Design

General

It is clearly much easier to inspect prepare and coat flat surfaces than complicated shapes. Sharp edges and protrusions have a thinner coating of paint than adjacent flat areas. Tubular shapes are much easier to protect with a coating system than angular sections. Avoid creating areas where rain condensation and dirt can collect. Ensure that adequate drainage points are specified and that drainage design takes the water clear of the structure itself. Do not design structures with back-to-back angle iron and spaces in between the components. If cavities cannot be avoided fill them with weld or mastic and seal box sections or protect their internal surfaces.

Accessibility

Always design structures with painting in mind making sure that painters have adequate access to apply surface coatings to every surface and at every stage - at initial fabrication, erection and maintenance. In fact, experience has shown that lack of adequate access is a major contribution to coating failure.

Air circulation

Ensuring that there is adequate air circulation around a structure assists in reducing condensation and accelerates the drying-out process after dew or rain deposits.