Painting Standard Specifications for Enamel & Emulsion Painting Techniques

All paints to be used shall be those supplied by approved manufacturers. The quality of paints shall comply with MS 125 in respect of oil/ enamel paints and MS 134 in respect of emulsion paints/acrylic paint.

Prior to commencement of the painting work, the Contractor shall submit the following to the client/consultant:

i) Name of the paint manufacturer and the manufacturer’s certification that the paint conform to the relevant standard as specified hereof together with the proof that such certification have been verified by tests carried in the last three (3) years.

ii) A copy of method statement including procedure for the painting works in accordance with this Specification and manufacturer’s instruction.

Paints shall be delivered to the Site in the manufacturer’s original sealed containers unopened and shall be used strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Paints shall not be adulterated and any paint that has deteriorated shall not be used and shall be removed from the project site forthwith.

Unless otherwise stated in the Drawings, the types of paints to be used for the work on exposed surfaces shall be as stated in the “Schedule of Paint Finish”.

The colors and tints of paints shall be selected by the client and the priming, undercoats and finishing coats shall be of approved differing tints and shall be obtained from the same manufacturer.

No painting shall be done under conditions which may jeopardize the quality of finished paintwork.

During painting, care shall be taken to prevent stain or damage to other works.

Surfaces to be painted shall be dry, free from dirt, oil, grease, old loose paint and other deleterious matter.

All cracks shall be raked out and stopped and all holes and dents shall be filled.

Unless otherwise specified in the manufacturer’s instructions, each coat of paint applied on timber or metal surfaces shall be allowed to dry and subsequently rubbed down lightly with sandpaper before the next coat is applied.

Any dirt or dust shall be removed from preceding coats immediately before proceeding with application of the next coat.

Priming to shop fabricated components shall be done at the shop.

All prime surfaces shall be inspected and approved by the client before commencement of painting works.

Finished surfaces shall be uniform in finish and color and be free from brush marks or other defects.

Sample areas showing all tints of paints to be used shall be prepared by the Contractor as and when required by the client.

Painting to Timberwork

Painting to New Timberwork

Unless otherwise stated in the Drawings, all exposed wrot surfaces of timber shall be painted as specified hereinafter.

Before painting to new timberwork, all knots shall be covered with knotting and all nail holes, cracks, etc. shall be stopped with white lead and putty (1:3) and shall be primed with aluminium wood primer well brushed in.

The prepared surface shall be painted with one undercoat and unless otherwise specified, shall be finished with two coats of gloss enamel paint.

Each preceding coat shall be allowed to dry thoroughly and rubbed down lightly with fine sand paper and thoroughly cleaned before applying the next coat.

All timber surfaces abutting concrete or brickwork shall be primed before fixing or assembling.

All ironmongeries except hinges shall be removed before painting begins and shall be carefully refixed.

Repainting Existing Timberwork

Where repainting to existing timber work is specified, the following procedure shall be adhered to.

If the surface is intact, it shall be rubbed down with fine sand paper to the approval of the consultant/client.

Then one coat of undercoat shall be applied followed by two coats of gloss enamel paint unless otherwise specified.

Where cracking and flaking have occurred, the entire existing paint shall be removed by burning off or by use of paint remover as approved by the client.

The surface shall then be thoroughly cleaned and shall be applied with one coat aluminium wood primer followed by one undercoat and unless otherwise stated in the Drawings, shall be finished with two coats of gloss enamel paint.

Painting to Metalwork

Painting New Steel and Ironwork

The areas to be painted shall be cleaned down and be free from rust, scale, oil, grease, dirt and dust.

One coat of approved metallic primer shall be applied followed by one undercoat and unless otherwise specified, shall be finished with two coats of gloss enamel paint.

Soil and vent pipes shall be primed as above and given two coats of approved bituminous paint.

Repainting Existing Steel and Ironwork

Where repainting to existing steel or ironwork is stated in the Drawings, the following procedure shall be adhered to. Where a firm surface exists, it shall be scuffed with fine sand paper to the approval of the client and spot primed if necessary before the application of one undercoat and unless otherwise specified, shall be finished with two coats of gloss enamel paint.

If the old paint is in a bad, deteriorated condition the whole paint shall be removed by the use of approved paint remover or by scraping as approved by the client. The surface shall be thoroughly cleaned and shall be applied with one coat approved metallic primer, one undercoat and unless otherwise specified, shall be finished with two coats of gloss enamel paint.

Painting New Galvanized Ironwork

Where painting to new galvanized ironwork is specified, the surfaces shall be applied with one coat of approved self-etching quick drying metallic primer followed by one undercoat and unless otherwise specified, shall be finished with two coats of gloss enamel paint.

Repainting Existing Galvanized Ironwork

Where repainting to existing galvanized ironwork is specified, the following procedure shall be adhered to.

If the surface is not corroded, it shall be slightly sanded and all dirt’s, oil, and grease removed by washing with an approved solvent and applied with one coat approved metallic primer followed with one undercoat and unless otherwise specified, shall be finished with one coat of gloss enamel paint.

If the surface has corroded, the whole paint shall be removed by the use of approved paint remover or by scraping as approved by client.

When the surface is completely clean, it shall be applied with one coat approved metallic primer, one undercoat and unless otherwise specified, shall be finished with two coats of gloss enamel paint.

Painting to Masonry Work

Painting New Plastered/Masonry Surfaces

The new plastered or masonry surfaces shall be allowed to dry completely and shall be cleaned down to remove dust, dirt, plaster splashes, and the like. In case of old unpainted walls, all fungus, mosses, lichens and vegetative growth shall also be removed.

Cleaned surfaces shall then be applied with one coat approved alkali resisting primer sealer and, unless otherwise stated in the Drawings, followed with two coats of emulsion paint.

Repainting Existing Plastered or Masonry Surfaces

Where repainting to existing plastered or the masonry surface is specified, the following procedure shall be adhered to.

If existing paintwork is still intact, the surfaces shall be washed down and applied with two coats of emulsion paint.

If the existing paintwork is loose or chalky, the paint shall be removed by scraping and the surface shall be washed.

All cracks and other imperfections shall be made good and the surface allowed to dry completely.

The surface shall then be applied with one coat approved alkali resisting primer sealer and, unless otherwise stated in the Drawings, followed with two coats of emulsion paint.

Where shown in the Drawings, acrylic paint to MS 134 shall be applied on new or existing surfaces such as brickwork, plaster and cement rendering in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Acrylic painting work shall be carried out by painting applicator approved by approved manufacturer.

Prior to commencement of the painting work, the Contractor shall submit to the client the following:

i) The paint’s performance warranty by the manufacturer to the Government on the performance of the paint against any peeling, cracking, fungus/ algae growth and discoloration which may arise during a period of three (3) years from the date of practical completion due to insufficiency in material or workmanship. The terms and conditions of the warranty shall be as stipulated in specifications.

ii) Name of the painting applicator approved by the manufacturer including written evidence of the current approval.

Treatment to Fair Surfaces

Surfaces that are to be left bare such as for fair-face brickwork, fair-face concrete or stones and the like shall be thoroughly clean, dry and free from grease, dust and loose or flaking materials.

The surfaces shall then be treated with an approved colorless silicon based water repellant liquid to BS 6477 applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Solution shall be applied in two coats over the entire area and crevices by brushing.

Painting to Timber-Based Products

Chipboard Surfaces

Before painting, all nail holes, crevices and the like shall be stopped with white lead and putty (1:3).

The surface shall then be smoothened by rubbing down with fine sand paper and finally cleaned to remove dust.

Where the board is to be finished with enamel paint, one undercoat and two finishing coats of gloss enamel paint shall be applied.

If the board is to be finished with emulsion paint, two coats of emulsion paint shall be applied.

Where repainting to existing enamel paint finished chipboard is required, the following procedure shall be adhered to.

If the paintwork is still intact, it shall be rubbed down with fine sand paper to the approval of the client. Then one coat of undercoat shall be applied followed by one coat of gloss enamel paint.

Where cracking and flaking has occurred, the entire existing paint shall be removed by burning off, as approved by the client.

The surface shall then be thoroughly cleaned and shall be applied with one undercoat and finished with two coats of gloss enamel paint.

Where repainting to existing emulsion paint finished chipboard is required, the surface shall then be thoroughly cleaned and applied with two coats of emulsion paint.

Painting Hardboard Surfaces

Before painting to hardboard, all nail holes, crevices and the like shall be filled with approved putty. The surface shall then be applied with two coats of emulsion paint unless otherwise specified.

Wood Cement Board Surfaces

Before painting to wood cement board, all nail holes, crevices and the like shall be filled with approved filling compound of alkali resistant type.

The surface shall then be lightly sanded and any dust should be removed from the surface with a piece of clean, coarse cloth.

Surface shall then be applied with two coats of emulsion paint unless otherwise specified.

Painting to Gypsum Board and The Like

Before painting the surfaces shall be clean and free from dirt. The surfaces shall then be applied with two coats of emulsion paint. Similar procedure shall be followed where repainting to existing painted surfaces is required.

Painting to Laboratory Bench Tops

Timber tops of benches in laboratories that are required to be painted shall be prepared as described hereinbefore for timberwork.

The surfaces shall then be applied with one coat aluminium wood primer followed by one coat approved chemical resistant primer and finished with two coats of approved chemical resistant gloss enamel paint in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Where repainting to existing timber tops laboratory benches is required, the surfaces shall be rubbed down lightly with fine sand paper. The surfaces shall then be thoroughly cleaned and shall be applied with one coat of approved chemical resistant primer followed by one coat of approved chemical resistant gloss enamel paint.

Varnishing to New Timberwork

The surfaces to be varnished shall be smoothened with fine sand paper and all crevices, holes and the like, if any, shall be filled with approved whiting. It shall be clean, dry, free from dust, dirt and wax before the application of varnish.

Unless otherwise approved by the client, the surfaces shall be applied with two coats of approved varnishing mixture used strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Where non patented products are allowed to be used, the varnishing mixture shall consists of methylated spirit, shellac and approved stain forming the first coat followed by one coat of an approved mixture consisting of thinner and lacquer.

The mixtures shall be of uniform consistency throughout. Unless otherwise stated in the Drawings, the finish shall be gloss.

Revarnishing to Existing Timberwork

Where revarnishing to timberwork is stated in the Drawings or described in the Bills of Quantities, the surface shall first be thoroughly scuffed to remove the existing varnish.

The surface shall then be smoothened with fine sand paper, cleaned, dried and free from dust, dirt and wax.

It shall then be varnished as described above for new timberwork.

Completion of Painting Work

On completion of paintwork, all paint marks inadvertently left on glass, floors, tiles and other surfaces shall be removed.

Any stain or marking on finished paintwork shall be removed and touched up to the approval of the consultant/client.

Warranty of Painting Works

Paint Manufacturer shall warrant that for a period of three (3) years from the date of Practical Completion, the paint system shall not be affected by the following defects:

• Peeling: This condition is manifested when the paint film peels away or detaches from the substrate
• Cracking:  This condition is manifested by any visible cracking on the paint film other than that caused by plastering cracks and structural defects.
• Fungus/Algae Growth: This condition is established when there is growth of micro organisms on the surface of paint films which results in the marring of the appearance of the paint film through discoloration.
• Discoloration: This condition occurs when the coating loses its original color in patches and excessive discoloration appears.

In the event of the occurrence of any defects covered under this warranty the Manufacturer shall take rectification action at his own cost.