Blasting painting coating/wrapping

 BLASTING, PAINTING/COATING AND WRAPPING  

Contractors shall refer to ADNOC HSE Standard, HSE-OS-ST18 for details and necessary compliance. 

Minimum Requirements  

Contractors shall conduct Blasting, Painting, Coating and Wrapping activities by implementing necessary precautions and without hampering the neighbouring activities.  

Contractors shall conduct Blasting, Painting, Coating and Wrapping activities as per the ADNOC Group standards/procedures. Equipment and personnel involved in these activities shall be certified and approved as per the ADNOC Group procedures.   

Areas allocated to shot blasting of loose equipment shall be fenced to prevent access by unauthorized personnel. Exclusion zone must be defined to restrict movement of personnel.   

Blasting and painting, coating areas shall have adequate warning signs posted. Safety habitat protection is recommended post introduction of hydrocarbons during hot works.   

Only non-silica shot blasting medium shall be used. Exhausts shall be fitted with ADNOC Group approved spark arrestors when working in restricted areas.  

Paints or coatings containing lead application shall not be used in any ADNOC Group installation, whether industrial, domestic or in administrative buildings.  

Specific stores of fire resistant construction shall be provided for the storage of solvents, paints, coatings and shall conform to the guidance for handling and storage as laid down in the NFPA practice.  

Wherever possible, blasting and painting activities shall be conducted indoors, with suitable ventilation. It is strictly forbidden to use instrument/service air networks of facilities for breathing purpose. A dedicated supply breathing air system must be used. Grit blasting personnel shall be supplied with dust, oil and water free breathing air, through filters that are inspected and replaced as per ADNOC Group procedures and manufacturer recommendations.  

Blasting and painting is not allowed at night. Wrapping material shall be stored in a shaded area away from sun light.  

PPE including RPE used for Blasting, Painting, and Coating operations shall be approved as per the ADNOC Group requirements.  

Contractors must ensure regular inspection and maintenance for PPE.  

ABRASIVE BLASTING EQUIPMENT  

All the equipment/connections used for the activity shall be suitable for hazardous area and be in line with ADNOC Control of Temporary Equipment in Classified Hazardous Areas Standards   

Air Compressors and Blast Pots   

▪ All valves shall be of a rating equivalent to that of the pressure vessel and be correctly attached;  

▪ A calibrated/certified safety relief valve shall be fitted on the compressor or air supply system and regularly checked;   

▪ The Pressure Vessels, shall be of materials that do not react with chemicals and rust, and shall be inspected annually to determine their validity by a competent person who is licensed by the Labour Directorate of UAE,   

▪ preparing a report at each inspection;   

▪ The rated working pressure shall never be exceeded as this may lead to explosion;   

▪ A muffler shall be attached to blast pots to minimize the noise from escaping air when the machine is depressurized;   

▪ Drip tray under compressor shall be provided (where required);  

▪ Planned inspection and routine maintenance shall be carried out by a competent person as per manufacturer’s recommendation.

 Nozzle  

▪ Where dry blasting is being conducted, an efficient means for the discharge of static electrical charge from the blast nozzle and the object being blasted shall be provided  

▪ The nozzle lining and threads shall be checked for wear and damage.   

Dead Man Controls:  

▪ Abrasive blasting equipment shall be fitted with an automatic cut-off device (dead man control) near 

the blast nozzle so that it is under direct control of the nozzle operator to quickly stop the flow of 

abrasive material to the nozzle  

▪ Deadman controls (especially the lever) shall be inspected and tested several times each working day.   

Blast Hoses-Hose Whips and Couplings  

▪ Hoses shall be constructed with anti-static rubber linings or fitted with an earth wire or similar mechanism to prevent electric shock  

▪ The rated working pressure of a blast hose shall not be exceeded  

▪ The hose from the pot to the blast nozzle shall be kept as straight as possible. In situations where a hose needs to be curved around an object, a long radius curve to be used. The use of sharp curves may create rapid wear on the hose, leading to the possibility of the hose malfunctioning  

▪ Hose coupling safety locks (with safety pins) and hose whip checks; and   

▪ Hoses, hose whips and couplings shall be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the  manufacturer’s recommendation.  

A spray booth shall be used when spray painting with a hazardous chemical, except when:   

▪ The shape, size or weight of an article cannot be easily moved or fit into a spray booth

▪  The painting involves minor work such as spotting or touch-ups  

Spray booths shall:   

▪ Be fitted with an exhaust capture system and a ventilation system that includes a filter for removing airborne contaminants  

▪ Have ventilation systems capable of producing a minimum air movement  

▪ Be inspected at regular intervals and maintained according to manufacturer’s recommendation; and   

▪ A pre-purge cycle to remove any residue contaminants and also operate a minimum of a 5 minute post-purge period following spraying.

Ventilation System   

The purpose of ventilation is to:   

▪ Draw overspray away from the personnel  

▪ Control flammable and hazardous vapours

 ▪  Collect vapours, droplets and solid particles; and 

 ▪  Filter or wash the air before it is discharged.   

The ventilation shall be sufficient to prevent the formation of dangerous concentrations of flammable vapors. As a rule, the maximum flammable concentration in a spray booth or spray space during normal operation shall not exceed 25% of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL).  

When spray painting outside a spray booth or outdoors, a spray painting exclusion zone shall be designated around the area where the spray painting is carried out. In general, the exclusion zone shall, as far as is reasonably practicable, have at least six meters horizontal and two meters vertical clearance above and below the place where the paint is being applied.   

SPRAYING IN CONFINED SPACES   

Spraying is often used to apply coatings to the inside of storage tanks, vessels and other enclosed rooms and spaces. In an unventilated enclosure, a harmful vapor concentration may be formed within a few seconds of starting spraying, and a flammable atmosphere within a few minutes.   

ADNOC Confined Space Standard shall be followed for working under these conditions. As a minimum the following shall be considered:   

▪ Mechanical exhaust ventilation shall be provided to ensure that the concentration in all parts of the confined space is at a safe level. The maximum concentration of flammable vapors shall be identified in the permit in line with the requirements of ADNOC Permit to Work Standards;  

▪ It is essential that any increase in the flammable vapors concentration above the specified limit is detected immediately since personnel wearing breathing apparatus and protective clothing may not be aware of increasing levels of vapors;    

▪ Vapors from spraying are likely to accumulate at floor level so extraction at this level is essential;   

▪ The discharge point shall be situated in a safe place away from any building, work area or source of ignition;   

▪ Continuous gas monitoring is recommended although periodic check measurements may be sufficient, once the effectiveness of the ventilation system has been confirmed; and  

▪ It is important to maintain the ventilation within the confined space until the coating is dry so that there is no further risk of a flammable atmosphere 

Storage of paints and solvents  

Stores shall be of a fire resistant construction and shall conform to the guidance for handling and storage as laid down in the NFPA-30.  

Automatic fire detection shall be installed in flammable liquid storage linked to audible alarms.

All paint storage facilities/activity shall be classified as hazardous area and all the fitting shall be in line with ADNOC Control of Temporary Equipment in Classified Hazardous Areas Standards.  

Paint shall be stored in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendation and any stipulations set out in SDS.