[en] The use of strippable coatings both to remove and prevent the radioactive contamination of equipment is discussed. Details of application by brush, roller, conventional (air) and airless spray are given. The use of strippable coatings to prevent the components of a re-useable temporary containment system from becoming contaminated is described and results of simple tests in which the coatings were used to remove plutonium dioxide contamination from a number of different surfaces in a Pressurised Suit Area are given. It is concluded that strippable coatings are particularly useful in contamination prevention and tie-down roles but test results indicate that they do not possess overwhelming advantages when used as a decontamination technique. The products used in the work reported here are water based. (author)