The bridges + freeze-thaw factor
Pittsburgh has one of the densest concentrations of bridges in the country, much of it aging structural steel in a freeze-thaw, de-icing-salt climate (corrosivity around ISO 12944 C4–C5). That combination drives a steady need to strip failing coatings and corrosion and re-prep the steel before recoating.
A typical system here
Bridge and structural recoating typically starts with an SSPC-SP 10 near-white blast and rebuilds with the classic three-coat highway system — an inorganic zinc-rich (IOZ) primer, epoxy intermediate and polyurethane topcoat used on much of the US bridge inventory. Where full containment and blasting aren't practical on an in-service structure, a moisture-cured urethane (MCU) overcoat system is used instead. Either way, the recoat lives or dies on how clean the steel is first.
Who we serve around Pittsburgh
Bridge and structural steel, steel mills and metal fabrication, Marcellus natural-gas equipment, heavy manufacturing, and aging water and wastewater infrastructure.
What this means for your project
Recoating bridge and structural steel starts with the blast — removing every bit of failing coating and rust so the new system bonds. For a bridge or structural recoat, describe the structure and we'll connect you with a contractor experienced in that work.