Gold Beach, Oregon, United States
DuraTek Coating Consultants Statement of Qualifications
Overview
DuraTek Coating Consultants takes the utmost pride in providing professional and reliable Industrial Coatings Inspection Services. Abrasive Blasting and Coatings Inspections as well as Existing Coating Analysis, Failure Analysis, Laboratory Testing, Lead Testing, Expert Witness Service, Maintenance and Corrosion Surveys, Coating System Evaluations and Technical Specifications.
Independent Inspection Service
DuraTek is a completely Independent Third Party Firm enabling the delivery of totally unbiased services to all members of the coating and corrosion prevention community.
Failure Analysis
Comprehensive Coatings Failure Analysis – Senior Coating Specialists conduct site visits to resolve questions or disputes regarding the quality of surface preparation or coating application, make coating repair or repainting recommendations, and determine the cause of coating failures. Field-work can include comprehensive measurements of coating dry film thickness, microscopic examinations of coating continuity and integrity, evaluations of the underlying substrate for the quality of cleaning, and evaluations for possible environmental degradation of the system. Samples for a detailed laboratory analysis are removed if necessary. Typical jobsite visits require one day for each project, including photographic documentation and recommendations.
Laboratory Testing
Laboratory Services – The Company maintains relationships with a network of well-equipped physical testing and analytical laboratories across the US, that posses such instrumentation as gas chromatographs, ion chromatographs, high pressure liquid chromatography, fourier transform infrared and atomic absorption/emission spectrophotometers including attenuated total reflectance (ATR), optical microscopes with microphotography capabilities, scanning electron microscopy with integrated light element dispersive x-ray analysis (SEM/EDS), and complete wet bench chemistry facilities. Accelerated testing equipment capabilities include salt fog and humidity cabinets, immersion tanks, Atlas cells, QUV, Q-Fog cabinets which perform Prohesion testing, ultraviolet light chambers, abrasion, cathodic disbonding apparatus, and others apparatus as may be required for comprehensive testing.
DCC can also provide complete lead testing of painted structures though its partnering relationships with nationally accredited laboratories. This is accomplished by the removal of paint samples from the structure for AA analysis and the determination of percent lead by weight in paint film. Soil testing includes the removal and analysis of pre-job and post-job soil samples for lead content. Hazardous waste testing (TCLP/WET) includes removal of samples of debris and conducting laboratory analysis by TCLP or Waste Extraction Testing to determine if debris is hazardous or non-hazardous for up to 8 heavy metals. DCC’s coating failure investigation is all-inclusive from the ability to recognize defective workmanship in the field to more sophisticated laboratory analysis of the coating system itself.
Expert Witness Services
Expert Witness Services – Principal consultants provide expert witness services to the coatings industry in the form of depositions and actual courtroom testimony based on knowledgeable field and laboratory investigations. These services have been provided to numerous clients and have involved coating problems on bridges, ships, structural steel in chemical and manufacturing plants, hotels, condominiums, residential housing, storage tanks, swimming pools, and various other structures
Coating Evaluations and Surveys
Coating Evaluations and Surveys – DCC conducts both comprehensive and brief maintenance painting surveys of structures ranging from single tanks and bridges to entire industrial and nuclear facilities. From the data compiled during the survey, sound engineering decisions regarding coating touch-up or replacement are made. Facilities are subdivided according to a "section" or "block" concept, and the condition of the coating is characterized in each according to existing coating type, percentage of failure, analysis of corrosion products, coating thickness and number of coats, coating adhesion, condition of substrate beneath coatings, and many other attributes. At the completion of the survey, a detailed report is provided along with repainting projections over a five or ten-year period. The Coating Specialist can conduct a field assessment of the condition of the coating on a structure to determine if over-coating is a viable maintenance option or if complete coating removal and replacement is warranted. Criteria utilized are as follows: visual assessment of the percentage and distribution of corrosion; total thickness and individual thickness determinations; adhesion tests in accordance with ASTM D3359 "Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test" or ASTM D4541 “Pull-Off Adhesion Test” to establish the strength or integrity of the existing coating; and substrate examinations for the presence of under-film corrosion or mill scale. Test patches may be applied for future evaluation to determine the compatibility of a proposed coating system over an existing system
Specification Preparation
Specification Preparation – DCC can assist clients in selecting the proper coating system for their environment and in the preparation or review of specifications. Coating system recommendations are based on past experience or through comparative testing in the laboratory or field. DCC can also prepare or review coating specifications and work procedures
Coating and Lining Testing
Coating and Lining Testing – DCC performs testing work at jobsite locations to help clients determine the quality of various paint, coating, or lining installations. The specialized work can include dry film thickness measurements, cure testing, soluble salt contamination testing, pull-off adhesion testing, peel-off testing, hardness testing, field chemical testing, substrate moisture testing, pH measurements, and others. DCC specialists are intimately familiar with the numerous NACE, SSPC, and ASTM standard test practices
Professional On-The-Job Coating Application Inspections
Professional On-The-Job Coating Application Inspections – DCC inspectors work at jobsites to assure that the entire coating project from ambient conditions and surface preparation through final coating dry film thickness and curing are correct and in accordance with the specification and good painting practice. DCC is fully equipped with all of the necessary field instrumentation to provide thorough surveillance. Comprehensive documentation is prepared daily detailing job quality and progress. This close oversight enables the inspectors to identify potential problems and recommend solutions before the work progresses to a point where costly rework is required.
The experience of DCC includes work with inorganic zincs, epoxies, coal tar enamels, coat-tar cut-back's, vinyls, urethanes, alkyds, acrylics, moisture cure urethanes (MCU), vinyl esters, fusion bonded epoxies (FBE), baked phenolics, polyethylene membranes, PVC linings, and numerous other generic types of coatings types that include 100% solids by volume thick film materials. DCC also has experience with surface preparation techniques that include power tool cleaning, abrasive blasting, hydro-blasting, and acid etching in both shop and field operations on substrates that include steel, concrete, aluminum, masonry, and others. Application experience typically includes operations involving airless, conventional, plural component, electrostatic spray equipment, and many others.
DCC also has a long history of inspecting and certifying the proper application of vinyl sheet products in wastewater treatment plants, sewer structures, outfalls and manholes. This experience includes both new construction and rehabilitation projects.
DCC has considerable inspection experience in both fabrication shops and the field. Fieldwork includes architectural structural steel, tank interiors and exteriors, ships, bridges, pipelines, and entire chemical and nuclear facilities. While all inspectors are certified by a rigorous and formal training program, all DCC inspectors are also trained and qualified in accordance with programs established and presented by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers and continued training AMPP.