PA8

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR

INTERNAL COATINGS FOR STEEL SMALL BORE

PIPES (BELOW 100 mm NOMINAL SIZE)

APRIL 1993
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CONTENTS
Page
FOREWORD

iii

BRIEF HISTORY

iv

1.

SCOPE

2.

REFERENCES

3.

DEFINITIONS

4.

MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

4.1

Treatment of steel prior to coating

4.2

Surface coatings

5.

QUALITY CONTROL AND METHODS OF TEST

5.1

Monitoring of process fluids and rinse baths

5.2

Testing and sampling of coating material

6.

HANDLING OF PIPES PRIOR TO COATING

7.

SURFACE PREPARATION

7.1

Degreasing

7.2

Pickling (descaling)

7.3

Phosphating

7.4

Drying

7.5

Coating

8.

SAMPLING OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT

APPENDICES
A

PROPERTIES OF THE COATING

METHODS OF TEST

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FOREWORD

This specification has been adopted by Transco and is an editorial revision of the former British Gas TransCo
specification GBE/PA8. It reflects the identity and organizational structure of Transco - a part of BG plc.
This Transco specification has been approved for use throughout Transco.
Comments and queries regarding the technical content of this Transco specification should be directed to:
Lead Engineer
Transco
Norgas House
PO Box 1GB
Killingworth
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 1GB
Further copies of this Transco specification can be obtained from Dataform Print Management using the print
requisition form G004 quoting the Form Number of this Transco engineering document (not the designation)
and your cost code.
Transco engineering 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 Transco Register of Engineering
Documents available on the Transco Information Library.
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 Transco should direct their requests for further copies of Transco
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 Transco 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.

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BRIEF HISTORY

First issued as BGC/PS/PA8

Amended issue published as GBE/PA8

June 1979
April 1993

BG plc 1993
This Transco specification is copyright and must not be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without
the approval in writing of BG plc.
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR

INTERNAL COATINGS FOR STEEL SMALL BORE PIPES

(BELOW 100 mm NOMINAL SIZE)
1.
SCOPE
1.1
This Transco Technical Specification* specifies the protection of the internal surface of steel small
bore pipes (below 100 mm nominal size) for use at pressures up to 70 bar.
* Hereinafter referred to as 'this specification'.

1.2
The protection specified involves treatment of the steel by a phosphating process and a subsequent
application of a suitable surface coating (see Appendix A). The degree of internal surface protection depends
upon the integrity of both phosphate treatment and surface coating.
2.
REFERENCES
This specification makes reference to the documents listed below. Unless otherwise specified the latest
editions of these documents, including all addenda and revisions, shall apply.
European Standard

BS EN 535

Method for the determination of flow time of paints by use of flow

cups

BS 3189

Method for specifying phosphate conversion coatings for metals

BS 3900

Methods of test for paints:

Part Al - Sampling
Part B2 - Determination of volatile matter and non-volatile matter
Part C2 - Surface drying test (ballotini method)
Part C3 - Through dry test
Part C6 - Determination of fineness of grind
Part El - Bend test (cylindrical mandrel)
Part E2 - Scratch test
Part E3 - Impact (falling weight) resistance
Part E6 - Cross-cut test
Part F2 - Determination of resistance to humidity (cylic condensation)
Part F4 - Resistance to continuous salt spray
Part G5 - Determination of resistance to liquids

BS 6001

Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes

BS CP 3012

Code of practice for cleaning and preparation of metal surfaces.

British Standards

3.
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this specification the following definitions shall apply:

Transco: Transco - a part of BG plc.

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Contractor: the person, firm or company with whom Transco enters into a contract to which this
specification applies, including the Contractor's personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
4.

MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

4.1
4.1.1

Treatment of steel prior to coating

Degreasing systems shall conform to the requirements of BS CP 3012.

4.1.2
Acid pickling baths shall conform to the requirements of BS CP 3012, (methods Fl or F2) and shall
incorporate wetting agents.
4.1.3
Phosphate bath solutions shall conform to the requirements of BS 3189 except that the phosphate
treatment shall be equivalent to 'Bonderite 75' and be suitable for application of a Type 2 coating, medium
weight.
NOTE - Any pipe to be subsequently associated with cathodic protection and to be
externally coated with coal tar (either hot or cold applied) or epoxy resin, shall have
all traces of zinc phosphate removed from its outer surface. This is not necessary,
however, if the external coating is formed by adhesive wrapping tape or
polyethylene covered mastic coating.

4.1.4

Rinse baths shall contain a wetting agent.

4.2
4.2.1

Surface coatings
All materials to be used shall conform to the requirements of Appendix A of this specification.

4.2.2
Each batch of coating material shall be tested, using methods given in Appendix A, according to the
following schedule:

5.

a)

Viscosity.

b)

Fineness of grind.

c)

Non-volatile content.

d)

Drying times.

QUALITY CONTROL AND METHODS OF TEST

5.1
Monitoring of process fluids and rinse baths
5.1.1
A reliable method of monitoring all process fluids, such as pickling and phosphate bath solutions
and rinse baths shall be instituted and maintained. This shall ensure that contamination or dilution does not
accumulate to a degree which is detrimental to the protection afforded to the pipe.

5.1.2

Testing shall be carried out and records shall be kept of all observations and analyses.

5.1.3
When recommendations for the make-up of solutions are initiated, records shall be kept of all
additions and renewals that have been made. The temperatures of all baths shall be recorded and, where
appropriate, controlled at suitable levels.
5.2
Testing and sampling of coating material
5.2.1
Immediately prior to use and after thorough mixing, the coating material shall be sampled using
methods laid down in BS 3900: Part A1 and then tested to ensure that its viscosity and pigment dispersion is
within limits.

5.2.2

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Each batch of coating material shall be tested using the methods given in 4.2.2.

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6.
HANDLING OF PIPES PRIOR TO COATING
6.1
Process solutions are applied to pipe surfaces by dipping. Pipes shall be completely immersed in the
tank solution even when the pipes are at an angle of 25 0 to the horizontal.

6.2

Provision shall be made for agitation or circulation of the process solutions.

6.3
Pipe slings shall be of a material which does not absorb and is not adversely affected by the process
solution. The slings shall be of sufficient length to permit movement of the pipes within the bundle to ensure
absence of permanent 'dead' pockets.
6.4
Suspension equipment shall permit a 25 0 vertical angular movement of the pipe bundle during
immersion, unless arrangements have been made for circulation of the process solution through the pipe
bundle.
6.5
Provision shall be made for the complete drying of the pipe bundle after the final rinse. Stacking
arrangements shall permit the free flow of air.
7.

SURFACE PREPARATION

7.1
Degreasing
Oil, grease, etc., shall be removed by degreasing before proceeding with chemical descaling and phosphating.

Following this operation, the degreasing solvents shall be removed. The method shall ensure that residues will
not produce an undesirable level of contamination to subsequent processes.
Completion of the degreasing process shall be indicated by absence of 'water break' on the pipe surfaces, i.e.
both internal and external.
7.2
Pickling (descaling)
After degreasing, the pipes shall be subjected to a pickling (descaling) process which shall remove all traces
of mill scale and corrosion products without damaging the pipe.

On completion of this operation, the pipes shall be allowed to drain before being rinsed with water. The rinse
shall remove acid from the pipes so that residues shall not be detrimental to subsequent processes or to the
final protection of the pipe.
Completion of the rinse operation shall be demonstrated by testing the rinse water which drains from the
pipes, using narrow range pH indicator papers or other technique to ensure that this is not lower than
pH 4.5.
Draining shall be continued until the quantity of rinse water remaining in the pipes is considered negligible in
its dilution effect on the phosphating solution.
7.3
Phosphating
On completion of the pickling process, the pipes shall be subjected to a phosphating process in accordance
with BS 3189. Particular care shall be taken to ensure that treatment is effective in all parts of the pipe. The
phosphate coating shall comply with BS 3189, Type 2 and shall have a minimum coating weight of 4.5 g/m 2 .
After phosphating, excess solution shall be drained from the pipes which shall then be subjected to a water
rinse.
7.4
Drying
Removal of all moisture shall be effected by blowing heated, filtered air through the pipes. All moisture shall
be removed before storage of the pipes prior to a coating process.

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The storage system shall ensure that the maximum period between phosphating and coating is 24 h. Should
this period be exceeded, the pipes shall be reprocessed. No surface deterioration shall be permitted.
The surface shall have a uniform matt appearance without excessive crystallinity.
7.5
Coating
7.5.1
The coating material shall be mixed immediately prior to any coating operations in strict
accordance with the recommendations of the supplier or his authorized representative. Mixing shall be carried
out adjacent to the zone of the coating operations and the material shall be tested immediately prior to use to
ensure that it complies with the requirements for viscosity and pigment dispersion; appropriate test methods
are given in Appendix B.

7.5.2
The equipment to be used for the application of the coating to the bore of the pipe shall be checked
for cleanliness and for correct mode of operation. The equipment shall be operated to give the required
minimum thickness of coating without causing unacceptable imperfections. The coating shall be substantially
free of sags, runs, pinholes or inclusions and shall have a minimum coating thickness of 15m .
8.
SAMPLING OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT
A sample shall be taken from the finished pipe and cut longitudinally to ensure that the coating is evenly and
satisfactorily applied and to the required thickness.

The Contractor shall provide samples for testing, which shall not exceed 0.1% of the final production for
testing.
Sampling rates shall be to BS 6001.

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APPENDIX A
PROPERTIES OF THE COATING
A.1

PROPERTIES OF THE PAINT

A.2
PROPERTIES OF THE COMPLETE SYSTEM
The required properties of the complete system are given in the following table. Testing shall be carried out on
panels as specified and prepared in Appendix B.

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APPENDIX B
METHODS OF TEST
B.1
GENERAL
For production quality control, the preferred methods of test will be those specified in Appendix A.
B.2
RELATIVE DENSITY
The determination of relative density shall be carried out using a standard cup at a temperature of
23 2 0 C .
B.3
SAG RESISTANCE
The paint shall be applied at a wet film thickness of 125m (as determined by BS 3900: Part C5) to
degreased and burnished steel panels which, immediately after painting, shall be placed in a vertical position.
There shall be no sags or runs.
B.4
TEST PANELS FOR ACCELERATED TESTS
Test panels shall be of a proprietary type (e.g. 'Pyrene Bonderite') and prepared according to the following
schedule:

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a)

Degrease thoroughly.

b)

Apply paint by brushing or spraying to give a dry film thickness of 20 5m .

c)

Dry for 24 h.

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