DuPont CoatingSolutions Engineer Chairs International Task Group - Posted 5/27/08
Kuruvila Varughese, global engineering manager for DuPont CoatingSolutions, recently was elected as chairman of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers International (NACE) Task Group to revise and rewrite NACE RP0395-99 Specification “Fusion Bonded Epoxy Coating of Steel Reinforcing Bars.”
Kuruvila Varughese, global engineering manager for DuPont CoatingSolutions, recently was elected as chairman of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers International (NACE) Task Group to revise and rewrite NACE RP0395-99 Specification “Fusion Bonded Epoxy Coating of Steel Reinforcing Bars.”
The group will focus on revising the specification to include the latest developments in coating materials and application techniques of epoxy systems for rebar used for cement structures, bridges and freeways. Varughese currently is serving as the chairman of NACE RP0394-2002 and vice chair of technology groups: Developing Specifications for Protecting of Underground Pipelines for oil and gas (STG TG 336 and TG-337).
“I am extremely honored and excited about this opportunity. When fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) was introduced to the rebar industry, it was accepted without any reservations due to the success of FBE systems for underground pipelines,” Varughese said. “However, when failures were reported on bridges in Key West, Fla., with FBE coated rebar in the late ‘80s, some industry experts became skeptical about the viability of the system for rebar protection. In my opinion, these failures were a blessing since it forced the industry to investigate and identify the failure mechanisms, develop products with better performance characteristics, improve application and testing procedures and implement better construction practices.
“Unfortunately, the current standard does not address these changes. Therefore, it is a unique opportunity for me to bring the researchers, product manufactures, applicators and construction engineers into this committee and to rewrite the standard which will improve the quality and the life expectancy of the concrete structures and bridges that use epoxy coated rebars,” he said.
In addition to his appointment, Varughese is actively involved in International Standards Organization (ISO) coating specification development committees. In 2006, he was nominated by the American Petroleum Institute and approved by the American National Standards Institute to be the chairman and voting member of U.S. experts elected to ISO work group TC67/SC2 WG 14-1 and WG 14-4, thus developing international standards for corrosion protection systems for underground pipelines.
This work resulted in the publication of one ISO Standard ISO/DIS 21809-2 “External coatings for buried and submerged pipelines used in pipeline transportation system – Part 2: Fusion Bonded Epoxy Coatings.” Two other standards are in draft form pending approval from ISO member countries.
DuPont CoatingSolutions’ website is at www.dupontpowder.com.
Kuruvila Varughese, global engineering manager for DuPont CoatingSolutions, recently was elected as chairman of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers International (NACE) Task Group to revise and rewrite NACE RP0395-99 Specification “Fusion Bonded Epoxy Coating of Steel Reinforcing Bars.”
The group will focus on revising the specification to include the latest developments in coating materials and application techniques of epoxy systems for rebar used for cement structures, bridges and freeways. Varughese currently is serving as the chairman of NACE RP0394-2002 and vice chair of technology groups: Developing Specifications for Protecting of Underground Pipelines for oil and gas (STG TG 336 and TG-337).
“I am extremely honored and excited about this opportunity. When fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) was introduced to the rebar industry, it was accepted without any reservations due to the success of FBE systems for underground pipelines,” Varughese said. “However, when failures were reported on bridges in Key West, Fla., with FBE coated rebar in the late ‘80s, some industry experts became skeptical about the viability of the system for rebar protection. In my opinion, these failures were a blessing since it forced the industry to investigate and identify the failure mechanisms, develop products with better performance characteristics, improve application and testing procedures and implement better construction practices.
“Unfortunately, the current standard does not address these changes. Therefore, it is a unique opportunity for me to bring the researchers, product manufactures, applicators and construction engineers into this committee and to rewrite the standard which will improve the quality and the life expectancy of the concrete structures and bridges that use epoxy coated rebars,” he said.
In addition to his appointment, Varughese is actively involved in International Standards Organization (ISO) coating specification development committees. In 2006, he was nominated by the American Petroleum Institute and approved by the American National Standards Institute to be the chairman and voting member of U.S. experts elected to ISO work group TC67/SC2 WG 14-1 and WG 14-4, thus developing international standards for corrosion protection systems for underground pipelines.
This work resulted in the publication of one ISO Standard ISO/DIS 21809-2 “External coatings for buried and submerged pipelines used in pipeline transportation system – Part 2: Fusion Bonded Epoxy Coatings.” Two other standards are in draft form pending approval from ISO member countries.
DuPont CoatingSolutions’ website is at www.dupontpowder.com.
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