Paint for gas pipes: rules and regulations for painting inside the apartment and on the street

Communication in apartments and houses is a common occurrence. Some of them can be hidden behind the GCR. But to the content of gas pipes special requirements are put forward, since the well-being and life of people depends on their condition.

Agree that the operation of gas communications should be treated as responsibly as possible. Paint for gas pipes must be selected with particular care, since its task is to protect the steel alloy from corrosion. However, gas pipes painted according to the generally accepted standard can disfigure the interior.

We will tell you when compliance with standards is mandatory, and in which cases they can be neglected. You will learn how to choose a paint for gas communications and carry out the basic stages of painting. As a bonus, we will reveal the secret of how to accurately calculate the required amount of paint.

Reasons for painting the gas pipeline

Piping of pipes transporting gas to the consumer is carried out not only with the goal of giving communications aesthetics.

Among the reasons for painting gas pipelines are:

• highlighting the color of the gas pipeline and its difference from other communications;
• metal protection against corrosion, which significantly increases gas pipe life.

The Gas Supply and Gasification Department has the full right to turn off the gas if communications are not in order.

Paint is the only anticorrosive protection, so you should not save on it, you need to paint at least two layers with the consumption specified by the manufacturer

According to the standards adopted at the state level, all highways of multi-storey buildings (up to the gate valve) are on the balance of housing and communal services management. In apartments and private houses, the owners must monitor the state of the gas pipes.

What is written in the regulatory documentation?

Regulatory documents regulate only the color in which gas pipes should be painted.According to the file of color standards, the gas pipeline must be painted yellow N 205-206 (GOST 14202-69).

On the facades of houses and on the roads running along the street, the gas pipes are painted in a single yellow color. In the color of the facade, gas pipes can be painted in exceptional cases after obtaining permission from the operating organization. The color of communications inside private houses and apartments is not regulated.

Marking of gas pipes by color is mandatory for industrial enterprises, as well as if the pipe is held above the ground. There are no color requirements for indoor and outdoor living spaces.

The color requirements of pipes are not just a whim of the gas service. This is a signal color, which indicates a substance inside the transported line. Thanks to the painting, in the event of a gas leak, emergency service personnel will be able to quickly detect the problem and eliminate it.

If the pipes are painted in a different color, then in an emergency, in the absence of the owner of the house, the repair team may not orient and do not block the gas in time, which threatens with serious consequences.

Also, the regulation of the "Safety Rules of the gas distribution system and gas consumption", paragraph 2.3.9 of PB 12-529-03 indicates that the paint should be applied in two layers. First of all, priming and preparatory work are required.

Gas pipeline painters

The responsible person is regulated for each specific case. It is recommended that you use a contract concluded for maintenance and inspection of the condition of the gas pipeline as a guide.

In apartment buildings, the procedure for painting a gas pipe is assigned to the apartment owners. A pipeline running along facades, streets, and porches is painted by representatives of the gas service or local utilities.

Maintenance and repair of the gas pipeline in the living room and outside the apartments is carried out exclusively by representatives of the company with which the service agreement

In private homes, the pipeline, located within the site and private buildings, is painted by the owner of the house. Pipes located in areas with public status are painted by representatives of the gas service.

The choice of paint for painting gas pipes

For painting the gas pipeline, as well as other metal surfaces, alkyd paint is most often used. The name according to GOST is PF-115. Since it is made from resin, the paint is viscous and thick.

It must be taken into account that it has an unpleasant pungent odor, which is long weathering. Another drawback is that the paint is flammable, and gas is a flammable element.

Among the main advantages of alkyd paint: high strength and resistance to atmospheric precipitation. It can also be applied on hot surfaces. Another advantage is the low cost.

In cold weather, it is not recommended to use alkyd paint, since it is likely that it will not dry out on the surface, but freeze

Choosing which paint within the apartment is better to paint the surface of the gas pipe, it is not necessary to purchase only the recommended options.

You can use other coloring compounds:

• polyurethane paint - characterized by an elastic structure, good adhesion and durability;
• epoxy - characterized by durability, but not elastic;
• conductive substance - recognized as the most reliable coating in view of its high anticorrosion properties and durability.

Despite the fact that there are paints that can be applied to rust, it is recommended to pre-process gas pipes: clean the surface of the old coating and rust, degrease the prepared surface, then coat with a primer.

For painting pipes indoors, the use of interior paints is allowed.The only thing is that the coating should not be vapor permeable, because the main task of the paint is to isolate the pipe surface from oxygen compounds and moisture

Modern coloring materials designed for gas pipes have specific names. Most often, the word “paint” is not on the label, so a simple layman encounters difficulties at this stage.

For applying a protective and decorative coating on a metal pipe, special compositions modified with anti-corrosion additives are used

The most popular paints for gas pipes today:

• Epostat - epoxy primer-enamel for metal, possessing anticorrosive properties, heat- and frost-resistant, quick-drying;
• Zinconol - protects metal in any climatic conditions, has excellent adhesion and protects against corrosion;
• Stainless steel - protects metal, can be applied to rust, protects against corrosion, dries quickly;
• Polyurethane - does not need preliminary priming, it is resistant to acids, water, oil products.

The technology for applying paint to a gas pipe is no different from painting any other metallic material. The only caveat is that it is forbidden to use heaters when removing old paint.

Staining Technology: Features

Before you start painting the gas pipes, you need to carry out preparatory work.

Before cleaning the pipes, it is necessary to dry them. Otherwise, the new paint will last no more than two years. It is also necessary to shut off the gas supply in the pipeline by turning the valve. During pipe cleaning, static stress may form, which will ignite

Pipe cleaning is carried out with a metal brush, which will remove traces of rust and corrosion. The use of solvents will facilitate the work. For safety reasons, it is recommended to use a respirator so as not to inhale harmful fumes.

After cleaning, degrease the surface. Degreaser consumption per 1 sq. Km. m. are indicated on its label. The next step is to coat the surface with a primer in two layers. The mixture is applied with a brush.

The second layer of the soil mixture is applied so that the surface of the pipes becomes smooth and all the roughness disappears

The primer dries within 24 hours. If the temperature is below 15 ° C, then the drying time increases. It is necessary to wait as much before painting. The paint is applied evenly. Do not drip.

It is necessary to apply a thick coating. After the paint has dried, you can start applying the second layer. This ensures maximum protection of the metal surface.

The gas service recommends painting communications yellow. However, this requirement is not regulated for apartments and residential premises of private houses. The color of the gas pipe in the apartment can be matched to the interior.

Since gas pipes are painted in order to protect them from corrosion, it is advisable to purchase paint with a margin

It is recommended to paint with a small brush, applying in small portions to avoid smudges. The brush must be held perpendicular to the pipe. To paint the back, you should bend the brush. It is advisable to coat the pipe with paint before the walls are finished.

When using alkyd paint, a second coat is applied after 4-6 hours. Modern types of paint dry much faster. The exact time is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging.

The formula for calculating the amount of paint

Having figured out how to paint the gas pipes, you need to calculate the amount of paint. There are no norms for the consumption of paint for coating gas pipes. On each bank, the manufacturer indicates how much material is required for staining 1 square. m. surface.

It must be borne in mind that the application should be in two layers. The formula for calculating:

S = π × D × L

D is the diameter of the pipe;

π is a constant (3.14);

L is the length of the pipe.

This method is used for painting most pipelines.

With the selection criteria and the best heat-resistant coloring compounds for coating metal will introduce next article, in which all sides of the issue are examined in detail.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Private sector gas pipe painting

GOST 14202-69 clearly defines what color the gas lines should be painted. In this case, the repair team can quickly identify the source of the problem and fix it without putting people at risk. In addition to signal properties, the paint protects metal pipes from corrosion.

If you had to paint gas communications in an apartment or a private house, share your experience with visitors to the site. Have you had a precedent with the gas service? Tell your story in the comments. Write reviews, ask questions to experts and take part in discussions.