Today’s Specifier’s Role in a Successful (or Failed) Coatings Project

1. Today’s Specifier’s Role in a Successful (or Failed) Coatings Project Jon R. Cavallo, PE, NCS, CIP Level 3 Senior Consultant Enercon Services, Inc.

2. INTRODUCTION • Dramatic changes have occurred in the coatings industry, both positive and negative • These changes have modified the Specifier’s interaction with the coatings project team NACE Eastern Area Conference

3. SPECIFIER’S ROLE IN THE PAST • Straightforward in nature • Material selection was simple: • Atmospheric service - use alkyds • Marine and severe service - use solution vinyl or coal tar • No consideration given to VOC’s or HAP’s NACE Eastern Area Conference

4. SPECIFIER’S ROLE IN THE PAST • Few regulatory requirements concerning worker safety existed • Worker considerations: • Long term exposure to metal pigments • Exposure to resins • Exposure to solvents • Respiratory protection NACE Eastern Area Conference

5. SPECIFIER’S ROLE IN THE PAST • Material Selection and Specification Preparation: • Few generic coating systems existed • Coating selection depended upon the skill and persistence of salesperson • Coatings specification were simple and literally “cut and paste” NACE Eastern Area Conference

6. SPECIFIER’S ROLE IN THE PRESENT • The role of today’s Specifier in project work and society in general has changed dramatically NACE Eastern Area Conference

7. SPECIFIER’S ROLE IN THE PRESENT • Maintain currency in technical knowledge (continuing education throughout career) • Communicate effectively with people at all levels (supervisors, peers, clients, and the public) NACE Eastern Area Conference

8. SPECIFIER’S ROLEIN THE PRESENT • Sustain an awareness of the social changes impinging on the coatings profession (such as better handling and treatment of toxic and hazardous waste) • Establish from the beginning a clear idea of the services needed to meet the goals of each assignment (and keep the understanding in focus during your services) NACE Eastern Area Conference

9. MAINTAIN CURRENCY IN TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE • Many coatings no longer available: • new environmental laws • new worker health and safety laws • commercial decisions by paint manufacturers • paint manufacturers bought out or simply out of business NACE Eastern Area Conference

10. MAINTAIN CURRENCY IN TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE • New, high performance coatings: • chemical and moisture cures • packaged in single and multiple containers • storage, mixing and application control critical • products differ from system to system and manufacturer to manufacturer NACE Eastern Area Conference

11. MAINTAIN CURRENCY IN TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE • Specifier can no longer “cut and paste” specs and must: • understand the project service conditions • identify project environmental, application and other constraints which might affect coating selection • understand product-specific differences between coatings • Bad specs often lead to litigation and/or failed projects NACE Eastern Area Conference

12. MAINTAIN CURRENCY IN TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE • Continuing Education • critical to Specifier’s professional development • limited by tight budgets • push is on maximizing billable hours • employers must recognize that coatings are important construction materials the same as steel and concrete NACE Eastern Area Conference

13. COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS • Until the 1970’s: • Students took instruction in oral and written communication • Graduates joined employers and were placed in “Cadet Specifier” programs • Specifiers also participated in work-related programs such as Toastmasters® and community relations programs involving communications NACE Eastern Area Conference

14. COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS • After the 1970’s: • tight finances spelled the end of most of the Specifier development programs - graduates “hit the deck running” in their specialty discipline • colleges cut back on “3-R’s” courses • Coating Specifier slots non-existent in many companies - “Anybody can Paint!” NACE Eastern Area Conference

15. SUSTAIN AN AWARENESS OF SOCIAL CHANGES • Today’s Specifier must be aware of constraints on coatings work caused by regulations • Conflicts among local, state and Federal statutes • New coating materials have short histories • Health effects of coatings on workers and civilians better understood NACE Eastern Area Conference

16. SERVICES TO MEET THE GOALS OF ASSIGNMENT • Most common mistake made by Specifiers - specification doesn’t fulfill the client’s expectations • “Make sure that you understand what the client wants to accomplish and provide it via the specification” NACE Eastern Area Conference

17. SERVICES TO MEET THE GOALS OF ASSIGNMENT • Specifier’s Checklist: • 1. Role of the coating system in the context of the project (e.g., aesthetics, corrosion protection). • 2. What environment will the coating system see (e.g., atmospheric, immersion)? • 3. What site constraints exist (e.g., weather, time)? NACE Eastern Area Conference

18. SERVICES TO MEET THE GOALS OF ASSIGNMENT • Specifier’s Checklist (continued): • 4. Where will the coating work be performed (shop or site)? • 5. What project-specific environmental constraints exist (e.g., metal limits in coating)? • 6. How long is coating system expected to last? • 7. How much money is available to perform the work? NACE Eastern Area Conference

19. THE SPECIFIER’S ROLE IN THE FUTURE • The Specifier’s job will become even more complex in the future: • continuing changes in environmental laws • consolidation of coatings manufacturers • pressure to maximize billable hours • pressure on sales force to sell new coatings • retirement of coatings “Silver Backs” without cloning NACE Eastern Area Conference