AWWA COMMENT PERIOD ON AWWA C222, Polyurethane Coatings and Linings for Steel Water Pipe and Fittings

AWWA COMMENT PERIOD ON AWWA C222, Polyurethane Coatings and Linings for Steel Water Pipe and Fittings
April 25, 2025

AWWA solicits public comments on all proposed new AWWA Standards, and on all proposed revisions, reaffirmations, or withdrawals of existing AWWA Standards. The referenced standards project is being considered for approval and the publication of this notice begins the 45-day public comment period for AWWA and ANSI. An electronic public review copy of the proposed standard can be obtained for review during the comment period by emailing ETS Support (ETSsupport@awwa.org). Comments must be submitted in writing to the AWWA contact listed below no later than the last day of the comment period specified herein. Such comments shall be specific to the section(s) of the standard under review and include sufficient detail, so as to enable the reader to understand the commenter’s position, concerns and suggested alternative language, if appropriate.

AWWA Comment Period closes on June 9, 2025.

Send comments to:
Liz Ralph, LRalph@awwa.org
303.347.6177 phone

The review copy will be edited for publication and may also be revised as appropriate based on any comments received during the public comment period. Therefore, this copy is not suitable for continued utilization and is intended only for comment purposes.

Final publication of the standard may take several months. When it is available, a notice will be published in the official notice section of Journal – American Water Works Association. The standard becomes an effective AWWA standard on the first day of the month following such publication in Journal – American Water Works Association.

SCOPE
This standard sets minimum requirements for shop-applied and field-applied polyurethane coatings and linings used in the water supply industry. Polyurethanes are used for steel water pipe, special sections, welded joints, connections, and fittings for steel water pipelines installed underground or underwater operating under normal conditions.

MAJOR REVISIONS
Major changes made to the standard in this edition include the following:

1. Updated Sec. I.C. Acceptance in the Foreword with the latest Standards Council language reflecting the addition of reference to NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 and NSF/ANSI/CAN 600.
2. Revised and expanded Sec. II. Special Issues in the Foreword.
3. Added Section 1.1.4 to discuss considerations when C222 is referenced for substrates other than carbon steel.
4. 2 References was updated.
5. In Sec. 3 Definitions added definitions for applicator, reclaimed water, and wastewater.
6. Added a new Sec. 4.1 Equipment to be consistent with other coating and lining standards.
7. Updated Sec. 4.2.1 Materials with the latest Standards Council boilerplate language and added language for wastewater applications stating that additional requirements may be needed due to the more severe environment.
8. The certification and safety sections were moved from previous Sec. 4.11 to Sec. 4.2 and a reference to NSF/ANSI/CAN 600 was added to the certification section for consistency with other coating and lining standards.
9. The personnel section was moved from previous Sec. 4.5.2 to Sec. 4.2 for consistency with other coating and lining standards.
10. A new Sec. 4.3.1 Shelf life was added for consistency with other coating and lining standards.
11. Updated Sec. 4.4 Surface preparation to be consistent with the language used in other coating and lining standards. The minimum level of surface preparation protection has not changed. The details included from the referenced SSPC standards were removed since they are in the SSPC standards.
12. Moved Table 1 Prequalification requirements of polyurethane system and Table 2 Quality control requirements of applied polyurethane system to Sec. 5.2 for consistency with other steel pipe coating and lining standards.
13. Updated Sec. 4.5.2 Overcoating and the adhesion testing requirements were moved to Sec. 4.6.8 Repair inspection.
14. The polyurethane thickness requirements (previously in Sec. 4.3) were moved to new Sec. 4.5.5 Polyurethane thickness, and language was added to Sec. 4.5.5 and Table 2 noting that coatings and linings may have limits for the maximum thickness tied to the potable water certification and the manufacturer’s recommendations.
15. Updated Sec. 5.2.3 Impact resistance to reduce the coating thickness tested from 75 mils to 25-30 mils.
16. In Sec. 5.2.9 Adhesion to steel, the lab adhesion testing method was updated to reference ASTM D4541 Protocol 1 and Type IV or V automatic instruments and a requirement for substrate temperatures was added.
17. Increased minimum requirement for dielectric strength from 250 to 400 V/mil in Table 1 to better represent properties of current polyurethane materials.
18. Added language to Sec. 5.3 Quality Assurance and Records to make it clear that the QC tests in Sec. 5.5 are being referenced.
19. Revised Sec. 5.5.3 Dry film thickness and changed the SSPC-PA 2 requirement from Level 1 to Level 2.
20. Revised Sec. 5.5.4 to list SP0274 instead of SP0188 for electrical continuity testing.
21. In Sec. 5.5.5 Adhesion to steel, the QC adhesion testing method was revised to reference ASTM D4541 Protocol 1 or 2 and Type IV or V automatic instruments.
22. Added Sec. 5.5.5.4 Frequency of testing to the QC adhesion section.
23. Updated Sec. 6.2.2 Shipping, handling, and storage to be consistent with the language used in other coating and lining standards.