SSPC-PS 27.

00
June 1, 2000
Editorial Revisions November 1, 2004

SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings

COATING SYSTEM NO. 27.00

Alkyd Coating System Materials Specication,
Performance-Based
1. Scope
1.1 This specication covers the requirements for an airdrying solvent-based alkyd coating system consisting of two or
more coats of alkyd intended for use over blast cleaned steel
(See Note 13.1.). The specication covers both the system
and the individual coating requirements. The requirements are
based primarily on the performance of the coating system.
1.2 The coating system is suitable for exposure in Environmental Zones 1A (interior, normally dry), 1B (exterior, normally
dry), 2A (frequently wet by fresh water, excluding immersion),
and 2B (frequently wet by salt water, excluding immersion)
(See Note 13.2.). The coating system is classied according
to the drying time (fast, medium, slow) of the slowest drying
coating layer.

Industrial Coating Systems in Computerized Product Databases

PA 1
Shop, Field, and Maintenance Painting
of Steel
PA 2
Measurement of Dry Coating Thickness
with Magnetic Gages
SP 1
Solvent Cleaning
SP 5/NACE No. 1 White Metal Blast Cleaning
VIS 2
Standard Method of Evaluating Degree
of Rusting on Painted Steel Surfaces
3.4 AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND
MATERIALS (ASTM) STANDARDS:
A 36
A 607

2. Description
2.1 This multi-coat alkyd coating system specication
does not cover coating systems comprised of water-reducible
alkyds.
2.2 DRYING TIME: The coating system shall be classied as Type 1 (fast drying), Type 2 (medium drying), or Type
3 (slow drying). See Section 6.4 regarding test methods and
criteria for drying time.

D 522
D 523
* D 562

D 714
2.3 FINISH COAT GLOSS: The nish coat shall be
designated as at, semigloss, or gloss in accordance with
Section 7.3.

* D 823

3. Referenced Standards

* D 1296

3.1 The latest issue, revision, or amendment of the

referenced standards in effect on the date of invitation to bid
shall govern, unless otherwise specied. Standards marked
with an asterisk (*) are referenced only in the Notes, which
are not requirements of this specication.

* D 1475

3.2 If there is a conict between the requirements of any

of the cited referenced standards and this specication, the
requirements of this specication shall prevail.

D 1640

D 1654

* D 2369

3.3 SSPC STANDARDS AND JOINT STANDARDS:

Guide 13

* D 1535

Guide for the Identication and Use of

5-157

* D 2371

Standard Specication for Carbon Structural

Steel
Standard Specication for Steel, Sheet and
Strip, High-Strength, Low-Alloy, Columbium
or Vanadium, or Both, Hot-Rolled and ColdRolled (Withdrawn 2000; Replaced by A1008
and A1011/A1011M)
Standard Test Methods for Mandrel Bend
Test of Attached Organic Coatings
Standard Test Method for Specular Gloss
Standard Test Method for Consistency of
Paints Measuring Krebs Unit (KU) Viscosity
Using a Stormer-type Viscometer
Standard Test Method for Evaluating Degree
of Blistering of Paints
Standard Practices for Producing Films of
Uniform Thickness of Paint, Varnish, and
Related Products on Test Panels
Standard Test Method for Odor of Volatile
Solvents and Diluents
Standard Test Method for Density of Liquid
Coatings, Inks, and Related Products
Standard Practice for Specifying Color by
the Munsell System
Standard Test Methods for Drying, Curing,
or Film Formation of Organic Coatings at
Room Temperature
Standard Test Method for Evaluation of
Painted or Coated Specimens Subjected
to Corrosive Environments
Standard Test Method for Volatile Content
of Coatings
Standard Test Method for Pigment Content

SSPC-PS 27.00
June 1, 2000
Editorial Revisions November 1, 2004

* D 2621

D 3359
D 3363
D 3925
D 4417

D 4585

D 4940

D 5894

of Solvent-Reducible Paints
Standard Test Method for Infrared Identication of Vehicle Solids from SolventReducible Paints
Standard Test Methods for Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test
Standard Test Method for Film Hardness by
Pencil Test
Standard Practice for Sampling Liquid Paints
and Related Pigmented Coatings
Standard Test Methods for Field Measurement of Surface Prole of Blast Cleaned
Steel
Standard Practice for Testing the Water
Resistance of Coatings Using Controlled
Condensation
Standard Test Method for Conductimetric
Analysis of Water-Soluble Ionic Contamination of Blasting Abrasives
Standard Practice for Cyclic Salt Fog/UV
Exposure of Painted Metal, (Alternating
Exposures in a Fog/Dry Cabinet and a
UV/Condensation Cabinet)

3.5 AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE

(ANSI) STANDARD:
Z129.1

Hazardous Industrial ChemicalsPrecautionary Labeling

3.6 FEDERAL SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS:

FED-STD-141 Paint, Varnish, Lacquer and Related Materials:
Methods of Inspection, Sampling and Testing
Method 3011
Method 3021
Method 4321
Method 4331
Method 4541

Condition in Container
Skinning (Partially Filled Container)
Brushing Properties
Spraying Properties
Working Properties and Appearance of
Dried Film

4. Composition Requirements of Coating

4.1 RESIN REQUIREMENT: The resin component (nonvolatile vehicle) shall be a minimum of 50% by weight of alkyd.
An alkyd resin is dened as a resin system primarily derived
from the esterication reaction product of a polyhydric alcohol
and a polybasic acid, fatty acid, or oil. The specication permits
latitude to the coating supplier in the choice of alkyd resins.
Modied alkyd resins, including cross reaction products with
other common resin forming polymers, are allowed. These
include, but are not restricted to, urethane modied alkyd
resins and alkyd phenolic resins(See Note 13.3.).

4.2 PIGMENT REQUIREMENT: Lead or chromate based

pigments are prohibited (See Note 13.4.).

5. Standard Testing Conditions

5.1 ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS: When testing the paint
and its application, the temperature under which it is applied
and cured shall be 23 2C (73.5 3.5F).
5.2 SUBSTRATE: The hot rolled steel test panels shall
conform to ASTM A 670, Grade 50 (See Note 13.5.).
5.3 TEST PANELS: Steel test panels measuring 75 mm
x 150 mm x 3.2 mm (3 inch x 6 inch x 1/8 inch) or greater shall
be blast cleaned to SSPC-SP 5/NACE No. 1. Test panels shall
be solvent cleaned in accordance with SSPC-SP 1 prior to blast
cleaning. The type of blast media shall be clearly identied and
have conductivity less than 100 S per ASTM D 4940. The
panels shall have a nominal anchor pattern of 50 25 m (2.0
1.0 mils) per ASTM D 4417.
5.4 APPLICATION: Apply the paint at the atmospheric
conditions described in Section 5.1 in accordance with SSPC-PA
1 by spray to the front of the test panels. (See Note 13.6.) The
number of coats shall be selected to match the manufacturers
recommendations.
5.5 DRY FILM THICKNESS: The dry lm thickness (DFT)
shall be within the manufacturers written recommended range
per coat and shall not exceed the stated minimum by more
than 25 micrometers (1 mil). If there is no recommended lm
thickness, then the thickness shall be 50 13 micrometers
(2.0 0.5 mils) per coat. The lm thickness shall be measured
in accordance with SSPC-PA 2 (See Note 13.7.).
5.6 CURE: Prior to any exposure testing, all panels shall
be cured for a minimum of 14 and a maximum of 30 days at
16 to 27C (60 to 80F) and 35 to 65% relative humidity after
application of the nal coat.
5.7 SCRIBING: Scribe two parallel lines on the face of
the coated panels so as to expose the underlying metal before
testing. The lines shall be at least 1.2 cm (0.5 inch) from the
edge, the top, and the bottom of each panel and at least 5
cm (2 inches) from each other. Each scribe shall be at least 6
cm (2.4 inches) long. The scribes may run vertically or at an
angle across the face of the panel. Follow the scribe-making
procedure described in ASTM D 1654.

6. Requirements of Liquid Coating

6.1 WORKING PROPERTIES: The paint shall be easily
applied by brush, roller, or spray when tested in accordance
with FED-STD-141, Methods 4321, 4331, and 4541. The paint
shall show no streaking, running, or sagging during application

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SSPC-PS 27.00
June 1, 2000
Editorial Revisions November 1, 2004
or while drying.

sion shall occur between coats.

6.2 CONDITION IN CONTAINER: The paint shall show

no thickening, curdling, gelling, or hard caking when tested
as specied in FED-STD-141, Method 3011, after storage for
six months from the date of delivery, in a full, tightly covered
container, at a temperature of 10 to 43C (50 to 110F).

7.4 ADHESION: Prepare one panel in accordance with

Sections 5.1 through 5.6. Perform the adhesion tape test in
accordance with ASTM D 3359 at three different locations on
the panel. Each test shall have a rating of 5A or 5B. For lms
thicker than 125 m (5 mils), use Test Method A of ASTM D
3359.

6.3 SKINNING: There shall be no skinning in a threequarters lled closed container after 48 hours when tested
in the standard manner specied in FED-STD-141, Method
3021.
6.4 DRYING TIME
6.4.1 Drying time for each coating shall be the dry-hard
time as measured in accordance with ASTM D 1640. The
coating system shall be classied according to the maximum
drying time of the slowest drying coating as follows:
6.4.2 Type 1 Fast Drying: Less than or equal to 8
hours

8. Accelerated Laboratory Weathering Tests

8.1 CONDENSING HUMIDITY CABINET TEST: Prepare
triplicate panels in accordance with Sections 5.1 through 5.6.
Expose the panels for 500 hours in a condensation cabinet in
accordance with ASTM D 4585.
8.1.1 Rust Evaluation: After 500 hours, each of the replicates shall have a minimum rust rating of 9 per SSPC-VIS
2.
8.1.2 Blister Evaluation: After 500 hours, blister ratings
for each of the three specimens shall be no worse than No. 8
Few per ASTM D 714. (See Note 13.8.)

6.4.3 Type 2 Medium Drying: 9 to 16 hours

6.4.4 Type 3 Slow Drying: 17 to 36 hours

7. Laboratory Physical Tests of Applied Films

7.1 FLEXIBILITY OF COATING SYSTEM: Prepare
three test panels in accordance with Sections 5.1, 5.4, 5.5,
and 5.6. The substrate shall be cold rolled strip 0.8 mm (1/32
inch) (22 gage) thick. Surface preparation shall be SSPC-SP
1. Recommended panel size is 100 mm x 150 mm (4 inch x
6 inch). Test triplicate panels in accordance with ASTM D
522. The elongation of each panel shall be a minimum of 28
percent using Test Method A or, if Test Method B is used, each
replicate panel must exhibit no cracking when bent over a 3.2
mm (1/8 inch) diameter mandrel.
7.2 HARDNESS OF COATING SYSTEM: Prepare three
test panels in accordance with Sections 5.1, 5.4, and 5.5. The
substrate shall be any suitable thin gage [minimum 1.6 mm
(1/16 inch)] steel panels. Surface preparation shall be SSPC-SP
1. Each panel shall exhibit minimum pencil hardness of 3B in
accordance with ASTM D 3363 after 30 days air-dry at ambient
temperature following the application of the nal coat.
7.3 GLOSS: The specular gloss of the nish coat shall
be tested in accordance with ASTM D 523. A at alkyd nish
coat shall have a maximum 85 degree specular gloss of 10.
A semigloss alkyd nish coat shall have a 60 degree specular
gloss between 30 and 60. A gloss alkyd nish coat shall have
a 60 degree specular gloss greater than 60. Gloss of the primer
and the intermediate coats shall be such that adequate adhe-

8.2 CYCLIC SALT FOG/UV EXPOSURE TEST: Prepare

triplicate panels in accordance with Section 5. Coat and seal
all edges and the back side of each panel with a coating or
masking that will provide the necessary protection to these
surfaces. Expose the panels in accordance with ASTM D 5894
for 1008 hours (6 weeks).
8.2.1 Rust Evaluation: After 1008 hours, each test panel
shall have a minimum rust rating of 9 per SSPC-VIS 2.
8.2.2 Blister Evaluation: After 1008 hours, each test
panel shall have a blister rating of 10 (no blisters) per ASTM
D 714.
8.2.3 Scribe Undercutting Evaluation: After 1008
hours, measure the maximum undercutting from the center
of the scribe at any point along the scribe on both sides of
each scribe. Each scribe will thus provide two data points: the
maximum undercutting on the right side of the scribe and the
maximum undercutting on the left side of the scribe. Three
replicate panels, each with two scribes, will provide 12 data
points. Compute the mean (average), x', and the standard deviation, s, of these 12 data points. The scribe undercutting test
parameter, U, is the mean plus two standard deviations (U = x'
+ 2s). The scribe undercutting test parameter, U, rounded to
the nearest millimeter, shall be less than or equal to 12 mm.

9. Material Quality Assurance

9.1 If the user chooses, tests may be used to determine
the acceptability of a lot or batch of a qualied coating (See

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SSPC-PS 27.00
June 1, 2000
Editorial Revisions November 1, 2004
Note 13.9.).
13.2 SSPC Environmental Zones covered in this specication are as follows:

10. Labeling
10.1 Labeling shall conform to ANSI Z129.1.

Zone 1A:

10.2 Technical data shall be provided for at least all data

elements categorized as "essential" in SSPC-Guide 13.

11. Inspection
11.1 All coatings supplied under this specication are
subject to timely inspection by the purchaser or his authorized
representative. The purchaser shall have the right to reject
any materials supplied which are found to be defective under
this specication. (See Note 13.9.) In case of dispute, unless
otherwise specied, the arbitration or settlement procedure
established in the procurement documents shall be followed.
If no arbitration or settlement procedure is established, then a
procedure mutually agreeable to purchaser, material supplier,
and contractor shall be used.
11.2 Samples of paints under this painting system may
be requested by the purchaser and shall be supplied upon
request along with the manufacturers name and identication for the materials. Samples may be requested at the time
the purchase order is placed or may be taken from unopened
containers at the job site.
11.3 Unless otherwise specied, the sampling shall be in
accordance with ASTM D 3925.

12. Disclaimer
12.1 While every precaution is taken to ensure that all
information furnished in SSPC standards and specications is
as accurate, complete, and useful as possible, SSPC cannot
assume responsibility nor incur any obligation resulting from
the use of any materials, coatings, or methods specied herein,
or of the specication or standard itself.
12.2 This specication does not attempt to address problems concerning safety associated with its use. The user of this
specication, as well as the user of all products or practices
described herein, is responsible for instituting appropriate
health and safety practices and for insuring compliance with
all governmental regulations.

Interior, normally dry (or temporary protection). Very mild (oil base coatings now last
six years or more).
Zone 1B:
Exteriors, normally dry (includes most areas
where oil base coatings now last six years
or more).
Zone 2A*:
Frequently wet by fresh water. Involves
condensation, splash, or spray. (Oil base
coatings now last ve years or less.)
Zone 2B*:
Frequently wet by salt water. Involves
condensation, splash, or spray. (Oil base
coatings now last three years or less.)
* Zones 2A and 2B have been modied to exclude
immersion.
13.3 VOC Content: Each coating, after recommended
thinning, must conform to published government regulations
regarding volatile organic compound (VOC) content. VOC
information should be supplied on the label or the technical
data sheet. Various governmental agencies may have different
VOC limits or use different methods of testing. The owner may
modify this specication as necessary to specify a particular
VOC content consistent with local regulations. Coatings
meeting the composition and performance requirements of
this specication usually have a maximum VOC level of 450
g/L (3.8 lb/gal).
13.4 Methods of cleaning considered better than SSPC-SP
6/NACE No. 3 include SSPC-SP 5/NACE No. 1 and SSPC-SP
10/NACE No. 2. In some instances, SSPC-SP 12/NACE No.
5 and SSPC-SP 11 have been shown to perform comparably
with SSPC-SP 6/NACE No. 3. Pickled surfaces (SSPC-SP 8)
and surfaces cleaned by water jetting (SSPC-SP 12/NACE No.
5) may not have a sufciently high prole or surface roughness
to meet the coating manufacturers requirement.
13.5 ASTM A 36 steel is frequently used; however, the
specier should be aware that ASTM A 36 steel may vary in
chemical composition and hardness, which can affect blast
prole and corrosion resistance.
13.6 Standard practices for automatic spray machine
application as well as for hand held spray gun application are
given in ASTM D 823.

13. Notes
Notes are not requirements of this specication.
13.1 The alkyd coating system described may be suitable
on hand cleaned steel. Consult manufacturer for performance
or other data supporting this usage.

13.7 Coating thickness measurement by the technique

described in SSPC-PA 2 compensates for variation in surface
prole and results in the coating thickness being measured
above the magnetic average of the peaks of the anchor
pattern.

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SSPC-PS 27.00
June 1, 2000
Editorial Revisions November 1, 2004
13.8 Smaller size blisters are not considered to be as
detrimental as larger blisters. Hence, a rating of No. 8 Few
would be better than a rating of No. 6 Few.
13.9 QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTS: The quality assurance tests are used to determine whether the supplied products
are of the same type and quality as those originally tested and
certied for acceptance. The selected tests should accurately
and rapidly measure the physical and chemical characteristics
of the coating necessary to verify that the supplied material is
substantially the same as the previously accepted material.
All of the quality assurance tests must be performed on the
originally submitted qualication sample. The results of these
tests are used to establish pass/fail criteria for quality
assurance testing of supplied products.
13.9.1 Establishing Quality Assurance Acceptance
Criteria: Many ASTM test methods contain precision and bias
statements. Specication developers should be cognizant of
the fact that these statements exist. Quality assurance test
criteria should not be more stringent than the interlaboratory
precision of the test methods used. For example a common
quality assurance test is weight per gallon as measured by
ASTM D 1475. The interlaboratory reproducibility at the 95%
condence level tells us that any two measurements that differ
by more than 1.8% should be considered suspect. This only
represents the precision of the measurement technique and
does not account for normal variances in the manufactured
product. A reasonable estimate for this batch to batch variance
might be 2%. The batch to batch variance and the potential
variance attributable to the measurement technique are additive. A paint that was originally accepted with a weight per
gallon of 10 pounds would therefore be acceptable within the
range 9.62 to 10.38 pounds per gallon (10 + 3.8%).
Example: A common quality assurance test is density
(weight per gallon) as measured by ASTM D 1475. The interlaboratory reproducibility at the 95% condence level tells us
that because of errors associated with the method, any two
measurements of the same material can differ by as much
as 1.8%, without the measurements being considered suspect. This only represents the precision of the measurement
technique and does not account for normal variances in the
manufactured product.
The acceptable range for paint density must be stated. For
example, a composition specication may state this requirement as 10.0 0.2 lb/gal, 10.0 lb/gal 2%, or as a range from
9.8 to 10.2 lb/gal. The manufacturer of proprietary products
should provide this information. Using these values, if the
manufacturers lab measures the density to be 9.8 lb/gal, the
product meets the specication and the paint is shipped to the
job. Because of the lab to lab variation of 1.8%, the users lab
may measure the density of this sample to be as low as 9.8
less 1.8% of 9.8 (equals 9.6) lb/gal. Similarly for the high end,
the manufacturer may measure density of 10.2 lb/gal while the
user measures 10.2 plus 1.8% of 10.2 (equals 10.4) lb/gal. The
pass/fail criteria for the user to accept a batch of paint should

therefore be 9.6 to 10.4 lb/gal.

Where precision and bias data are not available for a given
test method, determine the standard deviation of a minimum
of ve measurements taken on the originally tested and certied material. The pass/fail criterion is that the measurement
of the test sample shall fall within two standard deviations
of the target value. The contracting parties must agree on a
target value.
13.9.2 Recommended Quality Assurance Tests:
Recommended quality assurance tests include but are not
limited to, infrared analysis (ASTM D 2621), viscosity (ASTM
D 562), weight per gallon (ASTM D 1475), total solids (ASTM
D 2369), dry time (ASTM D 1640), percent pigment (ASTM D
2371), gloss (ASTM D 523), color (ASTM D 1535), condition
in container (Fed. Std. 141, Method 3011), and odor (ASTM
D 1296).
13.10 The procurement documents should establish the
responsibility for samples, testing, and any required afdavit
certifying full compliance with the specication.
13.11. Table 1 gives a summary of the various tests
required in this specication.

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SSPC-PS 27.00
June 1, 2000
Editorial Revisions November 1, 2004

TABLE 1
Summary of Tests
Test

PS 27.00
Section

ASTM
Substrate
Standard

Panel Size
(minimum)

No. of
Panels

100 x 150 m
(4 x 6 in)

Minimum Criteria

Laboratory Physical Tests

Flexibility

7.1

D 522

thin gage
steel

minimum 28% elongation

(Method A)
pass 3.2 mm (1/8 in) mandrel
bend (Method B)

Hardness

7.2

D 3363

thin gage
steel

varies

3B pencil hardness

Gloss

7.3

D 523

thin gage
steel

varies

at85O specular gloss 10 maxium

semigloss60O specular gloss 30 to 60
gloss60O specular gloss over 60

Adhesion

7.4

D 3359

blast
cleaned
steel

75 x 150 x 3.2 mm
(3 x 6 x 1/8 in)

Rust, Blister,
SSPC- ASTM D
VIS 2
714
Scribe*

Accelerated Laboratory Weathering Tests

Condensing
Humidity (500 h)

Cyclic Salt
Fog/UV (1008 h)

8.1

8.2

5A for Method A
5B for Method B

D 4585

blast
cleaned
steel

75 x 150 x 3.2 mm
(3 x 6 x 1/8 in)

8 Few

none

D 5894

blast
cleaned
steel

75 x 150 x 3.2 mm
(3 x 6 x 1/8 in)

10 (no
blisters)

U
12mm

*Scribe undercutting parameter U = xI + 2s where xI is the mean maximum undercutting and s is the standard deviation

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