UV Protected Pipeline for Bridge Crossings
The Problem
A gas owner of a pipeline wanted to use a UV stable coating on their FBE pipe which was being placed under a bridge of a major expressway. The bridge sees over a million cars a day.
The FBE pipeline was exposed to public and sunlight, so they chose Cortec EcoShield 386 in gray to help blend it in with the bridge and prevent degradation at the same time.
The Substrate
Metal
The Solution 
One of the USI AMPP Coating Inspectors was on-site to give technical advice and support. When on-site there was supposed to be a NACE 4 (Brush-Off Blast) prep, but when they got there the contractor was performing a NACE 2 (Near White Metal Blast).
The first thing that needed to be done was to apply a Federal 49 CFR approved pipeline coating back onto the pipeline, and then jeep for holidays. After that was completed, the contractor went back to prep the pipeline with the NACE 4 Brush-Off Blast with eighty grit sandpaper.
The crew performed SSPC-SP1 (degrease and clean with Xylene). The Cortec EcoShield 386 coating was applied to the pipeline at 8 mils. This UV-stable coating comes in different colors that customers can special order. If you have a FBE pipeline sitting out in a yard for a period, this UV-protective coating comes in clear to help prevent degradation.
Products Used
