Abstract Corrosion protection of platform structures above the splash zone with paint systems is the focus for this study. Success of the coating work depends on many aspects (paint specifications, paint systems certification, surface preparation, coating application, certified inspectors activity, etc), but mainly it depends on the environmental conditions and procedures used to counteract their influences. Sometime it is not possible to have the best “environment” or, very often, enough time reserved for the paint activities, so it’s necessary to manage different paint systems to obtain the same performances in a short time. In this paper the approach of an Oil Company is demonstrated from the initial choice between different primers: inorganic zinc and organic (epoxy) zinc., to all the preliminary pre-qualification tests, the subsequently field test performed, and the procedures adopted, costs included.