Document MG7JoNmk3VRz5JKOoKBLYKd67

LIA23486 LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION, INC. & 202 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK, N. Y. 10017 tCUtfMOHI -- AItCA COOt til Oft MOM August 19, 1965 SUBJECT: REPRINT CM FRISCO BRIDGE PAINT JOB To Hecbera of the Load Industries Association, Inc.: Attached is a copy of an article reprinted from the July, 19&5 American Painting Contractor. Tho article, on the painting of the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge, is a refreshing testimonial for red lead paint systens and emphasises the fact that najor port authorities, institutions, and highway commissions arc continuing their dependence on performance proven lead pigaented paints. The etory statos that currently Bore than 15.CC0 gallons of paint. Dost of it red lead, is used annually on tho 32-year old structure. Nearly 7,000 copies of this reprint were nailed to our entire paint ing contractor and corrosion engineer lists. Upon request, you may obtain additional copies of this reprint while they last. Very truly yours. V7 Srsj'jj, Jerone F. Snith JFS:df Attachment o 0 *O look Afrcjtj mf/i Lc*d LIA23087 rI It Takes a 'Lifetime' To Paint the FriscoOakland Bay Bridge By Kenneth ond Katherine MocDONAtO y t i On July Fourth, the world-famed San Francisco-Oaktand Day Bridge celebrated the 32d anniversary of the start of its construction. During the intervening yean, the bridge has become one of the long* est continuous painting jobs in history, furnishing full-time employment and lifelong careers for a crew of 64 p.iirtrrs. At many ns 15.2S2 gallons of pjinr may be used in a single year ui first. u-Cond and finish coats. Two ma/or West Coast metropolitan Cities are connected by the 8l-mile span, which pioccedt through an island tunnel in ntul Day. Elevalon of the graceful structure varies from about 6 feet abuse high ss.iter to 530 feet above high water on t<*p <d the huge suspension t>uers. An average of four million vehicles ply Ksck and forth across its steel teaches each month. In spite of apparent dangers, the bridge has t*nme one of the nation's outstanding examples of wifely for painters doing industrial m.sitilensnce painting at high altitudes. Hi|l li|l ti>S U<<| i*p <( ISO fl fv>tail lrr* l*rv m~4 p'dtd Kk w To < *< Ii pox! iplewrt. tvsim fepr/nfed from fhe Juiy 1965 Amerfcon foinfing Confrorfor N 1711.01 LIA23A88 1/iUff'l >* (*fcl <vffal4 <VA| * wkl * k*U-al| r*p*. 0*<V U 4|vt*kJ ka i )*! WJ <wrt>A 0> '1W4 %#, *a`irit Ny l*lt wk#r waft. lit 146.000 Ion* of steel mu>! o-tixtantly be painted fi>c protection agsmM the onslaught* of nature. Paintinf involves .170 acres of painted sur face; 105.000 gallon* of paint wet# required for the otigtn.d pnint yobthree mats of red lead nml a finish cvt of aluminum Currently, more than 15,000 gallons of paint are used each year in the maintenance painting program tupcfvised by O. Ewing Marsh. Original specifications Called for the steel to be sandblasted after it arrived in the San Fmncisco Bay area. It also wax to be painted with two coats of red lead prior to erection. "After the steel was put in place." Marsh related. "a third coat of red lead and a spot nuit of lead paint were applied on the rivet heads, trnmt and edg-v This wax followed by the finish COaL" All of the sandblasting and priming was done at three locations. About SO per cent of the steel wax sand blasted at Alameda, using s-ind Of steel grit. The suspension bridge trus ses were sandblasted and painted in San Francisco. The first c>3l of paint put on, said Marsh, was a 28-pound-per-gallon red lead with r*w- Unsced oil. "This wat very slow in drying." Marsh said, "and tn improve the dry ing time the formula was changed by the addition of mineral spirits. Thu induced the weight of the paint to 27.9 poundv" The second coat was a similar red lead modify bv the addition of lamp black for coloring. The original second .;<vn wnglied 24.7 pounds to the gallon. When modified to improve drying time. the weight dropped to 24. S pounds per gallon. The third Co.it also was o red lead, saw linseed ml tvj*e which, with the addition of carbn black, weighed 22 poundi per gallon. Before the finish Coal wax applied, changes Were made from the black, because of c iv ic pres sure. and nJummum was used for the finish coat. The aluminum originally used was a long oil varnish with lung oil. The formula included 2x-pounds of alu minum paste per gallon of varnish. The careers of the bridge painters began before the bridge actually opened for traffic when it became necessary to paint a portion of the upper dock floor system from a con tractor '* traveling gantry. Petmancut ms ocid deposit* and some nlurninum hydroxide. "The ulder surfaces painted with aluminum, when duty, tend to retain mmstuie." Mmxh explain*. "In shady or poorly ventilated location*. ihe sur face remain* tacky or sticky to the touch until nearly noon. "Thi* condition i* eliminated on steam cleaned surfaces and these areas are dry enough for painting by the regular morning starting time." The make up of the permanent paint ing crews ha* varied somewhat through the year*, starting with the original 10 men. The crew- was gradually in creased to 40 men by December. 1941, when World War 11 began. During the war. the crew dwindled from 40 down to 14 men. Later it wax built beck up to 50 men. At the time of the Korean War. the new dimin ished again to 35. Currently, however, the Bay Bridge paint crew' hat two foremen, six lead men. 00 painters, two laborer* and four truck driver*. The budget provides for 06 painters. Initially, crews painted with wire rope catenary or springboard rigging beneath the lower deck. Bv 19J9, how ever. thiov large suspended scaffolds. 6 x 85 feel. had bwn constructed to provide the necessary accessibility (or painter*. Bridge official* learned early that conventional methods of rigging re quired too much of a painter'* time and frequently resulted m t much m 30 per cent time |c*v "We attempt Constantly to lune -j large as possible sc.irt'drt unit* oper ating on wheel* or on j track and with power !rive. wherever possible. t mv c pamter time." says Marsh. The painting crews also have learned that thiee-ioch wheel brushes und up to 3* 4 inch diameter cup brushes can be operated on straight buflert or grinder* h i free speed* of 7,(k *KJ rpm. for cutting rut. Mulsh explain* that consider able tu;*l jn.l error went into learmrg which commercial brushes could stand ll*e Constant abuse. On br<*.id rt.it surfaces, his crews now use a six nuh wire cup brush on a (id which opiates at 2,400 rpm. The pointers cal! these `salt brushes' and u*e them to remove the general accumulation of dirt from the face* of the fl**or beams and larger sied mcmhor*. Bottle or tube brushe* are used to paint the long slut* which wefe left in the steel (of election clearance*. There ate v>m 2.400 ifis-r beam connection* to the trusses. These floor beams are from sis to seven feet deep, with n open slot pinch to J 4-inch at each end between the connection angle*. These must be pointed with the long handled buttle brushes. Some, however, are plugged at the bottom and paint i* simply pouted in. Othe* are swabbed first and then are plugged at both ends. Anchor bolt hole* are cleaned nnd filled with mastic. Some of these are set in pipe* 10 to IS feet deep in concrete pier*. These must be cleaned out with .sir yets ami they arc then swabtwd with red lead nnd filled With mastic or led le.sd p.nnt. Marsh's crews nlv* have devrJ<j>od a "crack brush" or plainer which is used for o.anting the narrow \l ts and cr.ickv The-c are pure bristle brushes t hr XT' niche* wiJe by two inches in length. "Actui.lly," Marsh says. "there aie nvur th..n 10000 linear fret of jnst nc of these sluts a quarter-inch wide x 14-inch d-ep." Other ponting tool* used include four-inch stucco brushes and tw>>-inch oval brushes as well at 7 a~d 9-mch paint rollcvs with extension handles from 18 inches to four feet Ion*. L IA23489 Indus'* Nm . % 4 wKlj *A ko*4<o4 fe4. Post X orf|Vtlhl * Im|| It tTl. Wmrf lofMbit >* iIW4 vf, !< >( !>> pml>t wit. Its Mb.000 ton* <f steel mukl o-mtAOtl) In* painted for protection gainst the onslaughts of nature. Paintinf involve* J70 acres of pointed sur face; 105.000 gallon* tif paint were required for tlic original paint job-- three omit of red lead and a finish o>at of Mlummum. Currently, moif than J 5.000 gallon* of punt ate used r;h yM in the maintenance painting program super vised ly D- Ewsng Marsh. Original spccifwation* exiled for the Heel to be sandblasted after it armed >n the San Francisco Bay area. It also wat to be painted with two coals of red lead prior to erection. "After the steel wm put in place." Mxrih related, "a third coat of red lead and a spot cut of lead paint were applied on the rivet heads, seams and edges. This was followed by the finish coat." AH of the sandblasting and priming was done at three locations. Atxwl 50 per cent of the steel was sand blasted at Alameda, using land or sleet grit. The tu*|>en\ion bridge trus ses were sandblasted and painted f> San Francisco. The first C*vat of paint put on, said Marsh, was a ift pounJ-pt t -gallon red lead with raw linseed oil. "This was very slow in drying." Mat *7 said, "and to improve the dry ing time the formula was changed by the addition of mineral spirits. Thu reduced the weight of the paint to 2 / .9 pound*." The second Om! was a similar ird lead modified by the addition of lamp black for coloring. The original second c-.i.it weighed 2-1 7 pounds to the gallon. When modified to improve drying time. the weight drof*pcd to 24.5 pounds per gallon. The third (tut alv> was a red k*at. taw linseed od type which, with the addition of carbon black, weighed 22 pound* per g.ill-nv Before the finish coat was applied, changes were m ide from the hl.ick. because of civic pres sure. and Aluminum was used for tlic finish coat. The aluminum originally used wa* a long oil vaxr.tvh with timg od. The formula included 2,-jxund* of nluminuni paste per gallon of varnish. The careers of the bridge painter* beg.m before the bridge actually opened for traffic when it became necessary to point n portion of the upper deck system from a con tractor's traveling gantry. Permanent t " I l / l.*<1 Kt Smn IS (Ik I IiM Itjr. h rlnl/ll4| ani i Is mi h IX* fl(4 lf feo4f* ^UV**n **T. crew* in larger numbers, bosses rf. were not established until Octobrr. 1^.17. al>ut a year after the bridge had opened to traffic. A small crew of 10 painter* and a foreman was put to work at the lower end of the East fliy pMj|.-.n of the bridge and atx-ut this time the late C.ul S. H-aniiltim established a pro gram of steam cleaning, which still ss in ujK'rali.'n to eliminate mler-coat tiiiii.imtn.ti<-n ansi to mmimirc the need for Sandblast mg Rust was removed at first with hand method*--wire brushes and scraper*. Some e*j>eiiment* were j*ei formed with motor-sluven wire cup brushes. Out these did not prose successful. 'Maintenance painting in those early days." Marsh icc'dli. "coHM'tcd of the application of two lead sjH>t <mIs and a #|>ol coat of aluminum This w .s not pi act ical. Ixmever. nml the system was changed to new process involving first a sjxit Coat of lemJ, second spot cout of lead, and A solid coat of *pminum. "Kven Ihis nieth.xl didn't work out t*o well hecuuse within a few week* of completion the hntvh began to develop a mottled njijie.if.mce," he soul. "Then we figured out another Approach, making the first coat of lead a sjxit coat and the second a solid ctv.it. with a final finish coat of aluminum-*' This provided the p|>efnnce every one seemed to want and the use of a solid coat of leatl immediately bef<re application of the finish coat of alum.nuin lias U-cn the practice since late in 1939. The present rc-jtme is to steam 'lo.n u!l surfaces tl. 4 can be reached in rea* where the process d.ses not inteifere with traffic- Rust is removed by vj.t vsrdM.ivting. power brush buf fing. h ind cleaning and phosphoric as'id crack treatment and caulking. A first spot coal of red lead is ap plied on all scamv edgev met heads and sandblasted areas, followed b>' another coat of red lead, a solid coat and n finish Cat of aluminum. Malsh f'-'llll'inll that this pUKYW provides protection which, in the opin ion of the b:idge auth-iHic*. is lulls' esju.il to the original point ;< b on !! of the taw steel surface*. Sea salt, incidentally, is found iwi the bridge surface * high as 400 feet above the water level. The upper deck floor system (which is the bottom h o c o2 the upper deck, afwiut 20 feet dtrectlv ah'Vr the lower deck) also sutler* from hens* il.posits of motor vehicle exhaust. vulphur- pls l*i m paint** i lt> **f *t tk* b'<i'i* m t*i b'ljgi l t*n'il**** (Iiv iIu k Orykl) to.rlm |hcn K> or* *pptf O >ce< oi e:vmm*n 0rH bl(t wo* *m4 be* "pvbla r'Oie* brtvfSl ab*vl / i LIA23490 \ *. u noil dc|>Ml urw] some aluminum t'\ diulhl* . K i mile ? s at free kpeeds (o> cutting rust. 7 <M0 ipm. "Tl*r older iut(.Yi painted with wh-n duty, lend In retain 'usturr." M..i sh espUmv "In study i v< riiU.ilcd location*. the vui fo*r it'fn <in tacky of sticky to the ' '<i<h until near!) noon. "Tim condition i eliminated on tem cleaned surface* and these area* re iffy enough fin (wintu.f by the regular rti"nin starting Ufne." The make-up of the ppim.incni jMinb mg firm ha* satied wmnlui through the )c j iv slatting with th* ofigicncl 10 nvrn. The <ew w*a gradually in creased to 40 men by IJecemlrer, 1 **-4 when World War II began. During the w-.u. the new dwindled ft.h i* 40 down lu H mra Later it wa* built bark up to SO men. At the time I the K"rrjn Wat. Ok - crew dimin ished ag-uir to J5. Currently, however, the Ikiy Dml(r paint flew ha* two f eemen. *< lead men. 1.0 prtntefv twu l<b.ir(s and f.*ur trutk diivelv The budget prmKio lix 6<j |v<interv Initially. crew-i painted with wire t'pe Catenary <*f tp*tng*> atd listing bene.it h the l< iwer deck Itv ] `r.t r. h- -w e'er, three l.rge vusivendiij u.ilhdds. n ttS-lei-t. hrj teen f 'list IU. led ! ffoyi.le the refnviiy acceisihil.lv t<*r ( nn'eru Under nffifuli learned r.iiiv that o-fisention.il meth-ds of rigging re i;jt:e*1 t*o nvjih <1 j pi Mi % lime tievjueritly resulted m .it much as a 10 per cent time hrvv M.UvIi rspl.Hio th.it ioiisiJ<-r..|ile iii.il .iml i-itor went ml*' h-umi'g whoh i'ornr.-ii'ii i-.l liiuvhnt co.it<| tt.ind il -* constant idiuvc. On lti*mt ftnt irirfu'es. os news now n m inrh wile cvJp blush ih i a tool which o|<*ites at 1 4`>0 rptn. The pauitvis f;,U these ..U brushes' and ute them t<. remove ttn* ce.sernt .n.uinul.ilion dirt from the lace* i*f tte fl.w.r liejrus nd l.nyer steel rtHm- *h *is . IV'lttc or tutie btuvlies w u>ed to paint the I-nm slots which were left in the steel for fjrxlion cleui.mci'L There ace u>me 2.400 Il<vi te.im cs-nnectvotvs to the tius>*-v Tlvese f\wr be^mt are If<en si in seven fiet deefi. with an ojien slot 1 j inch tn >,-inch at each end letween the cm nectMM* antlev These must te painted with the l"c h.indh-d l> ttlr Inushev S->nx*. N'weser. are plucked ul the U>ttom and p.*mt ia imply i>urJ tn. Other* are swabbed first and then ure pluyee*t at both endv AnchiH h-iJt Ik.ies are i|if hl!e<J with mast*c. 5*..rise ^wTh'se *rr et in pip*-* 10 pi IS feet deep in Concrete ptets TJ*-se muM le rteaned i vt with .nr p ts .md rhey are then sw..b>i-d wnli nil lead filled unh rr.-.stiC ted ie id paint M .ish's Clews alu. h ive dCvelojKHj i "ct.nk Inush' .h c>-i<ne< which is used f.H paifitm^ lb- n..lnw vl -tv an<| i I.h s s Tt^-sa* -He pcie hi..'l I'ru'hcv thive ir-.chvs w hie h) two m- hev in length. "We attempt cor.si.iri I \ t i hoe ,>i !oge ,.\ ji n ;` !r utiitt oper ating or. wheels or m a tr^k nj with piwrr drive, wherever jsssible. to s*e } nr.ter time.'' *.*>% M.ush. Tlie painting crews also have learned th.it three-in.h wheel brushes and lip to J1t-inch diameter cup brush** can hr operated <*n >ti, ight buffer* or "Ait.i illy. M.itsh v-n s. "tlxie if- U- ft. Ill lOIKtd I.IK.II feet .1 .air llrcsa* |. .ts / quaiti-i-irx h wnli- v d-p- Othet jv-nutinj toils used tniliale f. uf inch slilCCo f'lusSis an.f twoii.ib v .1 blushes iiy well as 7 arid Vim h p.-nt rob.;v with evtini.:n handle* fc*m !.*< inches to (<w.t (e.-t h-n*,. 'J"A X'gj'SUlM^ LIA23491 T Caulking gun* .u* lu-qucntly rm |d<*v*l. Iv*l nty tiiovc which have * Ivirl nir-ih.Mn.ru f < < forcing pi*tun. In wm** itir.iv following the nngmut paint p'b, jeiis llu- bridge <ilt.tined <*n nge of 2 5 yi-ar* before the now* were able U\ get Mound ft* tejwdnting (hr m. Many of Ihr-vr h ira* were found to have accumulated ik it nvir than five (>*-( vent tu*l. Tlvere are a frw uirm f the bridle where tlie steel structural members .-ue comparatively hghi in weight. The surface trmj'eraturr* id these atrni change more rapidly than u| other he r.itiont. (iuim( rn accelrtatcd brejkdown of (hr paint film. In I besc area* cifM hc-gin repainting at intervals of J1 J lO ft'UI )Mlv' The paint force now v im j ic-mi* quick-drying red lead paint which weigh* 21.7 p<Hjrtd* per gallon. Thm I*.11of dire* for re-<o.fting in 16 hour*. The formula for the aluminum vehicle .-dwi ha* been changed from a long tung od varnish to a phenol formaldehyde type. Quicker drying paint* are used in those are;.* of the bridge where the painter* ran got nt tlv %ti 11 ..**- r.ipidtv, (hue reoucir.g surface cont.mnn it ion letui-en riMi> during the rv|kiintirg. Leafvd metallic lead p.i\te is ad<i<d to tlx* lr.nl n.ili to rrduiv or to pe*-d drying ..nd to pr..\i.le .r better b-nd between non Approximately 1 * ^ f--ur,.!% ,.ir j-!ilr.l jx-r gallon in the mixing tub*. C'>.d tar o.,tings .ilwi h.*ve been used occasionally. in u t mII qu.Mitre* and ! v n.r are.** . rdv M -<sh drvlatc* the result* have firm excellent. Currently. the pamtn* u*e right N<.*lt>dd\. M iing -in i ntin* truss p.mel. fon pointing the truss web system. These scaA-dd* were limit in the bridge maintenance slwps. Five "traveled" run (jenenth lire upjvei dock. There 15 X 60 fitot pint- form* ate u*peiided from overhead i i*i I * und over half a flimr system panel. Another mvjwndod beneath (he lower dock it used to (mint tome 3,000 feet *d Innlge on the vnst end and three timdar 15 x 75-f.ad scaffold* .ur used to p.unt other area*. Specrnl scaffold* running on the main cable hand mpe* me ndyuslnhle and may be kept level a* the cable changes *1*|>e. S|>ecid elevator t)je platform* are used f,.( painting tl*e nuvjvenrler rope*. An articulated scaffold which com pletely encircles a towrf, ia used to get lu the tower* for painting. For vertical |r i(iv|Mituti<in. a variety of air prwered scaffold machine* are u*ed. A four-inch air lire run* the entire length { tl>e btulge to provide the CompcevM'd air r>eCe*^.*fy nt working |. a'.it ion*. The we*t h-iy tu'(K-nvu'n tirulge tower* have lieen p.ui ted tw icx*. at inlorv.d* of IJ vrai*. Thit also * irtre <*f th- mam faille* and the VUvjH-rdrf r.'je* The \u*|en\ion tindge truwei have tn-i-n painted twice. Tire up|K*f .mJ lower de k floor *)*tom painting. h"wev-f. i* ~a lifetime profe**" which never vt^q<v It i* CariK*d -n from the ccnti-r of tjie vu'iw-n\><>n bridge toward da* end*, tn down hill from tlw center. The floor vyvtem ha* tven | *a ii it oil at an average of eightvear interval. Matvh t* acv.Med by Clair Gitrv.n .<nd Roy If. Proffer. truc1ur! ierl p.outer foremen. N*th f wh*-m have been with the bridge vince WJ7. Divtribuled By LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION, INC. . 292 Moditon Ave New York. N Y. 10017 It Takes a 'Lifetime' To Paint the FriscoOakland Bay Bridge By Kenneth and Katherine MacDQNAlO On July Fourth, the rorM-(amd Snn Frarcisco-Oaktand Bay Bridge celcbruled the 32d enniveftary of The rtkrt of its construction. During the intervening years, the bridge ha* t>ecome one of the long* e*t continuous painting Jobs in history, furnishing full-time employment and lifelong careers for a crew of 66 painter*. A* many as 15.252 gafl<*n* of (Mint may be uw*d in a single year ir. first, second and finish coats. Two map* West CM*t metropolitan Cities are o-nnected by the fl'a-mde span, which privrerl* !hrrugh an island tunnel tn md-Qay. Flevatum of the graceful struciure varies from about b fret above high water to 5J0 feet above high water on lp of the huge suspensavn t-'wert. An average <>f lour miUafi vehicles ply back and forth act*'** rt* steel reaches each month. In spite of apparent dangers, the bridge ha* become one of the nation's uut'landmg example* *f safety IcX painter* doing industrial mmfilfn mce painting ,it high altitudes. Had* lbK*n4 i*Hn *ni Uww* tw* enaf (**i awxK 2 SO fee*. CwiM i*Hi *i Un efT tnxi e<if plt<l pwUf >iAi< freai *elnl (p4eft*'v Xtprinitd from the Jvlf 1965 American ffainfing Confrocfor r f I