Résumé : |
The ultimate or universal field-joint coating does not exist, but there are many varied and well-proven technologies currently available, all of which have their strengths and weaknesses. However, specifying or selecting the most appropriate solution for any given project is not necessarily straightforward. In such situations, reference to standards is often the first port of call, but in the case of field-joint coatings this presents some challenges. ISO 21809-3: 2016 and CSA Z245.30-14 are both commonly quoted in the industry but suffer from the same shortcomings in that they specify minimum performance requirements for a wide variety of generic classes of coating system, yet the requirements are quite different from one class to the next. Thus, as previously noted, compliance with the requirements of the standard provides no confirmation that the system in question will fulfill the specific needs of the project. Rather, that will depend upon whether an appropriate generic system has been specified in the first instance.
In the author’s opinion, EN 12068 adopts a more logical approach, defining mechanical classes of performance that are universal and not specific to any generic technology, thereby enabling multiple technologies to be assessed against a common set of requirements. The downside of the standard is that its scope is confined to tapes and heat-shrinkable materials, so it cannot be considered universally applicable. The ideal industry standard would therefore seem to be one which mirrors the approach utilized in EN 12068, combined with the breadth of scope associated with ISO 21809-3. |