SSPC-PS Guide 4.

00
November 1, 1982
Editorial Changes September 1, 2000

SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings

PAINTING SYSTEM GUIDE 4.00

Guide for Selecting Vinyl Painting Systems*
Most needs for vinyl painting systems can be met by 3.4 SSPC STANDARDS AND JOINT STANDARDS:
the standard SSPC Painting Systems 4.02 and 4.04 in this
section. Other combinations of surface preparation, primer, PA 1 Shop, Field, and Maintenance
intermediates, and topcoats may be selected for special Painting of Steel
situations for vinyl painting systems using the following PA 2 Measurement of Dry Coating
Guide. To do so, select the desired surface preparation, Thickness With Magnetic Gages
primer, intermediate(s), and topcoat from those listed herein PA Guide 4 Guide to Maintenance Repaint-
and insert them into the standard SSPC Painting System ing with Oil Base or Alkyd Paint-
format In order to aid in the selection, short comments are ing Systems
given. For additional information consult the “Commentary Paint 8 Aluminum Vinyl Paint
on Painting Systems” and the referenced standards. Paint 9 White (or Colored) Vinyl Paint
Paint 27* Basic Zinc Chromate - Vinyl
1. Scope Butyral Wash Primer
PS 4.02 Four-Coat Vinyl Painting System
1.1 This guide covers vinyl painting systems for blast (For Fresh Water, Chemical, and
cleaned or pickled steel. Corrosive Atmospheres)
PS 4.04 Four-Coat White or Colored Vi-
1.2 These systems are suitable for use on parts or nyl Painting System (For Fresh
structures exposed in Environmental Zones 1A (interior, Water, Chemical, and Corrosive
normally dry), 2A (frequently wet by fresh water), 2 8 (fre- Atmospheres)
quently wet by salt water), 2C (fresh water immersion), 2D SP 2 Hand Tool Cleaning
(saltwater immersion), 3A(chemical, acidic), and 3B (chemi- SP 3 Power Tool Cleaning
cal neutral). SP YNACE No. 1 White Metal Blast Cleaning
SP 6/NACE No. 3 Commercial Blast Cleaning
1.3 The color of the finish paint must be specified. SP 8 Pickling
SP lO/NACE No. 2 Near-White Blast Cleaning
2. Description
3.5 AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MA-
2.1 This guide outlines the components of a complete TERIALS (ASTM) STANDARD:
vinyl painting system. A painting system shall consist of
surface preparation by commercial blast cleaning or pick- D 3925 Practice for Sampling Liquid
ling, one coat of wash primer (when required), one coat of Paints and Related Pigmented
vinyl primer, one or two intermediate coat(s), and one finish Coatings
coat of vinyl paint.
3.6 FEDERAL SPECIFICATIONSAND STANDARDS:
3. Reference Standards
MIL- L-2838 (canceled) Lacquer, Vinyl Resin,
3.1 The standards referenced in this guide are listed in Gasoline and Water Resistant
Section 3.4 through 3.8 and form a part of the specification. MIL-P-15930 Primer, Vinyl-Zinc Chromate
Type, (for Hot Spray)
3.2 The latest issue, revision, or amendment of the MIL-E-15935 (canceled) Enamel, Outside,
reference standards in effect on the date of invitation to bid Gray, Vinyl-Alkyd
shall govern unless otherwise specified. MIL-E-15936 (canceled) Enamel, Exterior,
Gray, No. 27 Vinyl-Alkyd
3.3 If there is a conflict between the requirements of MIL-E-16188 (canceled) Enamel, Exterior,
any of the cited reference standards and the specification,
Gray, No. 17 (Vinyl-Alkyd)
the requirements of the specification shall prevail. MIL-E-16738 (canceled) Enamel, Exterior,
White, (Vinyl-Alkyd)

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Editorial Changes September 1, 2000

MIL-E-24292 (canceled) Enamel, Exterior, COMMENT: Use of a wash primer is recommended for
Dark Gray (Vinyl-Alkyd) salt water immersion. For fresh water immersion, however,
MIL-E-24306 (canceled) Enamel, Exterior, the wash primer is no longer recommended by most manu-
Black (Vinyl-Alkyd) facturers. The vinyl butyral wash primer should be applied
MIL-E-24307 (canceled) Enamel, Exterior, to bare metal only. In spot pretreating care should be taken
Gray (Vinyl-Alkyd) to minimize overlapping old paint.
MIL-P-28641 (canceled) Primer Coating, Vinyl
Chloride Copolymer, High-Build 5.2 VINYL PRIMERS: After cleaning, the steel shall be
(for Steel and Masonry) primed with one coat of paint conforming with one of the
MIL-P-28642 (canceled) Paint (Topcoat), Vi- following specifications.
nyl Chloride Acetate Copolymer,
High Build (for Steel and Ma- 5.2.1 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Specification,
sonry) VR-3, “Vinyl Resin Paint.”
MIL-E-82401 Enamel, Exterior, Vinyl-Alkyd, COMMENT: This high solid vinyl paint is available in
Red white, medium gray, and aluminum colors. The aluminum is
recommended as a topcoat only. A three-coat system is
3.7 US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS STANDARDS: used for interior oil service (125 micrometers/5 mils mini-
mum) and four-coat systems are used as interior lining for
CW-O9940 Painting Hydraulic Structures water service or for exterior service in water and sunlight
and Appurtenant Works (150 micrometers/6 mils minimum thickness). The white
V-106 Vinyl Type Red Oxide (Light or and medium gray are pigmented with titanium dioxide,
Dark Color) Paint extenders, and black tint. They are formulated with vinyl
V-766 Vinyl-Type White (or Gray) Paint tripolymer and copolymer to meet requirements for overall
VZ-108 Vinyl-Type Zinc-Rich Paint composition, density, application, dry (three-hour recoat),
stability, adhesion and cohesion, flexibility, permeability,
3.8 U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION STANDARDS: resistance to solvent, salt-spray, and abrasion.

VR-3 Vinyl Resin Paint 5.2.2 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Specification VR-
VR-6 Vinyl Resin Paint 6,”Vinyl Resin Paint”:
VR-M* Vinyl Resin Mastic COMMENT: This system is similar to VR-3 except that
it requires three intermediate coats and two finish coats for
4. Surface Preparation a total of 250 micrometers (10.0 mils) minimum dry film
thickness. Complete system is intended especially for exte-
4.1 SSPC-SP 6, “Commercial Blast Cleaning,”or SSPC- rior service in water and sunlight.
SP 8, “Pickling.” If specified in the procurement documents,
better degrees of blast cleaning shall be substituted (SSPC- 5.2.3 Corps of Engineers Specification V-1 06,”Vinyl
SP 5 or 10). Type Red Oxide (Light or Dark Color) Paint”:
COMMENT: Blast cleaning or pickling of the steel is the COMMENT: Corps of Engineers Specification CW-
minimum recommended surface preparation for new work. 09940, “Painting: Hydraulic Structures and Appurtenant
Better degrees of blast cleaning (SSPC-SP 5 or 1O) may be Works,” describes four- and five-coat paint systems using
substituted. The high degree of cleanliness provided by this and the following two primers.
these cleaning methods may be more economical or may
be required for corrosive conditions. In maintenance re- 5.2.4 Corps of Engineers Specification V-766,”Vi-
painting when only small areas need to be cleaned, hand or nyl-Type White (or Gray) Paint”:
power tool cleaning (SSPC-SP 2 or 3) may suffice. COMMENT: See comment under Section 5.2.3.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Corps of Engi-
neers, and some others require that white metal (SSPC-SP 5.2.5 Corps of Engineers Specification VZ-108, “Vi-
5)or near-white (SSPC-SP 1O) blast cleaning is mandatory nyl-Type Zinc-Rich Paint”:
for vinyl coatings. COMMENT: See comment under Section 5.2.3.

5. Paints 5.2.6 Federal Specification MIL-P-15930*, “Primer,

Vinyl-Zinc Chromate Type, (for Hot Spray)”:
5.1 WASH PRIMER: If specified in the procurement COMMENT: The zinc chromate vinyl paint is similar to
documents, a wash primer complying with SSPC-Paint 27*, the above, but it is not used as widely on steel. It is not
“Basic Zinc Chromate - Vinyl Butyral Wash Primer,” shall be recommended for fresh water use.
applied.

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 SSPC-PS Guide 4.00
November 1, 1982
Editorial Changes September 1, 2000

5.2.7 Federal Specification MIL-L-2638, “Lacquer, 5.4 VINYL FINISH COATS: The paint shall conform
Vinyl Resin, Gasoline and Water Resistant”: with one of the following specifications.
COMMENT: This system is intended for coating stor-
age tanks and pipes. Pigments selected must be suitable 5.4.1 SSPC-Paint 8, “Aluminum Vinyl Paint”:
for potable water service as defined by the Environmental COMMENT: SSPC-Paint 8 is an aluminum paint that
Protection Agency. may be used over any vinyl paint as a finish coat. Aluminum
topcoats are preferred for water immersion, but not for use
5.2.8 SSPC-Paint 9, “White (or Colored) Vinyl Paint”: in alkaline or strongly acid exposures. This paint should not
COMMENT: SSPC-Paint 9 is a white vinyl paint that be used under other vinyl paints or applied in overly thick
may also be procured in tints. It can be used as a primer films (e.g., 75 micrometers/3 mils per coat) because of the
over wash primer or over bare steel and as an intermediate possibility of solvent entrapment by the aluminum flake.
or finish paint over any vinyl paint. It is highly recommended
as an inert pigmented vinyl paint for extremely severe 5.4.2 SSPC-Paint 9, “White (or Colored) Vinyl Paint”:
chemical exposure that could attack wash primer pigments COMMENT: An inert pigmented straight vinyl paint
or other vinyl paint pigments. suitable for chemical exposures which may be used as a
primer or an intermediate finish coat. It may be procured in
5.2.9 Proprietary Primer: colors by specifying the color desired and substituting
COMMENT: A proprietary primer of proven perfor- suitable colored pigment for the titanium dioxide.
mance capability may be substituted for any of the above if
desired by the specifier. Specify the manufacturer, trade 5.4.3 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Specification VR-
name, and product number of the desired proprietary paint. 3, “Vinyl Resin Paint”:
COMMENT: Thisvinyl coating is described under prim-
5.3 INTERMEDIATE COAT(S) FOR VINYL PAINTING ers. Either the white, gray, or aluminum types may be used
SYSTEMS: The second coat of paint in a three-coat system as finish coats, although the aluminum paint is not recom-
may be the same as the first coat, but tinted to contrast with mended for use as a primer or intermediate coat, nor is it
the primer; or when stipulated, it may be the same as the recommended for use in alkali or strong acid. Because of its
finish coat (third coat), but tinted to contrast with the finish superior impermeability, however, it is the preferred top-
coat. Paints shall be tinted by the manufacturer; otherwise coat for other services such as water immersion or exterior
only lampblack dispersed in vinyl chlorideacetate copoly- sunlight.
mer resin solution or similar black vinyl paint shall be used
for tinting. 5.4.4 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Specification VR-
The primers listed above (particularly those of con- 6, “Vinyl Resin Paint”:
trasting color) are suitable for intermediate coats. The COMMENT: Vinyl coating system provides for white,
primer or finish coat, except aluminum finish coats, may black, color, and an aluminum topcoat as described in VR-
also be used as the third coat of a four-coat system, 3.
provided they are tinted to provide contrast with the preced-
ing and following coats. If an aluminum finish coat is used, 5.4.5 Proprietary Finish Paints:
the next-to-last coat may be the same as the last (finish) COMMENT: A proprietaryfinish of proven performance
coat except that the corresponding non-leafing pigment capability may be substituted for any of the above if desired
shall be used in place of leafing aluminum. Alternatively, by the specifier. Specify the manufacturer, trade name,
the intermediate coat(s) of paint shall conform with the color, and product number of the desired proprietary paint.
following specifications.
6. Paint Application
5.3.1 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Specification VR-
M*, “Vinyl Resin Mastic”: 6.1 PAINT APPLICATION: Follow requirements of
COMMENT: Used in conjunction with VR-3 and VR-6 SSPC-PA 1, “Shop, Field, and Maintenance Painting of
vinyl paints, this high build coating is applied at bolts, rivets, Steel”:
and sharp corners. COMMENT: To obtain the required thickness per coat,
without pinholing or sagging, airless spray or hot spray with
5.3.2 Proprietary Intermediate: multiple passes are helpful. Single wet coats more than 75
COMMENT: A proprietary intermediate of proven per- to 125 micrometers (3 to 5 mils) thick, on the other hand,
formance capability may be substituted for any of the above can lead to solvent release problems unless specially
if desired by the specifier. Specify the manufacturer, trade formulated highbuild coatings are used.
name, and product number of the desired proprietary paint. Sufficient time should be allowed for air drying between
coats to assure essentially complete solvent removal. Dry
to touch is not a good indication of complete dryness since

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 SSPC-PS Guide 4.00
November 1, 1982
Editorial Changes September 1, 2000

retained solvent is very slow to diffuse out, and if not lowed. If no arbitration procedure is established, the proce-
removed, greatly reduces resistance and durability of the dure specified by the American Arbitration Association
paint film. Air dry as much as 24 hours between coats is shall be used.
desirable if feasible.
7.2 Samples of paints under this painting system may
6.2 FIELD TOUCH-UP PAINTING: In accordance with be requested by the purchaser and shall be supplied upon
specification SSPC-PA 1, “Shop, Field, and Maintenance request along with the manufacturer’s name and identifica-
Painting of Steel” and in particular with the Section thereof tion for the materials. Samples may be requested at the
entitled “Field Painting.” time the purchase order is placed, or may be taken from
unopened containers at the job site.
6.3 MAINTENANCE PAINTING: For maintenance
painting procedures, see SSPC-PA Guide 4, “Guide to 7.3 Unless otherwise specified, the sampling shall be
Maintenance Repainting with Oil Base or Alkyd Painting in accordance with ASTM D 3925.
Systems.”
COMMENT: This guide covers the steps necessaryfor 8. Disclaimer
repainting previously painted steel surfaces.
8.1 While every precaution is taken to ensure that all
6.4 NUMBER OF COATS: A minimum of three. information furnished in SSPC standards and specifica-
COMMENT: A minimum of three coats of conventional tions is as accurate, complete, and useful as possible,
vinyl paint are recommended for the less severe exposures. SSPC cannot assume responsibility nor incur any obliga-
For very severe exposures, four coats are recommended; tion resulting from the use of any materials, coatings, or
and for extremely severe exposures, five or six coats may methods specified herein, or of the specification or stan-
be required. Complete immersion in corrosive liquids re- dard itself.
quires thick films and consequently more coats.
Two coats of conventional vinyls on structural steel will 8.2 This specification does not attempt to address
result in an uneconomically thin paint film. The thin paint problems concerning safety associated with its use. The
film results in short life of the coating due to inadequate user of this specification, as well as the user of all products
coverage of the blast profile pattern. or practices described herein, is responsible for instituting
appropriate health and safety practices and for insuring
6.5 DRY FILM THICKNESS OF PAINT SYSTEM: For compliance with all governmental regulations.
conventional vinyl coatings not less than the following as
measured in accordance with SSPC-PA 2, “Measurement 9. Notes
of Dry Coating Thickness with Magnetic Gages”: wash
primer, when required, 8 micrometers (0.3 mils); primer 33 Notes are not a requirement of this specification.
micrometers (1.3 mils); for a three-coat painting system 1O0
micrometers (4.0 mils); for a four-coat painting system 125 9.1 The procurement documents should establish the
micrometers (5.0 mils); for a five-coat painting system 150 responsibility for samples, testing, and any required affida-
micrometers (6.0 mils). vit certifying full compliance with the specification.
COMMENT: Conventional vinyl coatings contain a high
level of solvent and are best applied by air spray in coats of 9.2 Most vinyl paints listed in this specification are
not more than 50 micrometers (2 mils) each. High-build compatible with one another; however, several precautions
vinyl coatings especially formulated for airless spray can be shall be taken when using vinyl paints. The vinyl paint
applied up to 125 micrometers (5 mils) dry film thickness should be vinyl chloride acetate copolymer, modified by
with proper equipment and technique. If done improperly, carboxyl or hydroxyl groups if required. Some vinyl primers
excessive amounts of solvents can be retained in the dry are satisfactory over wash primer only, some over bare
coating. steel only, while some may be used over either. Some vinyl
paints will not adhere to wash primers, but must be used
7. Inspection over a suitable intermediate coat (many proprietary vinyl
paints are of this type).
7.1 All work and materials supplied under this specifi-
cation is subject to timely inspection by the purchaser or his 9.3 Vinyl painting systems are excellent for very severe
authorized representative. The contractor shall correct such exposures, including most chemical atmospheres, fresh
work or replace such material as is found defective under and salt water immersion, and corrosive environments.
this specification. (See Note 9.1 .) In case of dispute, unless Discretion should be exercised when used for immersion in
otherwise specified, the arbitration or settlement procedure corrosive chemicals such as inorganic acids, alkalis, and
established in the procurement documents shall be fol- salts or in liquids such as aliphatics, alcohols, oils, and

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 SSPC-PS Guide 4.00
November 1, 1982
Editorial Changes September 1, 2000

grease. However, they are dissolved by some organic * These paints contain lead or chromate. Users are
solvents such as aromatics, ketones, ethers, and esters, urged to follow all health, safety, and environmental re-
and attacked by some chemicals such as fuming nitric acid, quirements in applying, handling or disposing of these
98% sulfuric acid, and acetic acid. materials.

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