The paper chronicles and discusses the challenges, options, choices and solutions from the design phase through the actual blast cleaning and painting of one of the most unique steel structures in the world, the largest radio telescope at Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Challenges included: almost daily thunder storms, a truss structure consists of 900 tons of steel elevated on cables approximately 450 feet above an 18 acre aluminum dish, penalties for dropping anything, access from only a single suspended 700 ft walkway, limitations on weight distribution and weight loads, removal of lead and mill scale in total containment, structural limitations affecting containment installation, protection of numerous delicate wires, cables, sensors and other equipment, locating/importing equipment, bureaucratic requirements, and more.

Subject
Steel structures, Paint removal, Protective coatings, Coatings, Materials, Containment, Ventilation, Cables, Steel, Contractors, Corrosion protection, Maintenance, Coating systems
© 2008 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. This work is protected by both domestic and international copyright laws. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
2008
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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