First global standard for industrial coatings

Citation

(2001), "First global standard for industrial coatings", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 48 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2001.12848aab.001

First global standard for industrial coatings

First global standard for industrial coatings

Keywords: International Protective Coatings, Coatings, International standards

Mike Mitchell, worldwide technical director of IPC, has asked ACMM to point out to engineers and specifiers that they should be more widely aware of the first ever global coatings standard – ISO 12944.

International Protective Coatings, the multinational business part of Akzo Nobel, was active in drawing up the new standard, which came into effect in 1999, and has a continuing involvement in its future development.

ISO 12944, they point out, is designed to replace a multitude of individual national standards such as BS 5493, DIN 55928, from which it has derived some of its provisions. There are eight different sections covering issues such as the measurement of the corrosivity of various environments, surface preparation and laboratory testing procedures.

IPC would like our readers to be aware that the new standard is specifically aimed at engineers who have some technical knowledge in the area of corrosion protection and are familiar with other relevant specification standards. Its introduction follows several years of discussion and negotiation and is seen as a major achievement by the coatings industry.

"As our businesses became more global, it was obvious that we needed a constant reference, so that whoever we were talking to, wherever they happened to come from, we were speaking in the same technical language and comparing like with like", explained Mike.

"Inevitably with such a major exercise, there are some parts of the standard that work better in practice than others, and some parts are being revised accordingly, but overall it is already proving a very useful guideline for everyone involved in paint specification and application", he added.

One of the major advantages of the new ISO is that it covers circumstances not before touched by any formal standards, particularly in making it clear which party is contractually responsible at each stage of coatings use should any problems arise. "This prevents unnecessary arguments: everyone knows exactly what they are responsible for, and where that responsibility ceases", Mike pointed out to us.

Another achievement is its definition of durability range: Low is two to five years, Medium – five to 15 years and High – more than 15 years. This is not a guarantee time, which is generally less than the maximum in each durability range, but is there to help owners estimate sensible maintenance times. The standard also categorises the corrosivity of environments, from C1 for the interior of heated buildings in areas of low pollution at one extreme, to marine, coastal and offshore areas with high salinity at the other, C5-M.

There are tables showing specific generic coating systems for given durability in a given environment and laboratory test methods (especially useful when assessing new coatings which have yet to build up a track record) are also specified.

"Norsok approvals, recognised as among the toughest in the world, may be more specific and stringent, but this new standard is more wide ranging. It can only help everyone dealing with anti-corrosion coatings", Mike Mitchell concluded.

Mike Mitchell suggests that readers requiring more information on ISO 12944 should contact him at the PC Laboratory, International Protective Coatings, Stoneygate Lane, Felling, Tyne & Wear, LN10 0JY, UK. Tel: +44 (0)191 469 6111; Fax: +44 (0)191 438 1709; e-mail: Mike.J.Mitchell@uk.akzonobel.com; Web site: www.international-pc.com