Abstract
This presentation will discuss current accelerated testing methods used to approve coatings used on wind tower foundations, towers and other related equipment. The presenter will discuss global coating standards used for system selection, and the presenter will provide potential system upgrades and efforts to allow for extending coating life expectancy to first major maintenance activity. Additional information on related experiences of other industries in environments such as onshore and offshore will be discussed.
Further material regarding the protective coating process and what constitutes the coating system will also be presented. Additional topics of discussion will be surface preparation, coating application and curing times in varying ambient environmental conditions, and what factors can ensure best service life of the coating. If any rework should be required as a result of material handling, transportation and tower erection - what are the best practices to ensure that touch-up areas have a similar life expectancy and are not visible to the observer.
Lastly, the presenter will discuss that while protective coatings are a small part of the overall budget (and one of the last items to be considered), poor choice of design life, materials, application, and inspection efforts can result in huge repair costs during the life of the wind tower.
