry film thickness shall be 2500 - 3000 micrometers
(100 - 120 mils) except where otherwise stated.

Hand-applied grades shall be applied to the panels using appropriate

hand techniques. Spray-applied grades shall be applied to the panels
using appropriate spray techniques.

5.3 Performance Tests

5.3.1 Impact Resistance

When applied to a dry film thickness of 1000 micrometers on a sanded 1-

mm thick, cold-rolled steel panel and tested in accordance with
ASTM D2794, the sample shall pass impact of at least 1.25 N-m
(11 in-lb). The fully cured compound shall show no cracking or chipping.

The impact resistance shall not decrease more than 20% of this value
after immersion testing per paragraph 5.3.2 and subsequent panel
conditioning.

5.3.2 Immersion Tests

Test panels shall be prepared in accordance with paragraph 5.2. All tests
shall be performed in duplicate. The fully cured coating systems shall be
tested per NACE TM-01-74, Procedure A-One Sided Testing. Coating
systems shall be tested in a brine solution (5% by weight sodium
chloride in water) at 80°C ± 2°C.

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Document Responsibility: Paints and Coatings Standards Committee 09-SAMSS-070
Issue Date: 16 July 2011 Qualification Requirements for Splash Zone
Next Planned Update: 16 July 2016 Epoxy Compound (APCS-19A) and (APCS-19B)

At the conclusion of six months exposure, the coating system shall be

evaluated for and shall meet the Table 1 criteria.

Table 1 – Immersion Tests

Standard Acceptable Rating

ASTM D714, Evaluating Degree
No blisters
of Blistering of Paints
ASTM D610, Evaluating Degree of
9 or better
Rusting on Painted Steel Surfaces
When tested in accordance with
paragraph 6.2.4 of TM-01-74, the
coating shall show no more than a
two pencil hardness change and the
NACE TM-01-74, Hardness and
adhesion between wet and dry
Adhesion
portions of the panel shall be
similar. After conditioning in a
laboratory for seven days there
shall be no difference.

5.3.3 Cathodic Disbonding Test

When tested in accordance with ASTM G42, at 80 + 2°C, there shall be

no disbonding of the coating beyond the artificial defect after 30 days.

6 Method of Packaging

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

Revision Summary
16 July 2011 Revised the “Next Planned Update.” Reaffirmed the contents of the document, and reissued
with editorial revision to remove the committee members list.

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