AASHTO PP 55-06 (2012) PDF Download

The AASHTO PP 55-06 (2012) standard is designed to provide a field testing program for evaluating the performance of protective coatings on previously painted steel structures. The purpose of this program is to enable end users to make informed decisions about the maintenance overcoating of these structures.

Maintenance overcoating refers to the practice of cleaning and painting over an existing coating that is largely intact but has areas of corrosion or peeling paint in need of repair. This process typically involves spot preparation of corroded areas, feathering edges of existing paint, power washing the entire structure, priming bare or repaired areas, applying an intermediate coat, and, optionally, applying a topcoat.

The field testing program evaluates the performance of protective coatings under different surface preparation conditions, including hand tool cleaning, conventional power tool cleaning, power tool cleaning to bare metal, and industrial blast cleaning. The coatings are applied to existing painted steel surfaces on bridges or salvaged bridge beams and are evaluated annually for a period of three years, unless otherwise agreed.

It is important to note that the field testing program must comply with applicable local, state, and national regulations for environmental and worker protection. While this document does not provide specific references to these regulations, it is expected that compliance with them is standard practice in the bridge painting industry.