DoD Fuel Tank Specification Names MPI 505 Coating Standard
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The Master Painters Institute (MPI), a subsidiary of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), announced that its MPI 505 industrial coating standard has been incorporated into a current Unified Facilities Guide Specifications section covering flexible, low-VOC interior coatings for steel fuel tanks.
The UFGS Section 09 97 13.15 20, Low VOC Flexible Interior Coating of Steel Fuel Tanks, was released in May 2026. The specification references MPI 505, formally titled Standard Low VOC, Polysulfide, Modified Epoxy Novolac Coating.
UFGS documents are developed jointly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command and Air Force Civil Engineer Center for Department of Defense construction and maintenance work.
AMPP said the addition represents the first inclusion of MPI’s updated industrial-focused 500 Series standards in UFGS. The standards were developed for demanding industrial and defense infrastructure applications, including fuel storage tanks, pipelines, waterfront structures and marine assets.
“For contractors, asset owners and specifiers, this provides greater confidence that coatings selected for fuel storage and transportation assets have been evaluated against consistent performance criteria,” said Pam Nicoletti, CAE, president of MPI.
The May 2026 UFGS section includes qualification and testing requirements for coatings meeting MPI 505. AMPP said products that meet applicable MPI requirements may be listed on MPI’s Approved Products List.
UFGS Section 33 52 80, Liquid Fuels Pipeline Coating Systems, also references MPI 500 for an interior steel fuel tank coating primer and MPI 501 for an interior steel fuel tank coating contrast topcoat. MPI said those standards are being redeveloped and expanded, while additional 500 Series standards, including MPI 510 and MPI 515, could be considered in future UFGS updates.
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