The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) released updated guidelines for pipeline coating inspection in May 2026, with several provisions that directly affect polyurea pipeline coating projects. American Polyurea has reviewed the updated documentation and summarizes the key changes relevant to our member applicators and their clients.
What Changed
Holiday testing voltage requirements updated. The previous guideline specified a range of 67.5 to 125 volts per mil of coating thickness for spark (holiday) testing. The updated guideline now recommends a standardized protocol based on coating type rather than thickness alone, with polyurea-specific parameters that account for the material’s higher dielectric strength compared to epoxy and urethane systems. Applicators should verify with their project inspector which voltage protocol is being used before testing begins.
Documentation requirements expanded. The updated guidelines add requirements for batch-level documentation of coating materials used on pipeline projects. This means applicators must now retain and provide certificate of conformance (CoC) documentation for each drum of A-side and B-side material used on covered pipeline projects. Most domestic manufacturers already provide this documentation; applicators sourcing from international suppliers should verify availability before project start. Related reading: our analysis of domestic vs. imported polyurea quality documentation.
Temperature log requirements for field-applied coatings. New language requires that applicators document substrate temperature, ambient temperature, relative humidity, and dew point at a minimum of 4-hour intervals throughout the application day on pipeline coating projects. Many applicators already do this — the change formalizes it as a required project record.
What Didn’t Change
The surface preparation standards (SSPC-SP6 minimum for pipeline coatings, SP10 for high-performance systems) remain unchanged. Adhesion testing requirements (ASTM D4541, minimum pull-off strength per coating system qualification) are also unchanged. These standards are covered in detail on our industry resources page.
Practical Impact for Applicators
For applicators working on transmission pipeline projects, the material documentation requirement is the most immediately impactful change. Begin collecting CoC documentation from your suppliers now and establish a project file system that makes batch records easy to retrieve. Applicators who are AMPP CIP-certified should check with their certification body for any updates to the inspection curriculum that reflect these guideline changes.
American Polyurea will feature a dedicated webinar on these guideline changes in August 2026. Check the Events page for registration details. Full text of the updated AMPP guidelines is available to AMPP members through the AMPP member portal.
