WESCOSA – Transformers Ref. No.

PP/SP18/023 –
71062&31159 Rev.00
Painting Procedure for Power Transformers suitable for
installation at corrosive environment Date:28-01-2024

Scope: This procedure covers the following operations in painting the power transformers
suitable for off shore environment installations

1. Painting of transformer tank outer surfaces and other flat surfaces

1.1) Surface preparation of tank and flat surfaces
1.2) Stripe coat
1.3) Primer coat
1.4) Intermediate coat
1.5) Finish coat
2. Painting of transformer tank inner surfaces
3. Painting of radiators
3.1) Painting of radiator’s outer surfaces
3.2) Painting of radiator’s inner surfaces
4. Control cabinet (marshalling box)
5. Tests and acceptance limits
5.1) Test on transformer tank and flat surface painting
5.2) Acceptance criteria (limits)
6. Annexes
1. Painting of transformer tank outer surfaces and flat surfaces (like cable boxes, bus ducts etc)
1.1) Surface preparation

¾ Surf ace preparation of the f abricated transf ormer tank and f lat surf aces like cable
boxes, bus d uct and conservator etc is as f ollows.
¾ Af ter completion of f abrication of transf ormer tank & f lat surf aces, weld slag is
removed by chiseling.
¾ Grit abrasives of Grad e “GL 40” (Angular Steel Grits f rom Wheelabrator Allevard
make) are used as blasting med ium in shot blasting. The specimen to be shot blasted
till the rust and oxid e f lakes are completely removed . Unif orm blasting spray
throughout the specimen is maintained .

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¾ Air quality shall be checked at the start & mid-point of each 8 hour.
¾ Clean the specimen with pressurized air to remove dust and shot blast grits that are still
intact.
¾ The required cleanliness of the surface finish is SA2½. And the profile is 40-65 microns, the
same is ensured with Replica Tape method
¾ Spent abrasives shall be removed from the cleaned surfaces by dry compressed air.
After cleaned surface, residual dust level shall be checked and dust rating shall be level 2 or
better in accordance with ISO 8502-3.
¾ Abrasive blast cleaned surfaces shall be re-inspected prior to priming or coating if the
surfaces are held for more than 4 hours after blasting.
¾ Cleanliness and profile to be recorded in the check list.
After blasting, test the substrate for the chloride content. Residual chloride shall not exceed
40mg/m².

1.2 Stripe coat

Normally areas like edges, bend or weld points have tendency to get corrosion after the same
is exposed to severe climatic conditions if painting is not been done thoroughly. In order to
make sure that the paint reaches all the above mentioned critical areas, a stripe coat is applied
before the primer coat.
A) Surface temperature, dew point checking & criteria
Dew point and Surface temperature to be checked and painting should be done only if
a) Minimum allowable substrate temperature: 10°C and Maximum allowable
substrate temperature: 50°C (as per Aramco approved data sheet).
b) The relative humidity is measured below 85%.
c) The surface temperature is above the Dew point by at least 3ºC. Dew point and
surface temperature are to be recorded in the check list.

B) Painting details
Paint : HEMPADUR 15570 is a two component, polyamide-adduct cured
epoxy paint, which cures to a strong and highly corrosion resistant
coating. (Refer to attached product data sheet)

Base : Hempel 15579

Curing agent : Hempel 95570

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 Thinner : Hempel 08450
Application : Brush
Color : Reddish Grey (RAL 3004)
Recoating interval : Not required
Pot life of Paint : 2 hours @ 20ºC, 1 hour @ 30ºC and 1/2 hour @ 40ºC

1.3 Primer coat

A) Surface temperature, dew point checking & criteria

Dew point and Surface temperature to be checked and painting should be done only if
a) Minimum allowable substrate temperature: 10°C and Maximum allowable
substrate temperature: 50°C (as per Aramco approved data sheet).
b) The relative humidity is measured below 85%.
c) The surface temperature is above the Dew point by at least 3ºC. Dew point and
surface temperature are to be recorded in the check list.

B) Painting details
Paint : HEMPADUR 15570 is a two component, polyamide-adduct cured
epoxy paint, which cures to a strong and highly corrosion resistant
coating. (Refer to attached product data sheet)
Color : Reddish Grey (RAL 3004)
Base : Hempel 15579
Curing agent : Hempel 95570
Thinner : Hempel 08450
Drying time : Through-dry - Minimum 5 hours at 20 ºC
Fully cured - Minimum 7 days at 20 ºC
Thickness : Dry film thickness 75 Microns/ coat.
No. of coats : 1 (one)
Application : Spray Painting
Pot life of Paint : 2 hours @ 20ºC, 1 hour @ 30ºC and 1/2 hour @ 40ºC

C) Criteria
DFT Criteria : Minimum 50micron and Maximum 100 micron Dry film

1.4 Intermediate coat

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A) Surface temperature, dew point checking & criteria
Dew point and Surface temperature to be checked and painting should be done only if
a) Minimum allowable substrate temperature: 10°C and Maximum allowable
substrate temperature: 50°C (as per Aramco approved data sheet).
b) The relative humidity is measured below 85%.
c) The surface temperature is above the Dew point by at least 3ºC. Dew point and
surface temperature are to be recorded in the check list.

B) Painting details
Paint : HEMPADUR MASTIC 45881 is a two-component polyamide adduct
cured, high solids, high build epoxy paint.
(Refer to attached product data sheet)
Color : Grey (RAL 7044)
Base : Hempel 45889
Curing agent : Hempel 95881
Thinner : Hempel 08450
Drying time : Dry to touch -Minimum 3 hours at 30 ºC
Fully cured - Minimum 5 days at 30 ºC
Thickness : Dry film thickness 125 Microns/ coat
No. of Coats : 1(one)
Application : Spray Painting
Pot life of Paint : 2 hours @ 20ºC, 1 hour @ 30ºC and ½ hour @ 40ºC

C) Criteria
DFT Criteria : Total primer and intermediate coat thickness minimum
150micron and maximum 250 micron

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1.5 Finish coat

A) Surface temperature, dew point checking & criteria

Dew point and Surface temperature to be checked and painting should be done only if
a) Minimum allowable substrate temperature: 10°C and Maximum allowable
substrate temperature: 50°C (as per Aramco approved data sheet).
b) The relative humidity is measured below 85%.
c) The surface temperature is above the Dew point by at least 3ºC. Dew point and
surface temperature are to be recorded in the check list.

B) Painting details
Paint : HEMPATHANE TOPCOAT 55210 is a two-component, glossy acrylic
polyurethane coating, cured with aliphatic isocyanate, with good gloss
and color retention. (Refer to attached product data sheet)
Color : Light Grey (RAL 7035) (See Note)
Base : Hempel 55219
Curing agent : Hempel 95370
Thinner : Hempel 08080
Drying time : Through Dry -Minimum 8 hours at 20 ºC
Fully cured - Minimum 7 days at 20 ºC
Thickness : Dry film thickness 50 Microns/ coat
No. of Coats : 1 (one)
Application : Spray painting
Pot life of Paint : 4 hours @ 20ºC, 2 hours @ 30ºC and 1 hour @ 40ºC

Note: This procedure (PP/SP18/023) is with final color of RAL 7035. For any other final colors (for example
RAL 7032), the procedure to be called as “PP/SP18/023 with final color RAL 7032”.

C) Criteria
DFT Criteria : Total primer, intermediate and final coats thickness minimum
175micron and maximum 315 micron.

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2. Painting of transformer tank inner surfaces
A) Surface preparation

¾ Grit abrasives of Grade “GL 40” (Angular Steel Grits from Wheelabrator Allevard make) are
used as blasting medium in shot blasting. Blasting is carried till the rust and oxide flakes are
completely removed. Uniform blasting spray through out the specimen is maintained.

¾ The required cleanliness of the surface finish is SA2½. And the profile is 40-65 microns, the
same is ensured with Replica Tape Method.

¾ Cleanliness and profile to be recorded in the check list.

After blasting, test the substrate for the chloride content. Residual chloride shall not exceed
20mg/m² .
B) Surface temperature, dew point checking & criteria
Dew point and Surface temperature are to be checked and painting should be done only if
a) Minimum allowable substrate temperature: 10°C and Maximum allowable
substrate temperature: 50°C .
b) The relative humidity is measured below 85%.
c) The surface temperature is above the Dew point by at least 3ºC. Dew point and
surface temperature are to be recorded in the check list.

C) Paint preparation and painting details

Paint : CHING-EP Primer EMC 182 White K-DB
Shade : White
Base : EMC 182 White K-DB
Hardner : M 038
Thinner :EM01 (3% Approximately in volume)
Dry To touch (Minimum) : 16hours @ 10ºC And 10 hours at 15ºC
7hours @ 23ºC And 4 hours at 40ºC
Dry through (Minimum) : 24hours @ 10ºC And 18 hours at 15ºC
10hours @ 23ºC And 8 hours at 40ºC
No. of coats : 1(one)

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 Application : Airless Spray Painting
Temperature resistance : Approximately 120 ºC dry climate
Surface temperature : Min. 5 ºC and Max. 45 ºC

Storage conditions : Well ventilated and dry room at temp between 15-30 ºC
Flash point : 26 ºC
Ignition temperature : 340 ºC

D) Criteria
DFT Criteria : Minimum 60micron and Maximum 100 micron Dry film

3. Painting of radiator

Radiators are coated as per the guidelines of NACE RP-0297-2004.

3.1 Painting of radiator’s outer surfaces

¾ Hot dip galvanized

The radiators are externally hot dip galvanized meeting ASTM A 123. Sweep blast is carried
before the painting takes place as follows.
For all the below three coats, surface temperature must always be a minimum of 3 ºC above the
dew point and the relative humidity is not more than 85%.

¾ First coat

Paint : Two component epoxy anti-corrosive primer– Intergard 291

Drying time : 4 hours to Hard Dry at 25 ºC
Thickness : Dry film thickness 60 Microns/ coat.
No. of Coats : 1 (one).
Application : Flow coating
Over coating interval: Minimum 12 hours at 25 ºC.

¾ Second coat

Paint : Two component epoxy with excellent chemical and abrasion

resistance–Intergard 410
Drying time : 10 hours to Hard Dry at 25 ºC
Thickness : Dry film thickness 100 Microns/ coat

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 No. of Coats : 1 (one)
Application : Flow coating
Over coating interval: Minimum 10 hours at 25 ºC

¾ Top Coat

Paint : Two component acrylic polyurethane –Interthane 990

Color : Light Gray, RAL 7035
Drying time : 6 hours to Hard Dry at 25 ºC
Thickness : Dry film thickness 40 Microns/ coat
No. of Coats : 1 (one)
Application : Flow coating

3.2 Painting of radiator’s inner surfaces

¾ Hot oil Resistant Paint is applied and the details are as follows

Paint : CHING radiator inside coating

Color : RD 124 Olive Green
Temperature Resistant : 150ºC
Drying time : Minimum 20 hours to Touch at 15μm & standard climate
Thickness : Dry film thickness 15 Microns/ coat
No. of Coats : 1 (one)

4. Control cabinet (marshalling box)

¾ Stainless steel Control Cabinet (marshalling box)
Control cabinet/panel is made up of stainless steel material and painted with all the coats in line
with top coat color of the transformer tank.

5. Tests and acceptance limits

5.1 Test on transformer tank and flat surface painting

¾ Wet Sponge Holiday detection of Pin holes and porosity in the coating.
Elcometer 270 DC Holiday Detector finds the pinholes and porosity in the coating. This is

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 been used after the primer coat of the external tank painting and if any pin holes are been
detected, the same will be re-painted.
¾ Dry film thickness shall be checked in accordance with SSPC-PA 2 requirements.
¾ Standard Adhesion Tape method shall be as per ASTM D3359.

5.2 Acceptance criteria (limits)

¾ Total (Primer, intermediate and Finish coats) dry film thickness on external tank and other
flat surfaces: Minimum 175 micron & maximum 315micron according.
¾ Dry film thickness on internal tank surface: Minimum 60micron & maximum 100micron.

6. Annexes
Following paint data sheets are attached for reference.
6.1 Transformer external tank primer paint - HEMPADUR 15570
6.2 Transformer external tank intermediate paint - HEMPADUR MASTIC 45881
6.3 Transformer external tank final paint - HEMPATHANE TOP COAT 55210
6.4 Transformer internal tank paint - CHING-EMC 182 White K-DB

Prepared By: Design Engineer Reviewed By: Chief R&D Engineer Approved By: Design Manager

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