The Language of Finishing: Coatings Standards and Acronyms

Standards, test methods, specifications, and acronyms are part of the everyday language of professional finishing. They appear in coating specifications, product data sheets, safety data sheets, inspection reports, equipment manuals, purchase orders, qualification documents, and regulatory requirements.

This installment explains many of the organizations, abbreviations, and frequently referenced standards used in protective coatings, automotive refinishing, aerospace and aviation, OEM finishing, rail, marine, powder coating, electrostatics, E-coat, floors, roofs, linings, and surface preparation.

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Standards Organizations and Industry Authorities

ACGIH — American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

ACGIH is a scientific organization that develops occupational-health guidance, including Threshold Limit Values, commonly abbreviated TLVs, and Biological Exposure Indices, commonly abbreviated BEIs.

ACGIH recommendations are widely used by industrial hygienists when evaluating worker exposure. They are not the same as OSHA regulatory exposure limits. Learn more from ACGIH.

AIHA — American Industrial Hygiene Association

AIHA is a professional organization serving industrial hygienists and other occupational and environmental health professionals. Its resources address exposure assessment, air monitoring, ventilation, respiratory protection, and workplace hazards.

Information is available from the American Industrial Hygiene Association.

AMPP — Association for Materials Protection and Performance

AMPP develops standards, training, certification, and technical resources addressing corrosion control, protective coatings, linings, cathodic protection, inspection, materials, and surface preparation.

AMPP was formed through the combination of NACE International and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings. Specifications may therefore contain current AMPP designations or legacy NACE and SSPC designations.

Access current information through AMPP Standards.

ANSI — American National Standards Institute

ANSI coordinates and supports voluntary consensus standards and conformity-assessment activities in the United States. ANSI accredits standards-developing organizations but does not personally write every standard bearing an ANSI designation.

Visit the American National Standards Institute.

ASME — American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASME develops codes and standards for pressure vessels, piping, boilers, mechanical equipment, fabrication, welding, inspection, and other engineered systems.

Coating professionals may encounter ASME requirements when working on tanks, pressure vessels, process piping, power-generation equipment, and related components. Visit ASME Codes and Standards.

ASTM International

ASTM International develops consensus standards covering materials, products, testing, inspection, terminology, and performance. ASTM Committee D01 maintains hundreds of standards related to paints, coatings, surface preparation, application, and film evaluation.

ASTM documents may be identified as test methods, practices, guides, specifications, classifications, or terminology standards. These document types do not serve identical purposes.

Learn more from ASTM Committee D01 on Paint and Related Coatings.

AWWA — American Water Works Association

AWWA develops standards and technical resources for drinking-water treatment, storage, transmission, and distribution.

Coating professionals may encounter AWWA requirements for steel water tanks, piping, linings, disinfection, inspection, and potable-water service. Information is available from AWWA Standards.

AWS — American Welding Society

AWS develops standards and certification programs covering welding, brazing, cutting, inspection, and related fabrication practices.

Weld design and quality affect coating preparation around weld seams, edges, spatter, undercut, porosity, and heat-affected areas. Visit AWS Standards.

CRRC — Cool Roof Rating Council

CRRC administers product-rating programs for roof and exterior-wall materials using measured solar reflectance and thermal emittance.

A CRRC rating reports specified product properties. It should not be interpreted as a complete evaluation of waterproofing, adhesion, substrate condition, application quality, or roof-system life. Learn more from the Cool Roof Rating Council.

EPA — United States Environmental Protection Agency

EPA develops and administers environmental regulations and technical methods addressing air emissions, hazardous waste, water, lead, chemicals, and environmental protection.

Coating operations may encounter EPA requirements involving VOC emissions, hazardous air pollutants, lead, waste disposal, surface preparation, stripping, and recordkeeping. Visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

FAA — Federal Aviation Administration

The FAA regulates civil aviation in the United States. Coating work on aircraft and aviation components may be subject to approved maintenance data, airworthiness requirements, manufacturer instructions, and qualified repair procedures.

A coating substitution on an aircraft component may require more than a color or chemistry match. Visit the Federal Aviation Administration.

FGIA — Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance

FGIA develops standards, certification programs, and technical resources for windows, doors, curtain walls, storefronts, and architectural fenestration.

Coating professionals may encounter legacy AAMA specifications and current FGIA references for organic coatings on aluminum and other architectural components. Visit FGIA.

ICRI — International Concrete Repair Institute

ICRI develops technical guidance for evaluating, repairing, preparing, and protecting concrete. The ICRI Concrete Surface Profile system, abbreviated CSP, is widely referenced for floor coatings, linings, overlays, and concrete repair materials.

Visit the International Concrete Repair Institute.

IEC — International Electrotechnical Commission

IEC develops international standards for electrical, electronic, and related technologies. Coating operations may encounter IEC requirements involving electrical equipment, hazardous locations, electrostatics, controls, and testing.

Visit the International Electrotechnical Commission.

ISO — International Organization for Standardization

ISO publishes international standards covering quality systems, corrosion protection, paints, surface preparation, inspection, safety, environmental management, and numerous industrial processes.

A reference should identify the complete ISO number, part, and edition. Search current documents through ISO Standards.

NACE International

NACE International was a corrosion-control organization that developed standards, certification, training, and technical guidance for coatings, linings, cathodic protection, pipelines, and materials.

NACE International combined with SSPC to form AMPP. Legacy NACE designations remain common in coating specifications and should be traced to the correct title and edition.

NFPA — National Fire Protection Association

NFPA publishes codes and standards concerning fire, explosion, electrical, and life safety. Coating operations may encounter NFPA documents governing spray application, ovens, flammable liquids, combustible powder, ventilation, electrical equipment, and fire protection.

Visit NFPA Codes and Standards.

NIOSH — National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NIOSH conducts research and publishes recommendations for preventing work-related injury and illness. Its resources address respirators, solvents, isocyanates, metals, abrasive blasting, noise, and other coating-related hazards.

NIOSH recommendations and OSHA regulations are not interchangeable. Visit NIOSH.

OSHA — Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA administers and enforces federal workplace safety and health requirements in the United States. Relevant topics include respiratory protection, hazard communication, personal protective equipment, lead, silica, isocyanates, confined spaces, flammable materials, and spray finishing.

Visit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

PCI — Powder Coating Institute

PCI provides technical education, training, certification, publications, and industry resources for powder coating operations.

PCI certification programs evaluate the process and quality capabilities of custom coaters and OEM powder coating operations. Visit the Powder Coating Institute.

SAE International

SAE International develops standards and material specifications for aerospace, automotive, transportation, and mobility industries.

Coating professionals may encounter SAE AMS material specifications, aerospace standards, pretreatment requirements, corrosion tests, sealant requirements, and approved finish systems. Visit SAE Standards.

SSPC — The Society for Protective Coatings

SSPC developed widely used surface-preparation, coating-application, inspection, and qualification standards. It combined with NACE International to form AMPP.

Familiar SSPC designations remain widely used. Examples include SSPC-SP surface-preparation standards and SSPC-PA coating-application and inspection procedures.

UL Solutions

UL Solutions develops safety standards and evaluates products, equipment, materials, and complete assemblies. Coating-related examples include spray booths, ovens, electrical equipment, roofing products, and passive fire-protection systems.

A listing or classification may apply only to the exact tested assembly. Visit UL Solutions.

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Common Coatings and Inspection Acronyms

AHJ — Authority Having Jurisdiction

The AHJ is the organization, office, or person responsible for interpreting and enforcing a code or approving equipment, materials, installations, or procedures. Examples may include a fire marshal, building official, insurer, regulatory agency, or facility authority.

AMS — Aerospace Material Specification

AMS identifies material specifications published by SAE International for aerospace materials and processes. An AMS reference may define a coating, pretreatment, sealant, metal, test method, or processing requirement.

CSP — Concrete Surface Profile

CSP commonly refers to the ICRI Concrete Surface Profile system used to describe the texture of prepared concrete. The specified CSP should match the coating, lining, overlay, or repair material.

CFM — Cubic Feet per Minute

CFM is a unit of volumetric airflow. It is used to describe compressor capacity, spray-gun air consumption, ventilation, dust collection, and booth exhaust.

CFM should be stated with the applicable pressure and measurement conditions. A compressor’s displaced-air rating is not necessarily the usable delivered airflow.

DFT — Dry-Film Thickness

DFT is the thickness of a coating after drying or cure. It is commonly expressed in mils or microns and is a major coating acceptance requirement.

DOI — Distinctness of Image

In appearance measurement, DOI describes how clearly an image is reflected from a coated surface. A coating can have high gloss while still showing poor DOI because of texture, haze, or surface waviness.

In standards citations, DOI can also mean Digital Object Identifier. The correct meaning depends on context.

E-Coat — Electrocoating or Electrodeposition Coating

E-coat is an immersion process in which electrical current deposits coating onto a conductive workpiece. It is widely used for automotive bodies, components, appliances, and corrosion-resistant OEM primers.

HAP — Hazardous Air Pollutant

HAP is a United States regulatory term for certain air pollutants that may cause serious health or environmental effects. Coating, solvent, cleaning, and stripping operations may be subject to HAP-related requirements.

HVLP — High Volume Low Pressure

HVLP is an air-spray technology designed to atomize coating using a high volume of air at relatively low air-cap pressure. The applicable regulatory definition and test method should be consulted when HVLP compliance is required.

JHA — Job Hazard Analysis

A JHA breaks a task into steps, identifies the hazards associated with each step, and establishes controls before the work begins.

JSA — Job Safety Analysis

JSA is another term for a task-level safety analysis. Many organizations use JSA and JHA interchangeably, although internal procedures may distinguish between them.

kPa — Kilopascal

kPa is a metric unit of pressure. One psi equals approximately 6.895 kPa. Gauge units should always be confirmed before adjusting spray or pressure equipment.

kV — Kilovolt

kV equals 1,000 volts. It is commonly used to describe the high electrical potential produced by electrostatic liquid and powder applicators.

LEL — Lower Explosive Limit

LEL is the lowest concentration of a flammable gas or vapor in air that can support combustion when an ignition source is present. The term lower flammable limit, or LFL, may also be used.

LFL — Lower Flammable Limit

LFL is another term for the lower concentration boundary at which a flammable gas or vapor mixture can burn. An LFL or LEL value is not an acceptable operating target for a coating space.

LRV — Light Reflectance Value

LRV indicates the amount of visible light reflected by a surface. It is used in architectural coatings, accessibility planning, safety design, and facility-lighting decisions.

LVLP — Low Volume Low Pressure

LVLP describes certain air spray guns designed to use less compressed-air volume than many conventional or HVLP guns. The term is not defined as consistently across the industry as HVLP.

MEK — Methyl Ethyl Ketone

MEK, also called 2-butanone, is a strong solvent used in certain coating tests, products, and cleaning applications. MEK rub testing may be used to assess the solvent resistance or cure of specified coatings.

MFFT — Minimum Film-Forming Temperature

MFFT is the lowest temperature at which a waterborne polymer dispersion can form a continuous film under stated conditions.

MPa — Megapascal

MPa is a metric unit of pressure or stress commonly used for pull-off adhesion and engineering measurements. One MPa is approximately 145 psi.

NDFT — Nominal Dry-Film Thickness

NDFT is the stated or intended dry thickness of a coating layer or system. The governing specification should separately establish minimums, maximums, averaging, and acceptance procedures.

NPS — Nominal Pipe Size

NPS is a standardized pipe-size designation. It does not necessarily equal the pipe’s exact inside or outside diameter.

OEM — Original Equipment Manufacturer

OEM refers to the company producing the original equipment, vehicle, component, appliance, or finished product. OEM finishing occurs as part of the original manufacturing operation.

OEL — Occupational Exposure Limit

OEL is a general term for an exposure concentration or level used to evaluate workplace exposure. Regulatory and advisory organizations may publish different limits with different averaging periods and requirements.

PDS — Product Data Sheet

A PDS describes a coating’s technical application and performance requirements, including surface preparation, mixing, thinning, film thickness, drying, cure, and recoat intervals.

PPE — Personal Protective Equipment

PPE includes protective clothing and equipment worn to reduce exposure to workplace hazards. Examples include gloves, eye protection, face protection, respirators, hearing protection, safety footwear, and protective coveralls.

QA — Quality Assurance

QA is the planned system of procedures, qualifications, documentation, oversight, and audits used to provide confidence that work will meet its requirements.

QC — Quality Control

QC includes the operational inspections, measurements, tests, and corrective actions used to determine whether actual coating work conforms to requirements.

RH — Relative Humidity

RH expresses the amount of water vapor present in air compared with the maximum amount the air could hold at the same temperature.

SDS — Safety Data Sheet

An SDS provides information about chemical hazards, exposure controls, protective equipment, first aid, fire, spills, handling, and storage. SDS is the current term that replaced the older abbreviation MSDS.

TDS — Technical Data Sheet

TDS is another common name for a product data sheet. It provides technical instructions and should not be confused with an SDS.

VOC — Volatile Organic Compound

VOC is a regulatory classification applied to certain organic compounds. Coating VOC values may differ depending on product category, jurisdiction, mix ratio, thinning, and the method of calculation.

WFT — Wet-Film Thickness

WFT is the thickness of a liquid coating immediately after application. It is commonly measured with a notched wet-film gauge before significant evaporation or cure occurs.

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Frequently Referenced ASTM Coating Standards

ASTM D16 — Coatings Terminology

ASTM D16 establishes technical terminology used in standards under ASTM Committee D01. It is a valuable reference when a coating term requires a formal standards-based definition.

View ASTM D16.

ASTM D523 — Specular Gloss

ASTM D523 addresses instrumental measurement of specular gloss using specified measurement geometries. The measurement angle and surface type are important when reporting results.

View ASTM D523.

ASTM D610 — Degree of Rusting on Painted Steel

ASTM D610 provides a standardized method for rating the amount and distribution of visible rust on painted steel surfaces.

View ASTM D610.

ASTM D1200 — Viscosity by Ford Cup

ASTM D1200 covers viscosity measurement of suitable paints and related liquids using Ford-type efflux cups. The cup orifice, temperature, and efflux time must be reported.

View ASTM D1200.

ASTM D1654 — Evaluation After Corrosive Exposure

ASTM D1654 addresses evaluation of coated specimens after accelerated or atmospheric corrosive exposure, including corrosion and loss of adhesion around a scribe.

View ASTM D1654.

ASTM D2794 — Impact Resistance

ASTM D2794 evaluates the resistance of an organic coating to rapid deformation caused by impact. Direct- and reverse-impact conditions should be identified.

View ASTM D2794.

ASTM D3276 — Guide for Painting Inspectors

ASTM D3276 provides guidance concerning inspection of coating work on metal and concrete structures. The project specification must still establish the actual acceptance requirements.

View ASTM D3276.

ASTM D3359 — Tape-Adhesion Testing

ASTM D3359 contains procedures for rating adhesion by applying and removing pressure-sensitive tape over specified cuts in a coating on metallic substrates.

Method A uses an X-cut, while Method B uses a cross-cut lattice. Coating thickness and the method’s limitations must be considered.

View ASTM D3359.

ASTM D3363 — Pencil Hardness

ASTM D3363 evaluates the relative hardness of an organic coating film using drawing leads or pencils of known hardness.

View ASTM D3363.

ASTM D4060 — Taber Abrasion

ASTM D4060 evaluates the abrasion resistance of organic coatings on flat, rigid specimens using the Taber Abraser.

View ASTM D4060.

ASTM D4212 — Dip-Type Viscosity Cups

ASTM D4212 addresses viscosity measurement using specified dip-type viscosity cups. The cup type, cup number, material temperature, and efflux time should be reported.

View ASTM D4212.

ASTM D4414 — Wet-Film Thickness

ASTM D4414 describes measurement of wet-film thickness using notched, step, or comb-type gauges.

View ASTM D4414.

ASTM D4417 — Surface Profile

ASTM D4417 addresses field measurement of surface profile on abrasive-blast-cleaned steel using specified methods and instruments.

View ASTM D4417.

ASTM D4541 — Pull-Off Strength on Metal

ASTM D4541 evaluates pull-off strength of coatings using portable adhesion testers, primarily on metal substrates. The instrument type, test protocol, adhesive, scoring, and failure location must be reported.

View ASTM D4541.

ASTM D4752 — Solvent Resistance of Inorganic Zinc

ASTM D4752 uses solvent rubbing to assess the solvent resistance of ethyl-silicate inorganic zinc-rich coatings. It is often used as an indicator of cure before topcoating.

View ASTM D4752.

ASTM D5162 — Holiday Testing on Metallic Substrates

ASTM D5162 addresses electrical discontinuity testing of nonconductive protective coatings applied over conductive metallic substrates. It includes low-voltage wet-sponge and high-voltage methods.

View ASTM D5162.

ASTM D5402 — Solvent Resistance of Organic Coatings

ASTM D5402 addresses assessment of an organic coating’s solvent resistance using controlled solvent rubbing. The test is sometimes used as an indicator of cure.

View ASTM D5402.

ASTM D6132 — Ultrasonic Coating Thickness

ASTM D6132 addresses nondestructive ultrasonic measurement of organic coating thickness on substrates such as concrete, wood, plastic, composites, and metal.

View ASTM D6132.

ASTM D6677 — Knife-Adhesion Testing

ASTM D6677 provides a procedure for evaluating coating adhesion by cutting and attempting to lift the film with a knife.

View ASTM D6677.

ASTM D7091 — Nondestructive Dry-Film Thickness

ASTM D7091 addresses nondestructive measurement of dry-film thickness on ferrous and nonferrous metal substrates using magnetic and eddy-current principles.

View ASTM D7091.

ASTM D7234 — Pull-Off Adhesion on Concrete

ASTM D7234 addresses pull-off adhesion strength of coatings applied to concrete using portable adhesion testers. It should not be treated as interchangeable with ASTM D4541.

View ASTM D7234.

ASTM G62 — Holiday Detection in Pipeline Coatings

ASTM G62 addresses electrical detection of holidays in pipeline-type coatings. The applicable method depends on coating thickness and the inspection requirements.

View ASTM G62.

ASTM G154 — Fluorescent UV Exposure

ASTM G154 addresses operation of fluorescent UV-lamp and water apparatus used for accelerated exposure of nonmetallic materials.

View ASTM G154.

ASTM G155 — Xenon-Arc Exposure

ASTM G155 addresses operation of xenon-arc lamp apparatus used to expose materials to controlled light, heat, and moisture.

View ASTM G155.

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Common AMPP, NACE, and SSPC Standards

SSPC-SP 1 — Solvent Cleaning

SSPC-SP 1 addresses removal of oil, grease, dirt, drawing compounds, and similar contamination using solvents, detergents, emulsions, steam, or other approved cleaning materials.

Solvent cleaning is often required before abrasive blasting or mechanical cleaning because those methods may spread oil and grease instead of removing them.

SSPC-SP 2 — Hand-Tool Cleaning

SSPC-SP 2 defines a degree of surface preparation achieved with non-powered hand tools such as scrapers, wire brushes, and sanding tools.

It does not produce the same cleanliness or profile as abrasive blasting.

SSPC-SP 3 — Power-Tool Cleaning

SSPC-SP 3 defines surface preparation using power tools to remove specified loose material. Common tools include power wire brushes, grinders, sanders, and needle scalers.

SSPC-SP 5/NACE No. 1 — White Metal Blast Cleaning

This joint standard defines a very high degree of abrasive-blast cleaning in which visible contamination is removed as required by the standard.

Profile, dust, and soluble-salt requirements must be specified separately where applicable.

SSPC-SP 6/NACE No. 3 — Commercial Blast Cleaning

This joint standard defines commercial abrasive-blast cleaning. It permits more staining than near-white or white-metal preparation.

SSPC-SP 7/NACE No. 4 — Brush-Off Blast Cleaning

This joint standard defines a light abrasive-blast cleaning intended to remove specified loose material and roughen or clean the surface while allowing tightly adherent material to remain.

SSPC-SP 10/NACE No. 2 — Near-White Metal Blast Cleaning

This joint standard defines a high degree of abrasive-blast cleaning that permits only limited staining as described by the standard.

SSPC-SP 11 — Power-Tool Cleaning to Bare Metal

SSPC-SP 11 defines power-tool cleaning that produces a bare-metal surface and specified minimum surface profile. It is more demanding than ordinary power-tool cleaning under SSPC-SP 3.

SSPC-SP 13/NACE No. 6 — Surface Preparation of Concrete

This joint standard addresses preparation of concrete before application of protective coating or lining systems. Concrete strength, cleanliness, profile, moisture, and surface defects may all require evaluation.

SSPC-PA 2 — Dry Coating Thickness Conformance

SSPC-PA 2 establishes a procedure for determining conformance to specified dry coating thickness requirements using nondestructive gauges on metal substrates.

The procedure includes gauge adjustment, individual readings, spot measurements, areas, measurement frequency, and interpretation of results.

SSPC-PA 17 — Surface Profile Conformance

SSPC-PA 17 provides a procedure for determining whether the surface profile of prepared steel complies with project requirements.

The specified measurement method, number of readings, areas, and acceptance range must be established.

Current and legacy documents can be located through AMPP’s Popular Standards by Industry.

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Frequently Referenced ISO Standards

ISO 8501-1 — Visual Assessment of Steel Cleanliness

ISO 8501-1 provides visual rust grades and preparation grades for steel surfaces prepared by blasting and hand- or power-tool cleaning.

Visual cleanliness does not establish surface profile, dust level, soluble salts, or freedom from invisible contamination.

ISO 8502 Series — Surface Cleanliness Testing

The ISO 8502 series includes tests for assessing contaminants on prepared steel surfaces. Individual parts address subjects such as dust, soluble contamination, and field extraction methods.

ISO 8502-3 — Dust Assessment

ISO 8502-3 addresses assessment of dust on prepared steel using pressure-sensitive tape and comparative ratings. The result includes both dust quantity and particle-size classification.

ISO 8502-6 — Bresle Extraction Method

ISO 8502-6 describes extraction of soluble contaminants from a surface using a sealed patch and liquid. The extracted solution is then evaluated using the specified analytical method.

ISO 8502-9 — Conductometric Salt Assessment

ISO 8502-9 addresses field assessment of water-soluble salts by measuring conductivity. It is frequently used with the ISO 8502-6 extraction procedure.

ISO 8503 Series — Surface Profile

The ISO 8503 series addresses characteristics and assessment of blast-cleaned steel surface profile, including comparator and measurement procedures.

ISO 12944 — Corrosion Protection by Paint Systems

ISO 12944 is a multi-part standard covering corrosion protection of steel structures by protective paint systems. It addresses environmental classification, design, surface preparation, coating systems, laboratory testing, execution, inspection, and related subjects.

A durability range stated under ISO 12944 is a technical planning period and should not automatically be treated as a warranty period.

Search current ISO documents through ISO Standards.

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Selected Fire, Spray, and Oven Standards

NFPA 33 — Spray Application Using Flammable or Combustible Materials

NFPA 33 addresses fire and explosion protection for spray application processes using flammable or combustible materials. Topics include spray areas, booths, ventilation, electrical equipment, powder coating, grounding, and fire protection.

NFPA 34 — Dipping, Coating, and Printing Processes

NFPA 34 addresses fire protection for dipping, roll coating, flow coating, printing, and related processes using flammable or combustible liquids.

NFPA 86 — Ovens and Furnaces

NFPA 86 addresses safety requirements for industrial ovens and furnaces. Coating operations may encounter its requirements for ventilation, fuel systems, purge cycles, interlocks, combustion safeguards, and solvent-laden processes.

The applicable edition and local adoption should be confirmed with the AHJ. Visit NFPA Codes and Standards.

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How to Read a Standards Reference

A complete standards reference may contain an issuing organization, document number, part, revision year, method, procedure, and title. For example, a specification that merely says “test adhesion according to ASTM” is incomplete because ASTM publishes several coating-adhesion methods.

Before performing a test or inspection, confirm:

• The issuing organization
• The complete standard designation
• The required edition or revision year
• The applicable method, procedure, or instrument type
• The substrate and coating-thickness limitations
• The required number and location of tests
• The units and reporting requirements
• The project’s acceptance criteria
• Whether the test is destructive and requires repair
• Who has authority to accept, reject, or modify the requirement

Standard, Test Method, Specification, Practice, or Guide?

These document types are related but not identical:

• Test Method: Establishes a defined procedure for obtaining a test result.
• Practice: Describes a recognized procedure or sequence of operations that may not produce a single test result.
• Specification: Establishes requirements that a material, product, system, or service must meet.
• Guide: Provides information and available approaches without prescribing one mandatory course of action.
• Classification: Organizes materials or systems into defined groups or categories.
• Terminology Standard: Establishes terms and definitions for a particular technical field.
• Code: Provides requirements commonly intended for adoption or enforcement by an authority.

Standards Establish the Method—Specifications Establish Acceptance

A test standard usually explains how to perform and report a test. It does not always state what result is acceptable for a particular project.

For example, a dry-film thickness standard may define how readings are obtained and organized, while the project specification establishes the required thickness range. An adhesion method may explain how to perform the test, while the contract or product requirement defines the minimum acceptable rating.

Before testing begins, the parties should agree on the method, edition, frequency, locations, environmental conditions, acceptance criteria, repair requirements, and authority for resolving disputed results.

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Continue Exploring the Language of Finishing

This Standards and Acronyms installment supplements The Language of Finishing: A Paint and Coatings Industry Glossary. Return to the master glossary to browse the complete A–Z series.

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Tags: coating standards acronyms, paint industry standards, ASTM coating standards, AMPP standards, SSPC surface preparation, coating inspection acronyms, ISO coating standards, NFPA spray finishing, coatings terminology guide