Aspects of normal industrial maintenance painting such as surface preparation, coating selection, application methods, and safety considerations are subject to entirely different rules when placed within the confines of an energized, high-voltage substation. With utilities and industries attempting to obtain maximum use of their systems, transmission and distribution apparatus are being pushed to the limits of their designed service life. Properly engineered and implemented maintenance painting programs protect equipment from the detrimental effects of corrosion and help it perform to the fullest extent of its operating life.  This emergency guideline is intended as a guide for preparing specifications, standards, and procedures for painting electrical substation apparatus. This information is based on the best current knowledge a nd experience of the committee members and not necessarily on reproducible scientific evidence.  Maintenance personnel for utilities and large industrial concerns who are responsible for maintenance painting of electrical equipment are primarily electrical engineers or have their background in electrical work.  These individuals typically have little, if any, basic knowledge of corrosion and the practices necessary to control it. Consequently, many specifications are being used that are poorly written, incomplete, and technically inaccurate. This emergency guideline, which includes a sample specification for transformer painting, has been prepared as a tool for maintenance personnel responsible for painting electrical equipment.  This emergency guideline is designed to introduce owners, engineers, maintenance personnel, and painting contractors to the unusual factors and considerations that are addressed when painting electrical substation apparatus. The guideline includes sample specifications and covers the following subjects:

• Purpose of Painting Electrical Substation Apparatus

• The Four Unique Aspects of Substation Painting

      -Safety Considerations

      -Surface Preparation

      -Coating Selection

      -Flow Coating 

• Inspection

• Hazardous Waste Considerations

• Contractor Qualification

  This emergency guideline is designed to:

1. Inform the reader of the factors that make electrical substation painting unique among all other forms of industrial maintenance painting and highlight special factors such as worker safety and painting of radiators. 

2. Provide owners, engineers, and maintenance personnel with sample specifications that they may modify to meet their specific requirements and then use as a project document.