PAINT SYSTEMS GUIDE

IN ACCORDANCE WITH ISO 12944-5:2007

Issue date: June 2013

CORROSION PROTECTION OF STEEL STRUCTURES

1. Introduction
Part 5 of ISO 12944 describes the different types of paint, most commonly used systems for corrosion
protection of steel structures, recommended thicknesses and number of coats. This guide was created based
on the recommendations of this standard and aims to assist in the selection of the most appropriate system
for different environments (see part 2 of ISO 12944), the different grades of surface preparation (see part 4 of
ISO 12944) and the degree of durability required (see part1 of ISO 12944).

2. Classification of environments according to different categories of corrosivity

Environments are classified according to their grade of environmental corrosivity, both for structures exposed
to atmospheric corrosivity and those which are buried or immersed.
Table 1 gives some examples of environments for each type of corrosivity category and table 2 the corrosive
agents which may affect a steel structure which is immersed or buried in the ground.
Table 1: Categories of atmospheric corrosivity and examples of typical environments.
Category of
corrosivity
C1
Very low
C2
Low

Exterior

Interior

C4
High
C5-I
Very high
(industrial)

Atmospheres with low levels

of contamination.
Rural areas.
Urban and industrial
atmospheres, with moderate
SO2 contamination.
Coastal areas with low salinity.
Industrial areas and coastal
areas with moderate salinity.
Industrial areas with high
humidity and with an
aggressive atmosphere.

C5-M
Very high (marine)

Coastal and marine areas with

high salinity.

C3
Medium

Buildings with heating and clean

atmospheres.
Unheated buildings with possible
condensation.

Manufacturing plants with high

humidity and some contamination.
Chemical industries, swimming
pools.
Buildings or areas with almost
permanent condensation and high
levels of contamination.
Buildings or areas with permanent
condensation and high levels of
contamination.

All Portuguese territory is classified according to these categories of corrosivity in the National Map of
Atmospheric Corrosion.

It is advisable to check on a regular basis the status of this guide. The systems recommended were based on commercially available products which CIN can withdraw without notice. This guide is generic and must be viewed as one possible
example among many CIN Protective Coatings solutions. Consult CIN directly for a specification for a particular project.

CIN-CORPORAO INDUSTRIAL DO NORTE, SA

Avenida Dom Mendo, n831(antes E.N. 13) - Apartado 1008
4471-909 MAIA PORTUGAL
Telef. 22 940 50 00 Fax: 22 948 56 61
www.cinprotective.com email: customerservice.pt

BARNICES VALENTINE, S.A.U.

C/ Riera Seca, 1 Pol. Ind. Can Milans
08110 Montcada i Reixac (Barcelona)
Tel. 34 93 565 66 00 Fax: 34 93 575 33 60
www.cinprotective.com email-valentine@valentine.es

CELLIOSE COATINGS
Chemin de la Verriere - BP 58,
69492 Pierre Bnite Cedex France
Tl: +33 (0) 472 39 77 77 Fax: +33 (0) 472 39 77 70
www.celiose.com
Pg. 1/5

PAINT SYSTEMS GUIDE

IN ACCORDANCE WITH ISO 12944-5:2007
Issue date: June 2013

Table 2: Category for immersion in water and the ground

Category of
corrosivity

Environment

Im 1

Fresh water

Im 2

Brackish or sea water

Im 3

Ground

Example of environment and

structures
River installations, hydroelectric
plants.
Harbour areas with structures
such as floodgates, dykes,
breakwaters, offshore platforms
Buried tanks, pipes and girders.

3. Durability range
The durability or years of useful life is defined as being the desired length of time before the first maintenance
painting. The durability range is not a guarantee time.
Low (L):
2 to 5 years
Medium (M): 5 to 15 years
High (H):
> 15 years.

4. Surface preparation
Prior to commencing blasting all visible traces of oil, grease, salts and other contaminants must be
removed, so that they neither remain encrusted on the steel nor contaminate the abrasive.
The correct approach must be adopted for each situation, for example:
To remove oil, grease or water soluble salts, jet wash with water (and detergent if necessary), steam
clean, or use emulsions or organic solvents. Whenever detergent is used rinse with clean water.
Where there is weld spatter, insoluble salts, cement or other contaminants, use mechanical/manual
methods ( for example brushing, rasping etc)
Edges, corners and welded seams must be smoothed (minimum diameter 2mm), to facilitate the coating
process.
Following this, dry blast-clean to grade Sa 2, in accordance with ISO Standard 8501-1. The choice of grit
must be made to ensure a roughness profile between 25m e 50m, using Testex Tape or equivalent or
by using comparators (G,S) in accordance with ISO 8503.
Defects in the steel revealed after blasting (delamination, etc) must be repaired in the appropriate manner.
If these treatments reduce the roughness then the blasting must be repeated.
After blasting a final cleaning must be carried out using a powerful vacuum cleaner, leaving the surface
dust free and suitable to accept the coating. The work will be complete when an adhesive tape applied to
the surface shows no traces of dust.

It is advisable to check on a regular basis the status of this guide. The systems recommended were based on commercially available products which CIN can withdraw without notice. This guide is generic and must be viewed as one possible
example among many CIN Protective Coatings solutions. Consult CIN directly for a specification for a particular project.

CIN-CORPORAO INDUSTRIAL DO NORTE, SA

Avenida Dom Mendo, n831(antes E.N. 13) - Apartado 1008
4471-909 MAIA PORTUGAL
Telef. 22 940 50 00 Fax: 22 948 56 61
www.cinprotective.com email: customerservice.pt

BARNICES VALENTINE, S.A.U.

C/ Riera Seca, 1 Pol. Ind. Can Milans
08110 Montcada i Reixac (Barcelona)
Tel. 34 93 565 66 00 Fax: 34 93 575 33 60
www.cinprotective.com email-valentine@valentine.es

CELLIOSE COATINGS
Chemin de la Verriere - BP 58,
69492 Pierre Bnite Cedex France
Tl: +33 (0) 472 39 77 77 Fax: +33 (0) 472 39 77 70
www.celiose.com
Pg. 2/5

PAINT SYSTEMS GUIDE

IN ACCORDANCE WITH ISO 12944-5:2007
Issue date: June 2013

In the time that elapses between cleaning and the application of the coating, the preparation grades must not
alter. Thus for example the maximum time between blasting and applying the paint should be between 4
and 6 hours depending on the ambient conditions. If the surface rusts before painting, the blasting process
must be repeated to acquire the required degree of cleanliness.

Paint systems
Below we detail some paint systems which comply with ISO 12944 as regards the type of product,
thicknesses and number of coats to apply. Alternative systems exist, including with products not covered by
the Standard. For more information consult Customer Service.
All the systems presented here are for an estimated durability in excess of 15 years.

Category of corrosivity C2
Type of paint

System

Zinc phosphate epoxy

Micaceous iron acrylic

1 C-Pox Primer ZP200 HP

1 C-Cryl S450 Mio
Total film thickness
1 C-Pox ST180 AL
1 C-Thane S258
Total film thickness

Aluminium tolerant epoxy

Polyurethane

Total dry film

thickness
(microns)
80 m
80m
160 m
110 m
50 m
160 m

Category of corrosivity C3
Type of paint

System

Zinc phosphate epoxy

High thickness polyurethane

1 C-Pox Primer ZP200 HP

1 C-Thane S700 HB
Total film thickness
1 C-Pox ST180 AL
1 C-Pox S100
1 C-Thane S258
Total film thickness
1 C-Pox ST160 MP
Total film thickness

Aluminium tolerant epoxy

Epoxy intermediate
Polyurethane
Surface tolerant epoxy

Total dry film

thickness
(microns)
100 m
100m
200 m
80 m
80 m
40 m
200 m
165 m
165 m

Note: taking into account that the thicknesses given for the last system shown above are less than those recommended in ISO
12944-5, we have test certificates in accordance with ISO 12944-6 (performance tests) which confirm that this system is valid
for this category of corrosivity and durability of > 15 years.

It is advisable to check on a regular basis the status of this guide. The systems recommended were based on commercially available products which CIN can withdraw without notice. This guide is generic and must be viewed as one possible
example among many CIN Protective Coatings solutions. Consult CIN directly for a specification for a particular project.

CIN-CORPORAO INDUSTRIAL DO NORTE, SA

Avenida Dom Mendo, n831(antes E.N. 13) - Apartado 1008
4471-909 MAIA PORTUGAL
Telef. 22 940 50 00 Fax: 22 948 56 61
www.cinprotective.com email: customerservice.pt

BARNICES VALENTINE, S.A.U.

C/ Riera Seca, 1 Pol. Ind. Can Milans
08110 Montcada i Reixac (Barcelona)
Tel. 34 93 565 66 00 Fax: 34 93 575 33 60
www.cinprotective.com email-valentine@valentine.es

CELLIOSE COATINGS
Chemin de la Verriere - BP 58,
69492 Pierre Bnite Cedex France
Tl: +33 (0) 472 39 77 77 Fax: +33 (0) 472 39 77 70
www.celiose.com
Pg. 3/5

PAINT SYSTEMS GUIDE

IN ACCORDANCE WITH ISO 12944-5:2007
Issue date: June 2013

Category of corrosivity C4
Type of paint

System

Zinc ethyl silicate primer

Epoxy intermediate
Polyurethane

1 C-Pox Primer IZS920

1 C-Pox S130 FD
1 C-Thane RPS HS
Total film thickness
1 C-Pox Primer ZN650
1 C-Pox ST160 MP
Total film thickness

Zinc-rich primer
Surface tolerant epoxy

Total dry film

thickness
(microns)
75 m
125 m
50 m
250 m
50 m
100 m
150 m

Note: taking into account that the thicknesses given for the last system shown above are less than those recommended in ISO
12944-5, we have test certificates in accordance with ISO 12944-6 (performance tests) which confirm that this system is valid
for this category of corrosivity and durability of > 15 years. We also have a test certificate for the first system.

Category of corrosivity C5M

Type of paint

System

Zinc-rich primer
Epoxy intermediate
Polyurethane

1 C-Pox Primer ZN800

1 C-Pox S990 Mio FD
2 C-Thane RPS HS
Total film thickness

Total dry film

thickness
(microns)
75 m
85 m
80 m
240 m

Note: taking into account that the thicknesses shown above are less than those recommended in ISO 12944-5, we have test
certificates in accordance with ISO 12944-6 (performance tests) which confirm that this system is valid for this category of
corrosivity and durability of > 15 years.

Category of corrosivity C5M (cont.)

Type of paint

System

Zinc phosphate epoxy primer

Micaceous iron epoxy
intermediate
Polyurethane

1 C-Pox Primer ZP200 HB

1 C-Pox S990 Mio FD

Zinc epoxy primer

High film thickness flexible
polyurethane

Total dry film

thickness
(microns)
100 m
140 m

2 C-Thane RPS HS
Total film thickness
1 C-Pox Primer ZP650
1 C-Thane S690 HB-F

80 m
320 m
75 m
125 m

Total film thickness

200 m

Note: taking into account that the thicknesses given for the last system shown above are less than those recommended in ISO
12944-5, we have test certificates in accordance with ISO 12944-6 (performance tests) which confirm that this system is valid
for this category of corrosivity and durability of > 15 years. We also have a test certificate for the first system.

It is advisable to check on a regular basis the status of this guide. The systems recommended were based on commercially available products which CIN can withdraw without notice. This guide is generic and must be viewed as one possible
example among many CIN Protective Coatings solutions. Consult CIN directly for a specification for a particular project.

CIN-CORPORAO INDUSTRIAL DO NORTE, SA

Avenida Dom Mendo, n831(antes E.N. 13) - Apartado 1008
4471-909 MAIA PORTUGAL
Telef. 22 940 50 00 Fax: 22 948 56 61
www.cinprotective.com email: customerservice.pt

BARNICES VALENTINE, S.A.U.

C/ Riera Seca, 1 Pol. Ind. Can Milans
08110 Montcada i Reixac (Barcelona)
Tel. 34 93 565 66 00 Fax: 34 93 575 33 60
www.cinprotective.com email-valentine@valentine.es

CELLIOSE COATINGS
Chemin de la Verriere - BP 58,
69492 Pierre Bnite Cedex France
Tl: +33 (0) 472 39 77 77 Fax: +33 (0) 472 39 77 70
www.celiose.com
Pg. 4/5

PAINT SYSTEMS GUIDE

IN ACCORDANCE WITH ISO 12944-5:2007
Issue date: June 2013

Category of corrosivity Im1, Im2 e Im3

Type of paint

System

Zinc-rich epoxy primer

Surface tolerant epoxy

1 C-Pox Primer ZN905

2 C-Pox ST165 MP-WN
Total film thickness
2 C-Pox CT940

Total dry film

thickness
(microns)
60 m
400 m
460 m
400 m

Total film thickness

400 m

Coal tar epoxy

CIN has many other systems for corrosion protection of metal structures. For more
information contact CIN Customer Service.

It is advisable to check on a regular basis the status of this guide. The systems recommended were based on commercially available products which CIN can withdraw without notice. This guide is generic and must be viewed as one possible
example among many CIN Protective Coatings solutions. Consult CIN directly for a specification for a particular project.

CIN-CORPORAO INDUSTRIAL DO NORTE, SA

Avenida Dom Mendo, n831(antes E.N. 13) - Apartado 1008
4471-909 MAIA PORTUGAL
Telef. 22 940 50 00 Fax: 22 948 56 61
www.cinprotective.com email: customerservice.pt

BARNICES VALENTINE, S.A.U.

C/ Riera Seca, 1 Pol. Ind. Can Milans
08110 Montcada i Reixac (Barcelona)
Tel. 34 93 565 66 00 Fax: 34 93 575 33 60
www.cinprotective.com email-valentine@valentine.es

CELLIOSE COATINGS
Chemin de la Verriere - BP 58,
69492 Pierre Bnite Cedex France
Tl: +33 (0) 472 39 77 77 Fax: +33 (0) 472 39 77 70
www.celiose.com
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