Power & Utilities Industry

Protecting the infrastructure that powers the Kingdom

Electricity is the lifeblood of modern society. From the massive power plants that generate electricity to the transmission networks that carry it across deserts and the substations that distribute it to cities, the power sector is the foundation upon which all other industries depend. Any failure means disruption to homes, hospitals, schools, factories, and businesses.

At Arabian Company for Protection and Strengthening, we specialize in protecting and extending the life of power generation and utility infrastructure. Our engineering-led solutions address the unique challenges of this sector: extreme temperatures, continuous operation, fire safety requirements, corrosion prevention, and the absolute need for reliability. We help asset owners and operators maintain safe, efficient, and durable facilities that keep the lights on across the Kingdom.

Why Power & Utilities Require Specialized Protection

Power and utility infrastructure faces a distinct set of challenges that demand specialized engineering solutions.

Continuous operation: Power plants cannot shut down except for scheduled maintenance; interventions must be planned around outages.
Extreme temperatures: Equipment and structures must withstand high ambient temperatures and thermal cycling.
Fire risk: High-energy equipment, transformers, and cables pose significant fire hazards.
Corrosion: Cooling towers, intake structures, and coastal plants face aggressive corrosion.
Chemical exposure: Water treatment chemicals, fuels, and coolants can attack concrete and steel.
Vibration and fatigue: From turbines, generators, and other rotating equipment.
Aging infrastructure: Many power facilities were built decades ago and require significant rehabilitation.
Increasing demand: Growing loads may require capacity upgrades to existing structures.
Environmental regulations: Compliance with emission and discharge requirements often drives facility modifications.

Our Services for the Power & Utilities Industry

We deliver comprehensive protection, strengthening, and durability solutions tailored to the specific needs of power generation and utility infrastructure.

Passive Fire Protection

Fire is one of the greatest risks in power facilities. Passive fire protection contains fires, protects structural elements, and ensures safe shutdown when needed.

Structural steel fire protection

Intumescent coatings: Thin-film systems for structural steel in turbine halls, boiler houses, and support structures. Available in colors to match facility aesthetics.
Cementitious fireproofing: Spray-applied, economical protection for concealed steel and industrial areas.
Fire ratings: Systems certified for cellulosic and hydrocarbon fire curves as required.

Equipment and vessel protection

Fireproofing for turbine supports: Protecting critical support structures.
Transformer fire protection: Fire-rated barriers between transformers to prevent fire spread.
Cable tray and raceway protection: Fire-resistant coatings and wraps for critical control cables.

Firestop systems

Sealing penetrations in fire-rated walls and floors for cables, pipes, and ducts.
Intumescent collars and wraps for plastic pipes.
Firestop sealants, putties, and mortar systems.
Critical for maintaining fire compartmentation in control rooms, switchgear rooms, and cable spreading areas.

Fire-rated walls and barriers

Installation of fire-rated walls between critical equipment.
Fire doors and closures.

Industrial Coating & Lining

Power plant structures and equipment require robust protection against corrosion, chemical attack, and environmental exposure.

Structural steel coating

Zinc-rich primers: Sacrificial protection for carbon steel in aggressive environments.
Epoxy intermediate coats: High-build barrier protection.
Polyurethane and polysiloxane topcoats: UV stability and color retention for exposed structures.
High-temperature coatings: For exhaust stacks, HRSG components, and hot surfaces.

Concrete protection

Anti-carbonation coatings: Breathable coatings that prevent CO2 and chloride ingress.
Chemical-resistant coatings: For areas exposed to water treatment chemicals, fuels, and coolants.
Penetrating sealers: Hydrophobic treatments that repel water while allowing vapor transmission.

Tank and vessel linings

Water tank linings: Potable water approved systems for demineralized water, fire water, and cooling tower basins.
Chemical tank linings: Novolac epoxy and vinyl ester linings for aggressive chemicals.
Fuel tank linings: Systems resistant to hydrocarbons.

Cathodic Protection

Corrosion of buried pipes, tank bottoms, and submerged structures can be stopped completely with cathodic protection.

Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP)

Applications: Buried fuel and water pipelines, storage tank bottoms, circulating water systems, intake structures.
Components: MMO titanium anodes, reference electrodes, transformer/rectifier units, remote monitoring.
Advantages: Adjustable current output, long anode life, suitable for large facilities.

Galvanic (Sacrificial) Cathodic Protection

Applications: Heat exchangers, water boxes, localized areas, and structures in high-resistivity environments.
Anode materials: Zinc, aluminum, or magnesium selected for specific conditions.
Advantages: No external power required, simple, reliable.

CP for reinforced concrete

Discrete anodes for repair areas in cooling towers and foundations.
Distributed anode systems for large concrete surfaces.

Concrete Repair & Restoration

Concrete structures in power plants—cooling towers, foundations, intake structures, and buildings—deteriorate over time and require restoration.

Cooling tower repair

Spalling repair: Removal of deteriorated concrete, rebar treatment, rebuilding with high-strength repair mortars.
Crack injection: Epoxy injection for structural cracks; polyurethane for water leaks.
Protective coatings: Application of anti-carbonation and chemical-resistant coatings.
Fill and drift eliminator support repair: Restoring structural supports for internal components.

Foundation repair

Turbine and generator foundations: Precision repair of cracks and spalls; epoxy injection; grouting under baseplates.
Equipment foundations: Repair of deteriorated concrete; strengthening for new loads.
Chimney and stack foundations: Assessment and repair of critical support structures.

Intake and discharge structures

Concrete repair in marine environments.
Protective coatings for submerged surfaces.
Cathodic protection integration.

Structural Strengthening

Changes in equipment, increased loads, or deterioration may require structural strengthening of power plant components.

CFRP (Carbon Fiber) Strengthening

Applications:
- Strengthening turbine deck slabs for new, heavier equipment.
- Column strengthening in buildings and support structures.
- Beam strengthening for increased crane loads.
- Cooling tower structural upgrades.
Advantages: Lightweight, no added thickness, minimal disruption, corrosion-proof, rapid installation.

Steel plate bonding

Strengthening beams and slabs where significant capacity increases are needed.
Reinforcing around new openings.

Section enlargement

Adding reinforced concrete to existing members for major capacity increases.

Soil Injection & Foundation Stabilization

Settling foundations of heavy equipment, tanks, and structures can lead to misalignment, stress, and operational problems.

Compaction grouting: Low-mobility grout to densify loose soils and lift settled foundations.
Chemical grouting: Permeation grouting to strengthen and waterproof soils.
Resin injection: Expanding polyurethane resins to fill voids and lift settled slabs.
Underpinning: Extending foundations to deeper, more stable soil layers.

Structural Evaluation & Non-Destructive Testing

Before designing repairs or upgrades, we thoroughly assess the condition of power plant structures using advanced NDT methods.

Concrete evaluation:
- Rebound hammer for strength estimation.
- Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) for internal quality.
- Cover meter for reinforcement location.
- Half-cell potential for corrosion activity.
- Chloride and carbonation testing.
Steel evaluation:
- Ultrasonic thickness measurement.
- Magnetic particle inspection (MPI) for surface cracks.
Foundation evaluation:
- Settlement monitoring.
- Vibration testing of turbine foundations.

Turbine & Machine Foundation Services

Rotating equipment foundations require specialized attention to maintain alignment and vibration control.

Grouting under soleplates and baseplates: Epoxy or cementitious grout injection to restore contact and leveling.
Cracked foundation repair: Structural epoxy injection and reinforcement.
Vibration assessment: Monitoring and analysis of foundation dynamics.
Strengthening for increased loads: CFRP or steel reinforcement of existing foundations.

Waterproofing & Moisture Protection

Water intrusion can damage sensitive electrical equipment and accelerate deterioration of structures.

Roof waterproofing: Liquid-applied and sheet membranes for turbine halls, control buildings, and switchgear rooms.
Below-grade waterproofing: Basements, cable basements, and underground structures.
Cooling tower basin waterproofing: Membranes and coatings for water-containing structures.
Expansion joint sealing: Replacement and repair of failed joints.

Standards & Compliance

We adhere to the stringent standards governing power generation and utility infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Building Code (SBC).
Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) standards and specifications.
SEC Grid Code and connection standards.
Ministry of Energy standards.
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) codes: Particularly NFPA 850 (Fire Protection for Electric Generating Plants).
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) standards.
ACI (American Concrete Institute) codes.
NACE/AMPP corrosion control standards.
ISO 12944 for protective coatings.

Typical Power & Utility Assets We Serve

Power generation:
- Gas-fired power plants (simple cycle, combined cycle).
- Steam power plants.
- Oil-fired power plants.
- Combined heat and power (CHP) facilities.
- Gas turbine and steam turbine foundations.
- Heat recovery steam generators (HRSG) supports.
- Boiler structures and supports.
- Cooling towers (concrete and steel).
- Intake and discharge structures.
- Chimneys and exhaust stacks.
- Fuel storage tanks (oil, gas).
- Water treatment facilities within plants.
Transmission and distribution:
- Substations (indoor and outdoor).
- Switchgear buildings and control rooms.
- Transformer foundations and fire barriers.
- Cable trenches and duct banks.
- Transmission tower foundations.
- Overhead line structures.
Utilities:
- District cooling plants.
- Pumping stations.
- Desalination plants (power/water cogeneration).
- Compressor stations.

Why Power & Utilities Operators Choose Arabian Company

Outage-based planning: We work around your maintenance schedules, executing work during planned outages to avoid disrupting generation.
Expedited execution: When unplanned issues arise, we mobilize rapidly to complete repairs before the next start-up.
Specialized expertise: Our engineers understand power plant structures, equipment foundations, and the critical tolerances required.
Fire safety focus: Deep expertise in passive fire protection for power generation facilities.
Turnkey capability: From condition assessment through design, execution, and long-term monitoring.
Safety culture: Rigorous adherence to power plant safety protocols, permit-to-work systems, and lockout/tagout procedures.
Quality assurance: All materials and systems meet SEC and international standards.
Proven track record: Successful projects at major power generation facilities across the Kingdom.

Case Study Highlight: Passive Fire Protection – SEC Power Plant, Eastern Province

Client: Saudi Electricity Company (SEC)
Scope: Application of passive fire protection to structural steel in turbine hall and boiler areas of a major gas-fired power plant.
Challenge: Plant operates continuously; work had to be completed during a scheduled 6-week outage window. Complex geometries and access requirements.
Solution: Detailed planning and mobilization of multiple crews for 24/7 operation during outage. Intumescent coatings applied to all exposed structural steel. Firestop systems installed at all penetrations. Quality control inspections by third-party certifiers.
Outcome: All work completed within outage window. Plant returned to service on schedule with enhanced fire safety. SEC certification achieved.

Case Study Highlight: Cooling Tower Concrete Repair – Power Plant, Jubail

Client: Industrial power and water cogeneration facility
Scope: Repair of severely deteriorated concrete in mechanical draft cooling tower basins and support structures.
Challenge: Continuous operation required; only limited shutdown windows available. Aggressive chemical environment from water treatment chemicals.
Solution: Phased repair program during scheduled maintenance periods. Hydro-demolition of deteriorated concrete; rebar cleaning and coating; application of chemical-resistant repair mortar; final coating with protective lining system.
Outcome: Cooling tower structures restored to full integrity. New protective lining expected to extend service life by 15+ years.

Case Study Highlight: Turbine Foundation Grouting – Power Plant, Riyadh

Client: Independent power producer
Scope: Regrouting of gas turbine foundation after detection of oil leakage and loss of grout integrity.
Challenge: Critical path equipment; outage window limited to 10 days. Precision leveling required to maintain alignment.
Solution: Removal of deteriorated grout; surface preparation; installation of precision leveling system; high-flow epoxy grout placement under controlled conditions; curing and quality control testing.
Outcome: Grouting completed within outage window. Turbine alignment restored to manufacturer specifications. Vibration monitoring confirms improved performance.

Case Study Highlight: Substation Fire Protection – SEC Substation, Jeddah

Client: Saudi Electricity Company
Scope: Installation of fire-rated barriers between transformers and firestop systems in cable trenches at major substation.
Challenge: Substation remained energized during work; strict safety protocols for working near live equipment.
Solution: Detailed safety plan with energized work permits; installation of fire-rated walls between transformers; firestop systems in cable trenches; intumescent coatings on structural steel in control building.
Outcome: Enhanced fire safety at critical substation. All work completed safely with zero incidents.

Contact Our Power & Utilities Team

To discuss how Arabian Company can protect and strengthen your power generation or utility infrastructure, please contact our dedicated Power & Utilities sector team.

Arabian Company for Protection and Strengthening
Email: power@arabiancompany.sa
Phone: +966 13 800 1177
24/7 Emergency Response for Power Facilities: +966 50 555 6677

Offices in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Jubail, and Yanbu – serving power infrastructure across the Kingdom.

— Protecting the power that drives the nation —