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Types of Coatings

Builder 3&2 Volume 02 - Construction manual for building structures
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CHAPTER 8 STRUCTURAL  COATINGS AND PRESERVATIVES The final stage of most construction projects is the application of protective coatings, or “painting.” As with  all  projects,  you  should  follow  the  plans  and specifications  for  surface  preparation  and  application of the finish coat. The specifications give all the infor- mation you need to complete the tasks. But, to have a better  understanding  of  structural  coatings,  you  need to know their purposes, methods of surface prepara- tion,  and  application  techniques. PURPOSES OF STRUCTURAL COATINGS LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Upon completing this  section,  you  should  be  able  to  state  the purposes  of  the  different  types  of  structural coatings and how each is employed. The protection of surfaces is the most important consideration  in  determining  the  maintenance  cost of structures. Structural coatings serve as protective shields between the base construction materials and elements  that  attack  and  deteriorate  them.  Regularly programmed  structural  coatings  offer  long-range  pro- tection,  extending  the  useful  life  of  a  structure. PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE The  primary  purpose  of  a  structural  coating  is protection.  This  is  provided  initially  with  new  con- struction  and  maintained  by  a  sound  and  progressive preventive  maintenance  program.  Programmed  paint- ing  enforces  inspection  and  scheduling.  A  viable preventive maintenance program will help ensure that minor problems are detected at an early stage—before they become major failures later. An added advantage derived  from  preventive  maintenance  is  the  detection of faulty structural conditions or problems caused by leakage  or  moisture. Resistance to moisture from rain, snow, ice, and condensation constitutes perhaps the greatest single protective characteristic of paint, the most common type of structural coating. Moisture causes metal to corrode  and  wood  to  swell,  warp,  or  rot.  Interior wall finishes of buildings can be ruined by moisture entering through neglected exterior surfaces. Porous masonry  is  attacked  and  destroyed  by  moisture.  There- fore, paint films must be as impervious to moisture as possible  to  provide  a  protective,  water-proof  film  over the  surface  to  which  they  are  applied.  Paint  also  acts as a protective film against acids, alkalies, material organisms,  and  other  damaging  elements. SANITATION  AND CLEANLINESS Painting  is  an  essential  part  of  general  main- tenance  programs  for  hospitals,  kitchens,  mess  halls, offices,  warehouses,  and  living  quarters.  Paint coatings  provide  smooth,  nonabsorptive  surfaces  that are easily washed and kept free of dirt and foodstuffs. Adhering  foodstuffs  harbor  germs  and  cause  disease. Coating  rough  or  porous  areas  seals  out  dust  and grease  that  would  otherwise  be  difficult  to  remove. Odorless paints are used in these areas because conventional  paint  solvent  odors  are  obnoxious  to personnel. In food preparation areas, the odors maybe picked up by nearby food. FIRE  RETARDANCE Certain  types  of  structural  coatings  delay  the spread of fire and assist in confining a fire to its area of   origin.   Fire-retardant   coatings   should   not   be considered substitutes for conventional paints. The use of fire-retardant coatings is restricted to areas of highly combustible surfaces, and must be justified and governed   by   the   specific   agency’s   criteria.   Fire- retardant coatings are not used in buildings containing automatic  sprinkler  systems. CAMOUFLAGE Camouflage   paints   have   special   properties, making  them  different  from  conventional  paints. Their uses are limited to special applications. Do not use  camouflage  paints  as  substitutes  for  conventional paints.  Use  this  paint  only  on  exterior  surfaces  to render  buildings  and  structures  inconspicuous  by blending them in with the surrounding environment. 8-1







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