The Khorezm oasis lies on the lower reaches of the Amu Darya, between the sands of the Karakum and the Kyzylkum. It is a semi-desert zone with a sharply continental climate: precipitation is about 100 mm a year, while evaporation is an order of magnitude higher (Hamidov et al., 2020). Irrigated land depends on shallow mineralised groundwater, summers are hot and winters cold. This sets its own priorities for protective coatings: protect foundations and underground structures from saline water, take frost into account when applying and storing materials, and, inside workshops, fight not dryness but moisture.
What to know before choosing a material
- Water from below. According to long-term observations in 2000 wells, in July the groundwater in the oasis lies on average at a depth of about 0.9–1.4 m, and it is from this water that salts enter the soil profile (Ibrakhimov et al., 2011). It also rises through the pores of concrete and masonry and, as it evaporates, leaves salts in the body of the structure. Buried steel needs protection designed for soil (category Im3 to ISO 12944-2), and concrete needs protection against chemical attack under ShNK 2.03.11-24.
- Frosty winters. At the Urgench station, frosts on record have reached −27.1 °C, and summer heat has risen to 45.5 °C (Uzhydromet). Painting and fire protection work in winter requires monitoring of the steel temperature and the dew point, and water-based materials require a heated warehouse.
- Dry, dusty air outside. In summer the surface quickly heats up and becomes covered with dust, so cleaning and painting are kept as close together in time as possible, and dust is checked after cleaning.
- Salts in the air. The drying of the Aral Sea has also changed Khorezm’s humidity regime, and the salt storm from the Aralkum in May 2018 affected the region more than most regions of the country (Uzbekistan’s national communication under the UNFCCC, 2024). How significant salt dust is for a specific site is shown by testing the surface for salts before painting.
For exposed steelwork in such conditions, designers usually work to an environment category of C3–C4; this is a guide, not a rule — it is confirmed to ISO 9223 and ISO 12944-2 for the specific facility.
Textile and cotton processing plants
Agriculture accounts for 46% of the gross regional product (National Statistics Committee, 2022), while the textile, automotive, electrical and food industries, tourism and greenhouse farming have officially been named the region’s “growth points”, and building materials production is becoming one of the region’s drivers. At textile and cotton processing plants, two tasks are combined.
Fire protection. Fibre and cotton dust create a high fire load, and the dust settles on trusses and purlins. The fire resistance ratings of the frame are specified by the designer on the basis of ShNK 2.01.02-04; we select the material and calculate the thickness for the actual sections — from intumescent paints to plasters. Cable runs and penetrations between fire compartments are dealt with separately — see cable fire protection.
Corrosion inside the workshop. In spinning and weaving workshops the air is often deliberately humidified, and the steel frame, ducts and equipment work in a humid environment with condensation. A full epoxy system is needed here, not “primer plus enamel”; if fire protection goes over it, the compatibility of the coats is confirmed by the manufacturer of the fire protection material.
Hotels and public buildings in tourist towns
Tourism has officially been named one of the key drivers of Khorezm’s development, so typical projects include hotels and museum and exhibition spaces. For new hotels and museum and exhibition spaces, appearance matters: exposed steel is protected with a thin-film intumescent paint with a decorative topcoat approved by the manufacturer, and concealed structures with boards. Particular attention goes to service penetrations and ductwork: at acceptance their fire resistance is checked just as routinely as that of the frame.
Foundations, pumping stations, equipment
Irrigation and drainage pumping stations, water mains and tanks are in constant contact with mineralised water: internal surfaces of tanks and pipelines are protected with special coatings, and the below-ground parts of structures with waterproofing. Pumps and vibrating processing machines get an epoxy grout, and static supports a non-shrink cementitious grout; anchors in existing concrete are installed following the rules of anchoring. Unlike the Fergana Valley and Tashkent, Khorezm is not included in the list of zones with seismicity of intensity 8 and above approved in 2025 (Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 727), but the design seismicity of the site is still taken from the design.
Working with projects in the region
We deliver materials to Urgench, Khiva and the districts of the region; the batch is put together so that in winter water-based materials travel and are stored in the warm. We carry out design reviews, schemes and calculations remotely, and a visit for a trial area or acceptance is agreed to suit the stage of work. On request we also discuss projects in the neighbouring Dashoguz Province of Turkmenistan — taking into account that country’s documentation requirements (delivery area).
Salt from the dried-up bed of the Aral Sea is examined in detail on the Republic of Karakalpakstan page, oil and gas and the desert on the Bukhara Region page; all regions are in the general list.
Questions from Khorezm
Does steel need to be checked for salts before painting?
Yes, if the structure was stored or erected on an open site. The check is carried out directly on site, and salt missed under a coating eventually shows up as blisters and rust under the film — and then rework costs much more.
How should a basement or pit be protected where the groundwater is high?
With a combination of measures: dense concrete of the required class, waterproofing on the water side or penetrating compounds, sealing of joints and service entries. The specific solution depends on the water pressure and its chemical composition according to the site investigation data.
Can water-based fire protection paint spend the winter in an unheated warehouse?
As a rule, no: many water-based materials are irreversibly damaged by freezing, and technical data sheets require them to be stored at above-zero temperatures. If there is no heated warehouse on site, it is better to split the delivery into parts or postpone it until spring.
Need protection for a workshop, hotel or pumping station in Khorezm? Tell us what you are building or repairing, and an engineer will suggest a solution and calculate the materials. Number for calls and messages: +998 94 094 52 27; send specifications and photographs by e-mail to info@ognezashita.uz.