Paint Manual for the Control of Paints and Painting

Painting work on projects is an important item in construction and over-all maintenance operations. The life, safety, operating efficiency, and economy of projects are influenced in considerable measure by the effectiveness of the protective coatings on the structures and equipment. Especially important is the requirement for adequate protection of ferrous metalwork against corrosion. Much of the metal work on Bureau of Reclamation projects is submerged or alternately submerged and exposed to air, which conditions are conducive toward rapid corrosion if adequate protection is lacking.

Because of operational requirements, it is difficult and costly in most cases to provide for frequent renewal of coatings. The best practicable coatings are therefore essential, but these cannot be obtained without thorough knowledge of the surfaces to be coated, the quality of materials used, and the application procedures. It is the purpose of this manual to provide information that will aid in the accomplishment of these objectives.