Life Cycle Reset for Tank Coatings: Cost Effective Strategies for Aging Facilities

Paper ID: C2025-00590 ABSTRACT: Freese and Nichols, Inc. (FNI) was hired as a consultant to the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) to provide a coating evaluation for the 1.5 MG Foster Elevated Storage Tank (EST). Coating failures had developed on the exterior of the tank, and FNI evaluated the failures and provided recommendations for the recoating and rehabilitation of the EST. One of the primary goals in the evaluation was to determine if the existing exterior coating is a candidate for overcoating to economically extend the life of the coating system versus needing to fully replace the coating. Testing of the existing coatings (X-cut adhesion, test patches, and pull-off adhesion testing) were conducted in accordance with AMPP standards and the project moved forward with overcoating. During construction an interesting pattern developed with the coating removal that gave further insight into the cause of the coating failure. Lessons learned from the rehabilitation project will be shared to support collegues with similar projects.
This presentation identifies a public water supply project where coating tests were applied per AMPP standards to help support recommendations to proceed with a coating maintenance project in lieu of a more costly rehabilitation project.