T/SP/CM/1

SPECIFICATION FOR

INTERNAL COATING OPERATIONS FOR STEEL LINE

PIPE AND FITTINGS

AUGUST 2004
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CONTENTS

Page

FOREWORD iii

BRIEF HISTORY iv

1. SCOPE 1

2. FIELD OF APPLICATION 1

3. REFERENCES 1

4. DEFINITIONS 1

5. COATING SELECTION 1

5.1 Approved materials 1

5.2 Basic physical properties 1

5.3 Colour 2

6. TESTS 2

7. IDENTIFICATION AND STORAGE OF COATINGS MATERIALS 2

7.1 Batch identification 2

7.2 Storage 2

8. PREPARATION FOR USE 2

8.1 General 2

8.2 Pre-mix agitation 2

8.3 Mixing 2

8.4 Pot-life 3

9. SURFACE PREPARATION 3

9.1 General 3

9.2 Conditions for surface preparation 3

9.3 Blast cleaning 3

9.4 Surface condition 3

10. COATING APPLICATION 3

10.1 Equipment 3

10.2 Coating 4

10.3 Repairs to coating 4

11. INSPECTION AND TESTING 5

11.1 Inspection of coating batch deliveries 5

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Page

11.2 Inspection of coated pipe and fittings 5

12. HANDLING AND LIFTING EQUIPMENT 5

13. MARKING 5

14. VARIANTS 5

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FOREWORD

This Specification was approved by Neil W. Jackson, Policy Engineer - Transmission, as document
th.
number EPSG/L01/356 on 7 May 2003 for use throughout National Grid Gas.

Comments and queries regarding the Technical content of this engineering document should be directed
to;

Engineering Policy
National Grid Gas
Brick Kiln Street
Off Coventry Road
Hinckley
Leicestershire
LE10 0NA

Further copies of this engineering document can be obtained from Dataform Print Management using the
print requisition form G004 quoting the Form Number of this National Grid Gas engineering document
(not the designation) and your cost code.

National Grid Gas documents are revised, when necessary, by the issue of new editions. Users should
ensure that they are in possession of the latest edition by referring to the National Grid Gas Register of
Engineering Documents available on the Company Internet.

Compliance with this engineering document does not confer immunity from prosecution for breach of
statutory or other legal obligations.

Contractors and other users external to National Grid Gas should direct their requests for further copies
of National Grid Gas engineering documents to the department or group responsible for the initial issue of
their contract documentation.

DISCLAIMER
This engineering document is provided for use by National Grid Gas and such of its contractors as are
obliged by the terms of their contracts to comply with this engineering document. Where this engineering
document is used by any other party, it is the responsibility of that party to ensure that the engineering
document is correctly applied.

Mandatory and non-mandatory requirements

In this document:

shall: indicates a mandatory requirement.

should: indicates best practice and is the preferred option. If an alternative method is used then a
suitable and sufficient risk assessment shall be completed to show that the alternative method delivers
the same, or better, level of protection.

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BRIEF HISTORY

First published as GICP/CM1 May 1970

Amended issue published as GIS/CM1 February 1975
Revised as BGC/PS/CM1 November 1977
Confirmed November 1983
Amendment No.1 published October 1984
Amendment No.2 published February 1989
Re-issued (incorporating Amendment No.1
and Amendment No.2), editorial update
and change of title as BG/PS/CM1 September 1989
Amendment No.3 published December 1991
Amended issue, incorporating Amendment No.3,
published as GBE/CM1 February 1993
Editorial update to reflect demerger November 2000 June 2001
Editorial update to reflect merger October 2002 November 2002
Amended and reissued as T/SP/CM1 May 2003
Editorial update to comply with GRM August 2004

Re-branded March 2006

© National Grid Gas plc 2006- All Rights Reserved

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 T/SP/CM/1

SPECIFICATION FOR
INTERNAL COATING OPERATIONS FOR STEEL LINE PIPE
AND FITTINGS

1. SCOPE
This National Grid Gas specification* relates to factory or yard coated pipes and fittings and refers
specifically to internal coating operations, selection of coatings and the testing and inspection of
coatings and coated pipes and fittings.
* Hereinafter referred to as 'this specification'.

2. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This specification covers the application of internal coatings on new steel pipes and should be read in
conjunction with T/SP/CM2.

3. REFERENCES
This specification makes reference to the documents listed below. Unless specified otherwise the latest
editions of these documents, including all addenda and revisions, shall apply.

International Standard
ISO 8501 - Preparation of steel substrates before application of paints and related
products

National Grid Gas specification

T/SP/CM2 - Technical Specification for internal coating materials for steel line pipe
and fittings.

4. DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this specification the following definitions shall apply:

National Grid Gas: National Grid Gas - a part of National Grid Gas plc

Contractor: the person, firm or company with whom National Grid Gas enters into a contract to which
this specification applies, including the Contractor's personal representatives, successors and permitted
assigns.

5. COATING SELECTION
5.1 Approved materials
Only those materials which conform to the requirements of T/SP/CM2 shall be used for internal lining.

5.2 Basic physical properties

The internal coating materials specification T/SP/CM2 deals with performance and composition of the
paint which will vary depending on source of supply.

Details of basic properties for each batch of paint will be forwarded by the coating supplier to the
ordering authority and to National Grid Gas.

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5.3 Colour
The colour of the internal coating shall be red.

6. TESTS
6.1 All deliveries of paint shall be tested by the coating supplier in accordance with T/SP/CM2.

6.2 The Contractor shall carry out tests for drying time and viscosity on each batch, using methods
specified in T/SP/CM2.

6.3 The properties of all materials supplied shall match the properties defined for the initial test
sample; coating materials shall be rejected if test results indicate a departure from the specified limits.
Additionally, coating material shall be rejected if there is contamination or hard settlement of solids in
the coating supplier's container, or if any other indication of defective material is found.

7. IDENTIFICATION AND STORAGE OF COATING MATERIALS

7.1 Batch identification
The name of the coating manufacturer, date of manufacture, colour of paint, and batch number together
with information regarding special storage conditions, if any, shall be clearly shown on each container.
All paints shall be supplied in suitably sealed containers.

7.2 Storage
7.2.1 All paints shall be kept under cover in conditions as recommended by the paint manufacturer.

7.2.2 Coating materials shall not be shipped or stored in any manner that will affect application or
performance characteristics.

7.2.3 The arrangements for storing paints shall ensure that each batch can be issued for use in order
of date of manufacture.

7.2.4 Paints shall not be used after the 'expiry of use' date.

8. PREPARATION FOR USE

8.1 General
The Contractor shall handle, mix and thin the coating materials in strict accordance with the coating
supplier's written recommendations or as directed by an authorized, qualified representative of the
coating supplier. All preparation shall be carried out at a place near to where the painting work is to be
carried out.

8.2 Pre-mix agitation

The pigmented component materials shall be mixed to a homogeneous state before any material is
withdrawn from the shipping container.

8.3 Mixing
8.3.1 All paints shall be thoroughly prepared by mechanically mixing the component parts to ensure
that a homogeneous mixture is obtained. For 5 litre containers, hand mixing will be permitted.

8.3.2 Only thinners of a quality and quantity recommended by the paint manufacturer shall be used.

8.3.3 Mixed components shall be matured for approximately 30 min before use.

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8.4 Pot-life
Two-pack paints have a limited pot-life. Paints of this type shall not be used after the stated pot-life. Pot-
life is the maximum time (after mixing) during which the paint maintains an acceptable consistency and
can be used to give satisfactory results. When a two-pack paint is being used, new material shall not be
added to any of the old material left in the pot.

9. SURFACE PREPARATION
9.1 General
It is essential that all oil, grease, mill scale, etc., and all loosely adherent surface contaminants are
removed immediately before internal coating is commenced.

9.2 Conditions for surface preparation

9.2.1 Surface preparation shall be carried out under suitable conditions.

9.2.2 Before cleaning operations commence, any oil or grease shall be removed from the surface by
washing with solvent or detergent.

9.2.3 The surface shall be prepared by blast cleaning.

9.3 Blast cleaning

9.3.1 Air for blast cleaning shall be clean, dry and oil-free. The type of abrasive used shall be that
which gives a blast cleaned profile (peak-to-trough height) of less than 75mm . If non-metallic abrasive is
used it shall be silica free.

9.3.2 No blast cleaning shall be carried out when the temperature of the steel is lower than the dew
point temperature.

9.3.3 All surfaces prepared by blast cleaning shall comply with the requirements of ISO 8501, Sa
2 1
2 quality and all traces of existing paint or other coating shall be removed from the surface.

9.4 Surface condition

Application shall follow before the onset of surface deterioration, but in any case within 24 h of surface
preparation.

10. COATING APPLICATION

10.1 Equipment
10.1.1 Application equipment
Internal coating shall, preferably, be carried out using suitable airless spraying equipment. Other
methods may be proposed as a variant for consideration by National Grid Gas, but air atomization
application is not permitted except for repair to small areas.

10.1.2 Filters
Adequate filters shall be present in the equipment to ensure that foreign substances or detrimental
particles are not carried to the application surfaces.

10.1.3 Pressure gauges

The paint line to the spray guns shall be equipped with a pressure gauge. For accurate pressure readings
on airless spray units, the pressure gauge shall be equipped with a pulsation damper. The location of this

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gauge shall be downstream of all pressure drop causing devices, and preferably as near to the gun tips as
is practicable.

10.1.4 Vapour traps

All compressed air lines shall have vapour traps.

10.2 Coating
10.2.1 Coating materials
The coating materials used shall be applied in such a way that the finished internal coating is capable of
withstanding, without detriment, the procedure required for external coating and wrapping operations as
separately defined.

10.2.2 Coating conditions

The temperature of the metal surface at the time of application shall be in accordance with the coating
manufacturer's application instructions.

Coating operations should be stopped when conditions such as inclement weather, improper surface
preparation and application procedure or poor material performance indicate that an inferior coating will
result. If heat is not used to accelerate cure, coating operations shall be suspended when the metal
temperature is within 3 °C of the dew point in the coating area.

10.2.3 Thickness of coating

Methods of test are specified in T/SP/CM2. However, the following conditions shall apply:

a) Dry film thickness: the minimum dry film thickness of the cured coating shall be 50mm above
the profile peaks, unless specified otherwise.
b) Wet film thickness: the Contractor shall ensure that the wet film thickness is not less than that
recommended by the coating supplier to produce the minimum dry film thickness of 50mm .
c) Bevelled ends: coating material deposited on bevel ends shall be removed immediately after
coating (by solvent cleaning). A temporary rust preventive primer may be applied to the
unprotected bevel surfaces at the discretion of National Grid Gas.

10.2.4 Protection of uncured coating

After application, the coating shall be protected from dust, dirt, foreign matter and adverse weather
conditions until it is tack free.

Curing shall be carried out to a procedure which shall ensure the coated pipe complies with the
requirements of this specification and T/SP/CM2.

10.3 Repairs to coating

10.3.1 General
Defective or damaged coating shall be repaired satisfactorily.

10.3.2 Film thickness

The film thickness of coating applied during repair shall comply with that of the basic specification.

10.3.3 Imperfections
Imperfections of coating shall be smoothed out prior to re-coating.

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10.3.4 Inadequate cleaning and disbonding

Coating that overlays areas which are found to be inadequately cleaned or that is disbonding shall be
completely removed and the surface properly cleaned and prepared prior to re-coating.

11. INSPECTION AND TESTING

11.1 Inspection of coating batch deliveries
The Contractor shall provide the necessary equipment to test paint deliveries in accordance with 6.2.

11.2 Inspection of coated pipe and fittings

11.2.1 Inspection area
The Contractor shall provide inspection areas equipped with sufficient lighting to aid the internal
inspection of coated components.

11.2.2 Applied coating film

The coating shall be applied in such a manner as to ensure a continuous covering film of uniform
thickness free from runs, sags and other imperfections and shall comply with the adhesion test specified
in T/SP/CM2, Appendix F.

11.2.3 Rejected pipe or fittings

Rejected pipe or fittings shall be the responsibility of the Contractor who, at his own expense, shall take
the necessary corrective action to rectify the fault.

11.2.4 Inspection co-ordination

Inspection shall be co-ordinated with coating operations so as to have minimum delay or interference
with these operations. The applications methods shall, nevertheless, always permit inspection to be made
and also allow adequate facilities for repair of imperfections.

12. HANDLING AND LIFTING EOUIPMENT

Pipes and fittings shall be handled in such a manner as to prevent damage.

13. MARKING
All pipe manufacturer's markings shall be noted and repeated on the bore of the pipe surface using a
contrasting paint which shall remain legible under all conditions of storage.

14. VARIANTS
A contractor shall only propose variants to this specification where the text indicates that variants would
be considered by National Grid Gas.

Copyright National Grid plc 2006 ©, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may by reproduced in
any material form (including photocopying and restoring in any medium or electronic means and whether
or not transiently or incidentally) without the written permission of National Grid plc except in accordance
with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

© National Grid Gas plc 2006- All Rights Reserved

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